Archive

Posts Tagged ‘light fixtures’

When Is The Time Right To Upgrade Your Lights?

November 13th, 2009 No comments

Everyone who wants to save money and reduce energy consumption should inspect their home since many houses have old light fixtures which are in dire need of updating. However, many ask about when the best time to upgrade lights is. Actually, lighting needs to be brought up to date whenever something new is out and even if you have a newer home or one that meets the present day building code standards, you should still examine everything.

Everyone using incandescent lighting is wasting money and therefore it is important to replace all old bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. The main problem with regular light bulbs is that most of the energy they need is turned to heat instead of light and that is also the reason why they have to be off when replaced or they are too hot and will burn the skin.

CFL give off the same light, with less wattage than a regular bulb. While you are replacing them, you should be looking at the fixture itself. If they are old, or cracking or if they sound like their shorting out when you turn on a light, you should replace the whole fixture. Not only is it wasting money, chances are if it’s making sounds, there may be a short somewhere, which could cause a fire.

Fluorescent lights have a component inside which is known as a ballast. The function of the ballast in a tube light alters the electrical current activating the gas inside it. The older version one having a magnetic mechanism would buzz or flicker. Aside from that it had noisy parts which also made it less efficient. The new CFL lights do not have this problem since now the electronic ballasts are built in.

You should upgrade you lighting if you are still using incandescent lights and fixtures, or have the old ballast style fluorescent. You should have a professional come in and do an assessment, they can tell you exactly what you need. In many communities there are energy assistance programs that can help pay for these replacement costs. You should check with you local agencies for more information.

As far as upgrading your lights goes, it is probably best to keep up with the new technology as it becomes available and although you may not be able to afford it every time something new comes out you can keep informed on it till you can.

If you think it will be too expensive to replace everything then just start off with small things like replacing incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs. These are more expensive to purchase, but you will soon feel the savings when it comes time to pay the electric bill.

You can find out more information on when and how to upgrade your lighting through many sources, both online and in your community. If you are not familiar with all these new technologies, you should really educate yourself. Get familiar with the terminology, study up on the different kinds of lights available, CFL’s, and even LED lights are available. One thing that is important for your safety, if any of your fixtures are acting like there is something wrong, replace them immediately, or you may have a fire on your hands.

For those in the market for puck lights one of the many locations to consider placing your lighting might be as wall lighting.

What To Consider When Installing Wall Lighting

September 30th, 2009 No comments

Every now and then, there is a change in the trends in the housing industry. Developers are always looking to create that competitive edge and hopefully translate this difference into financial terms. One such trend that is commonly used in the real estate industry today is wall lighting.

In actual sense, wall lighting has existed for decades. Old English houses built in the 40s and 50s have this form of lighting already in place. Therefore, this is not really a new break through. Nevertheless, the trend is making its way back into modern developments and the clients seem to like it. Even in a market that is quickly getting crowded it is easy to be ripped off and not get value for your money. So one has to ask themselves what are the factors to consider when putting up wall lighting

The most basic factor to take into consideration is what the wall lighting is to be used for, such as if it is for reading, working or creating a mood. Regardless of what purpose the lighting is supposed to fulfill, you have to know before choosing the fixtures what you want it to do.

Something else you need to consider beforehand is the placement of your wall lighting fixture. You need to choose the exact position for it and what purpose it is basically being used for, and for this reason it needs to be strategically placed to get the maximum benefit for which it was intended.

One should also consider how they would like the wall lighting to work. Is the wall lighting going to be controlled by a switch, a dimmer or is it going to have its own power connection? If the wall lighting is going to be connected directly to a power outlet, it is going to be necessary to ensure the wall lighting fixtures are not placed too far from the power outlet.

You will be able to make your decision easier after you take the dcor and ambience into consideration for the room you are putting a wall fixture in. It is necessary also to be sure that it fits in a particular room especially where you want it located and in the end you can get the desired use and look you wanted.

Once you have thought about all the above mentioned factors you can then look around for the most suitable wall light fixture. You should look not only in stores, but also online. This way you have a good chance of finding the right fixture on sale or at a bargain price.

All the factors mentioned above are all important factors to consider while setting up your wall lighting. Since it is a long-term investment, it is best to be thorough to ensure you get the best possible results from your endeavor.

About the Author: