Turning on a lamp for your lighting is never the same as enjoying the light you can get from the sun. Sure, you must rely on the lights in your home in many instances, but how often do you consider the use of natural lighting? And how often do you consider its benefits? As human beings, we should look to increase the amount of natural lighting we receive indoors for many reasons. Here, you can learn some of the key reasons as we take a further look at why you need more natural light in your home.

It Saves on Energy Costs

A lot of people don’t always think about the cost of their energy. Natural lighting is good for seeing and for mood, but it can also make the rooms of your house warmer, which will keep the cost of running the heat down when it’s colder out.

Fights Against Depression

Sunlight helps people feel happier and more awake by allowing their brains to produce more serotonin. Serotonin is the hormone that elevates your mood, which also releases endorphins that make you happier. The sunlight also can lessen the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression that appears more in the winter when it’s gloomier out. Finding ways to incorporate nature into your home is a key way to elevate your mood, and sunlight is a part of that.

Lessens the Effects of Stress

Natural light can also lessen stress and anxiety. The light affects people by improving the parts of their brains that allow them to deal with emotions. Along with this, sunlight can lower blood pressure. The light enhances the amount of nitric oxide, a natural blood pressure-reducer, in your system.

Gives You More Physical Energy

Staying awake is a perfect reason why you need more natural light in your home. The sunlight can slow down your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that makes you tired so that you can sleep. If you want to stay energized and awake, especially when you have a lot to accomplish in a day, it’s important to get as much sunlight as you can.

Increases the Value of Your House

If you have a home with good accessibility to natural light with the right windows, it will increase the value of your property. A lot of times, this is because the amount of light can increase the illusion of space. You can make this possible by installing the best types of windows. Great options for custom-made replacement windows are available to make your home more accessible to natural light.

Each year, the health of our environment gradually decreases, which ultimately threatens our ability to enjoy the clean air, water, and soil we require to live. As the need to protect our environment becomes increasingly vital, the demand for jobs that focus on improving the environment is growing. If you’re interested in pursuing a meaningful career dedicated to the noble pursuit of preserving our planet, consider taking up one of these jobs that involve protecting the environment.

Wildland Firefighter

Each year, wildfires destroy millions of acres of forests and vegetation. Even after the fires are out, they continue to have numerous additional negative aftereffects, such as erosion, altered water quality, landslides, and increased flooding.

To help prevent and control wildfires and reduce the destruction that they cause, consider becoming a wildland firefighter. It is important to note that embarking on a career path as a wildland firefighter isn’t for the faint of heart. At any given moment, wildland firefighters must be ready to risk their lives by entering into blazing forests where they encounter copious amounts of smoke, heat, flames, and falling trees at every turn.

Conservation Scientist

For a less life-threatening career path that will still allow you to help preserve the planet, consider a career as a conservation scientist. As a conservation scientist, you would be responsible for protecting, managing, and improving natural resources. Through work with the government on the state, local, and federal levels, conservation scientists find ways to improve the usage of land and other natural resources based on environmental evaluations.

Environmental Engineer

Another job that involves protecting the environment is environmental engineering. This lucrative job allows you to create a more environmentally friendly future by applying engineering principles to solve pressing environmental problems.

Common job duties of environmental engineers include preparing and updating environmental investigation reports, designing environmental protection projects, and updating plans or permits for waste disposal, recycling, air pollution, and public health. To become an environmental engineer requires a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or another related field, such as chemical or civil engineering.

Creating beautiful, blooming flower beds and healthy vegetable gardens are great projects for families and communities. Learn how to create an accessible garden for persons of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

Measure Wide Paths

Getting outdoors with friends and family has physical and mental benefits for everyone, including people with disabilities. Accessible gardens have wide, smooth pathways to accommodate wheelchairs, motorized scooters, walkers, and people who use a cane. Paths should be at least 4—preferably 5—feet wide.

Raised and Table Beds

Raised beds make reaching plants easier. They should be 24-inches high for wheelchair users and 30-inches high for someone who can stand but has trouble bending over. A person seated on a bench next to the bed should be able to reach to the middle of the bed from either side. A width of 16- to 24-inches long works well. While a raised bed extends upward from the ground, a tabletop bed sits on legs with open space underneath. A wheelchair can roll under it to allow a disabled person to tend the bed.

Water

Construct an irrigation system of soaker hoses that drip water in the beds, but run in regular hoses between beds, out of the way of paths. Soaker hose systems set on timers eliminate the need for gardeners with mobility or balance issues to carry heavy watering cans or to balance with a cane or walker while using a hose to spray the garden beds.

Remember All Five Senses

Accessible gardens can include sensory elements for people who have visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities. Herbs and fragrant flowers add a waft of scent to the garden. Plants that rustle in the breeze, like grasses, corn, or plants that attract songbirds, add auditory interest.

The hearing impaired can sense vibrations from chimes or features that create percussive noises, like tapping or pounding. Be aware, however, that these could disturb people with autism, so paths labeled with upcoming features will help guests and their companions navigate to parts of the garden that will please them.

Plants with soft, textured leaves—like lamb’s ear—add tactile experiences for children. However, this also means that it is critical to ensure that an accessible garden is non-toxic throughout—young children and those with developmental delays may try to pluck plants and put plants in their mouths.  Any vegetation within reach of any guest must be harmless.

Involve people of all ages and abilities in planting and tending the garden. Seed paper makes planting perennial wildflowers, lovely annuals, and a variety of vegetables easy. Simply soak the paper overnight in water, lay it in the raised bed, and cover it with a layer of soil. Keep the paper moist and watch as flowers or vegetables sprout and grow.

Creating an accessible garden takes planning and forethought. The rewards are many, as families and communities can welcome people of all abilities to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the garden.

Almost everything is in full bloom in the summer. The crowns of your trees are fully leafed out, your garden is robust, and your lawn is healthy. At least, we hope so. As the summer goes on, you’ll need to address some elements of your landscaping, and this list of summer landscaping dos and don’ts can help you along the way.

Don’t Handle Tree Care Yourself

First, let’s talk trees. They’re hardy and don’t require significant day-to-day intervention, but they do need attention when facing certain issues. While general summer tree care tips include attending to your trees yourself, you should also know when to defer to tree care professionals. The reason: tree care can be dangerous and requires specific knowledge about what each tree species needs. You’d best stay off the ladder when you have a unique pruning need, and you certainly shouldn’t try to remove a tree yourself.

Do Water Early or Late in the Day

Meanwhile, you should avoid watering your plants in the harsh midday sunshine. Watering in the early morning and around dusk ensures water can successfully reach plants’ roots to nourish them. If you do water around noon, a large percentage of water will evaporate before it reaches the roots. Also, watering early or late in the day is simply more comfortable for you as you skirt the uncomfortable sun and spend time outside in cooler temperatures. And if your watering system is automatic, conserve water and plant health by not overwatering.

Don’t Shirk Your Landscaping Routine

Another item on the summer landscaping dos and don’ts list is to retain a rhythmic yard-care routine. One secret to making weeding in your garden easier is to weed a bit every weekend so they don’t spread everywhere. Likewise, mowing your lawn every week or so keeps it healthy and is a much better option than scalping your lawn infrequently, which leads to brown spotting.

Do Plan Next Year’s Garden

Our final note—have some fun looking forward as you observe your garden in full bloom. See where your operation can “grow” and incorporate some novel plants or change up your gardening space. Learn from this season—perhaps even journal about a couple of issues you’ve had as you deal with them—and plan to make smart improvements for next year. For those looking to try something new, consider buying a seed bomb with a mix of interesting flowers to brighten up your backyard next year.

Spring is starting to kick into high gear, so now is the perfect time to begin preparing your home for warmer weather and days spent in the sun. After a long winter spent cooped up indoors, your home will likely be in need of a little TLC. Once you’ve completed the basic spring cleaning tasks, you can set your sights a little higher and tackle more intensive home renovations. This guide to three of the top spring renovation projects for your home will help you start the season off on the right foot.

Revamp your outdoor spaces

As the weather warms up, your family will likely want to spend more time enjoying the great outdoors. As such, one of the top spring renovation projects for your home is to spend some time revamping your outdoor spaces. Start by giving your deck or patio space a thorough cleaning. Power wash the patio and stain or weatherproof the deck to help restore the space. With everything looking spick and span, you can then set your sights on designing an outdoor space that your whole family will enjoy.

When renovating your deck or patio, carefully consider the space’s functionality. If your family loves to host backyard barbecues and bonfires, be sure to outfit the space with enough seating options for all your family and friends. If you’d prefer to create a backyard oasis, consider embracing the beauty of nature and installing a relaxing pond or water feature instead.

Set your garden up for success

As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. Prepare your garden for both showers and flowers as soon as possible—this will ensure a flourishing bounty by the end of spring. Start by weeding your garden and removing any dead plants or twigs from the previous season. Edge around your gardens and consider building a barrier to protect against garden pests. Once you’ve created a clean slate for your garden, the fun can truly begin.

Roll up your sleeves and prepare to put your green thumb to the test as you plant the garden of your dreams. Once the larger plants and flowers have been settled, place several sheets of seed paper throughout the garden. This will fill up some of the empty space and will help you achieve a lusher garden.

Clear out the garage

The garage is a regularly overlooked area in many homes. It’s for this reason that the garage is one of the top spring renovation projects for your home. As the weather warms up, you’ll access the tools and equipment in your garage much more frequently. Renovating your garage and creating a reliable organization system will put all your most used tools within reach.

Start by removing all items from the garage and giving it a thorough cleaning. Install several shelving units throughout the space and organize tools and equipment according to season. Not only will this make things easier to find, but it will also help streamline the processes for any upcoming spring landscaping projects.