The Light Index – What to Know When Looking for a New House

What is a Light Index? It is the amount of natural light that your home is exposed to. And because there are many benefits to sun exposure to you and your family’s well-being, you want to make sure to get as much of it as possible. Here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your new home’s Light Index.

Orient your home around the sun's path

In order to enjoy as much natural light as possible, make sure to choose a home that has lots of windows with unobstructed views in order to allow clear paths for the sun. However, not all sunlight is created equal. This is when room orientation plays an important role in getting the most out of your home’s Light Index.

Here are some orientation insights to help you take advantage of your home’s natural light:

South-facing rooms

South-facing rooms are the brightest in the house and offer consistent natural light all day. South-facing rooms boost your Light Index during the winter when there is less sunlight and gives you even more access to sunlight during the summer months.

East-facing rooms

East-facing rooms are perfect if you enjoy bright mornings. Your kitchen/dining/ living room should face east to let all that morning sunshine in. East-facing rooms are brightest during the day and offer a high Light Index that will ensure beautiful daylit family breakfasts filled with shenanigans.

West-facing rooms

West-facing rooms have the strongest Light Index during the late afternoon and early evening, allowing tons of rich gold-orange light to pour in. If you are using these rooms towards the end of the day, you will definitely want a cool color palette in the room to balance the bright golden light.

North-facing rooms

North-facing rooms are a sweet spot for natural light because these rooms offer a constant and balanced source of natural light without the unwanted summer heat generated by the sun.

Accurately calculate your Light Index

Even though windows and room orientation can help with increasing the amount of light you are exposed to, trying to predict how much you’re actually getting can be daunting task. That’s why Google has started an endeavor called Project Sunroof to help you calculate how much energy your roof can generate via solar panels. This tool is a great way to figure out your home’s Light Index without the guessing game. Get clean mirrors and windows with Windex^® Original Glass Cleaner to ensure every bit of natural light is let in your home.