How Lighting and Shades Work Together in All Seasons
Setting the Perfect Scene from Winter Through Fall
The changing seasons serve as a reminder of life’s ongoing transformation. As autumn gives way to winter, the world's natural light softens, and crisp, cold air begins to settle in. Before we know it, spring approaches with budding leaves and a bright, blue sky, reminding us of new beginnings.
These seasons influence our daily activities, health, energy levels, and environment. For some, winter’s reduced light results in changing sleep patterns and moods with a melancholy that’s hard to shake.
A home that adapts to the changing seasons offers effortless transitions. Automated shades manage natural light eloquently and effortlessly, bringing in illumination and warmth in the winter, while keeping the summer heat out. Meanwhile, indoor lighting automatically adjusts to align with the natural light of the sun.
Here, we’ll explore the impact smart lighting and shades have on the seasons and how they set the perfect scene throughout the year.
SEE ALSO: The Impact Lighting Control Has On Sustainable, Luxurious Living
Managing Changing Light
Smart lighting and shades manage your home’s entire lighting system, ensuring the ideal level of illumination from when you wake until you retire. The shades slowly open at dawn, and the light fixtures brighten to a soft, golden glow. In the evening, the shades lower for privacy, and the lights transition to an amber hue that elicits relaxation.
Throughout the day, your systems are in constant communication, with lights dimming and brightening as the shades open and close to protect the home from direct UV rays and craft the ideal indoor lighting.
But what about when the seasons change? In the Bay Area, between the longest day of the year and the shortest, we lose about 5 hours of daylight. Does that mean that the shades open when it’s still dark outside and close long after evening has arrived?
Today’s astronomical timing uses pre-programmed geographical data to control the lights and shades based on the actual times that the sun rises and sets. There’s no need to reprogram the system for each changing season. Instead, you enjoy a smart home that operates as it should every day of the year.
Keeping the Cold Out
At Northbay Technology Company, we partner with industry leaders in smart home automation. The global leader in lighting and shades is Lutron, a brand that’s found in some of the most prestigious buildings, including the White House and Windsor Castle.
Lutron’s “Winter Warm” setting opens the shades in the winter, especially those on South-facing windows, allowing the sun’s warmth to enter your home. Their “Summer Cool” setting closes the shades, blocking solar heat gain during the hottest days of the year. Both settings reduce energy usage while maintaining a more comfortable environment.
Lighting for Every Season
When we think of summer, our minds turn to the bright, brilliant light of the sun. In the winter, as the days grow shorter, warm, cozy light brings a sense of comfort. As it transitions to spring, brighter white-blue tones align with the changing natural world.
We can program your lighting system to shift with the seasons, adjusting color temperature, intensity, and tone to mirror the beauty of summer, winter, spring, and fall. When spring arrives and you celebrate with the first garden party of the year, press a button to illuminate your living room in soft pastel lighting with highlights of spring green representing the energy of the season.
Natural Illumination
This lighting system can also transition throughout the day, mimicking the natural light outside your windows. By using your home’s geographic coordinates, it automatically changes your indoor lighting to match the changing sunlight. This synchronization creates the sensation of natural light flooding your home during the day and a soft sunset settling around you in the evening.
Are you ready to create a greener, more beautiful home aligned with the natural world? To learn more about the role of lighting and shades, contact Northbay Technology Company today.
