Posts Tagged ‘Choosing’

Choosing the Right Type of Residential Lighting

Lighting is one of the first things people notice and it is an essential element of an attractive home. Good, energy-efficient lighting is more economical than poorly thought-out lighting. Many contractors and builders will work directly with their customers to select lighting systems that not only operate economically in new and remodeled houses but also effectively meet people’s visual needs at home.

The first thing you need to consider when deciding upon the type of residential lighting you want for your home, is how energy efficient your choice is. A convenient way to achieve energy-efficient lighting is to use “ENERGY STAR” labeled lighting fixtures. These labeled lighting fixtures use less energy than other fixtures, which in turn saves you money on utility bills, and helps to protect the environment.

Your best bet is to choose fixtures that can use compact fluorescent lamps. Low voltage halogen spotlights and floodlights provide beautiful accent lighting. New fluorescent fixtures have practically no flicker or hum, can be dimmed, provide incandescent-like warmth, and last more than five times longer than incandescent lamps. This minimizes both replacement cost and the need to access hard-to-reach places to change a light bulb.

Interestingly enough, it seems that this type of residential lighting makes people look good, looks warm in color, makes colors and furniture look good and therefore many people want this type of lighting in their own homes.

Outdoor lighting is key for not only the “curb appeal” of a home but also for the security. The first step to having an efficient and safe home is to simply purchase outdoor lighting fixtures and then experiment with numerous lighting techniques in outdoor settings. Dramatic uplighting, downlighting, backlighting and wall splashing effects can all be achieved with some practice. Balance in both placement and intensity will make all the difference.

Keeping a home secure is at the top of most people’s list. Outside flood lighting reduces the risk of burglary by highlighting the exterior of a home at night. Choose from lights that remain on all night or motion-sensitive lights that come on only when someone approaches your home. Motion-sensitive lights save energy and could catch a would-be thief by surprise.

Making sure you have the proper residential lighting is such an important responsibility as a homeowner. Do your homework and find the companies that will provide you with the best quality and service. Remember that proper lighting improves the function, appearance and energy efficiency of a home.

Choosing the Right Light Bulbs

When shopping for light bulbs online or in a store, understanding some common lighting terminology you will encounter as well as the different types of bulbs that are available is helpful.

First, you will probably notice that there seem to be a million options in home lighting. The heat emitting bulbs to which most people are accustomed are called incandescent light bulbs, which use heat to produce light and waste a majority of the energy they consume in the in the process. Compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, are fluorescent bulbs for use in standard fixtures which represent the home lighting version of the long used fluorescent tube lights. CFLs are rapidly gaining a stronghold on the lighting industry due to their significant energy conservation compared to incandescent bulbs. Halogen lighting is similarly energy efficient and produces very bright light, but the great deal of heat it produces makes it less desirable than fluorescent bulbs for many consumers.

If you have ever purchased a light bulb, or any electrical gadget for that matter, you have probably come across the term watts. A watt is a measurement of electricity, or the amount of work that can be accomplished using a given amount of electric current at a certain voltage. If you are replacing a standard incandescent bulb and are satisfied with the intensity of the light it produced, you can simply purchase a bulb with the same wattage. However, if you are replacing standard incandescent bulbs with more energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting, you will not need to purchase the same wattage as your old bulb. Why? Fluorescent bulbs are multiple times more efficient at utilizing electricity, and therefore require fewer watts to produce the same amount of light as a higher wattage incandescent bulb. For instance, you can replace a 75 watt incandescent bulb with a 20 watt fluorescent bulb, and achieve the same level of light output. The packaging of most CFLs denotes the equivalent incandescent wattage for your reference. Bear in mind that many light fixtures and lamps specify the maximum wattage bulb they support, and adherence to this specification is important for your safety.

While brightness levels for different rooms are largely a matter of personal preference, it helps to consider what level of lighting you prefer for specific applications when purchasing light bulbs. Many consumers utilize bright lighting in the kitchen for visibility, but dimmer ambient lighting in the living room for the atmosphere. You can use the bulbs already in your home to determine the appropriate wattage to purchase, either adjusting up for more brightness, down for less or staying with the same level.

You will also notice when purchasing light bulbs that the options span a wide range of prices. Compact fluorescent lights have a higher purchase price than incandescent bulbs, but are probably a better value when you consider the energy savings and longer life. Also, check to see if your utility company is offering a rebate or other incentive for switching to fluorescent lighting, as many are. Being educated on the pros and cons of different types of lighting that are available will help you make an educated decision for your household.