|
Archives
Natural Light Provides Key Marketing Advantage
Property owners and managers have a tremendous marketing advantage lurking
right under their noses ? or rather, right above their heads. It's the power
of daylight. Studies show that natural light has all kinds of benefits in commercial
spaces ? including dramatically reduced energy costs, improved worker productivity,
decreased absenteeism, higher employee morale and job satisfaction, and improved
mental and physical health. The list goes on and on.
While bright, naturally lit interiors are more attractive visually, they also
can be appealing from a purely financial perspective as well.
Industry experts offer compelling evidence that buildings which maximize natural
lighting technique lease or sell faster and for a higher price tag. Additionally,
because daylit buildings are more energy-efficient and comfortable, tenants
tend to stay in them longer. Marketing these buildings becomes that much simpler.
Consider the facts:
- According to the Electric Power Research Institute, daylit buildings can
result in 10 to 20 percent higher rental income than those that use only artificial
lights.
- According to the U.S. Department of Energy, artificial lighting accounts
for as much as 40 to 50 percent of the energy consumption of commercial and
institutional buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council reports that well-designed
daylighting can reduce lighting usage by 50 to 80 percent.
- According to Environmental Design & Construction, energy-efficient building
design can significantly increase the value of a property. Because the buildings
cost less to operate and maintain, energy savings can go directly to the bottom
line ? the income of the property. Capitalizing this increased income can
add $5 to $6 per square foot to the value of the building.
- According to the housing and Building Technology Division of the National
Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards, daylighting is one of
the technologies that has the greatest impact on occupant comfort, health
and productivity. Because people are willing to spend more for a comfortable
building, owners can charge a premium.
- According to a survey conducted by the Building Owners and Managers Association
and the Urban Land Institute in 1999 about what office tenants want, one of
the top responses was more natural lighting.
- Energy User News reports that quality daylighting systems offer improved
comfort, reduced operating costs and a stronger connection to the outdoors,
making them more marketable to tenants and valuable to building owners. Daylit
properties are likely to rent faster and for higher rates. Additionally, when
the owner is ready to sell the building, the investment in energy efficiency
should bring added resale value.
Solatube International Inc., the innovator of the tubular skylight product
which has been used in residential applications for more than a decade, recently
launched its SolaMaster Series, a whole new line of tubular skylights ideally
suited for commercial interiors.
As a simple cost-effective alternative to traditional box skylights, these
compact units measure just 21-inches in diameter and feature a square ceiling
diffuser that integrates into any office ceiling configuration. As with all
Solatube products, the compact, adjustable tubing fits around ceiling plenum
obstructions, and in most cases, no structural modifications are needed. The
modular design provides flexibility for building owners and easily reconfigures
to accommodate future interior layout changes.
Adding natural light is a simple way to make any property more marketable.
The difference can be night and day.
For more information on Solatube tubular skylights, call 800/966-SOLA or visit
the Solatube website at www.solatube.com.
Archives
|
