| Greetings RE-friends!
This simple idea has probably been done many times before, so if it has recently, then just consider it a reminder, or possibly for the newer ones on the site. I made a very simple mirror window light to reflect sun light thru my window and onto the ceiling, thus GREATLY increasing the light in the room and saving valuable CFL watts from being used from my small renewable energy system. Power saved in the day boils down to much more TV watching at night on my big power hungry 27" TV.
The sun rises in the East, and I work for many hours a day in a center room that has only one small window on the east side. At about 10am the sun goes higher and there simply is not much light that comes in the window. I have been using a 23 watt CFL bulb and a 13 watt CFL bulb in the ceiling lights of this room for over a year now. But now I thought up something better. The following is the BEFORE and AFTER photos after I installed my mirror window reflector in my small window:
Here is with the mirror reflector: (photo taken seconds later)
Now I save ALOT of precious Watts each day the sun is shining until about 2pm in the afternoon when the sun passes the downspouting on this side of the house. Even after this time it still helps alot. Until this time, it shins brightly on the white ceiling and it lights up the room with NATURAL light just like a skylight!
It also lights up my living room TWICE as bright now.(I made 2 of them) This room is on the North side, so sun never came in directly thru the small side window, but now I reflect it in and onto the ceiling! It is easy and quick to adjust by lowering the window alittle bit and pulling on the two strings. It only needs to be adjusted a couple times a day. (or more, if you want to 'milk the system')
I think it don't look too bad from the outside. I think this is the 'look of the future'. (especially after everyone's electric bill goes up 20% this year--and about 100% in a couple of years. Time to invest in solar panels people!!)
It was fairly easy to make. I bought a long 4' "cheap" mirror from 'Lowes home center' for $6. I cut it in two with a glass cutter and make wood frames around the 1/8" thick glass (mirror). I painted it white and put alittle silicon caulk around the inside frame. I then screwed two strings (or ropes) to the top of the frame and one string to the center of the bottom. The strings simply go thru the window and the window holds the strings in place until adjustment is needed according to the angle of the sun.
I am very happy with the results. Its like living in a greenhouse.
Also I believe the NATURAL light makes me happier. (something about promoting 'free radicals' in my cells???)
I know that this idea is SO simple it's almost stupid. But perhaps someone might find it remotely interesting and decide to try it themselves to save some WATTS during the day in order to be able to watch more TV at night!
(P.S. -For safety, always have a frame around that glass. Kids run around a house in the dark without thinking. We're not too bright when we're kids.) |
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