Home lighting is an area where we can really make a difference as far as energy conservation goes. A few simple technological advances that are really neither all that technological, nor advanced have given us options to make our lighting more energy efficient and thus, more cost-effective as well. These have been around for years now, but aren’t as widely used as perhaps they should be. Let’s take a look, shall we.
Early light fixtures seemed to have a flair for the dramatic. Impossibly large ornate chandeliers greeted guests in foyers and lit large dining rooms while providing a decadent ambiance. This mindset continued with the creation of the Tiffany lamp at the turn of the century. Louis Comfort Tiffany’s new lamps featured scraps of stained glass fashioned together to form exquisite shades with solid metal bases, a timeless design that is still produced today. These and other early light fixtures were a graceful combination of beauty and practicality.
The dilemma is how to get the most attractive lighting in and around your home while keeping your electric bill down. Let’s start with some facts about home electric costs. If your home was built before 1990, chances are that it uses more electricity than homes built after 1990. Energy efficiency just wasn’t a major concern in this country (and elsewhere in the world) before the 1990s. Another interesting fact is that most energy experts agree that major appliances are the primary energy hogs in our homes and lighting costs only amount to about 20% to 25% of our electric bills.
A major trend in the last decade is the use of a home office from which to conduct your business. Some of these offices represent part time work used to supplement the primary income earned at a job outside of the home. However, more and more individuals are earning their primary income (and spending the entire workday) in a home office. My wife, for example, works for a company doing outside sales. The company accepted her request to transfer her base of operations to a home office. While there was an initial outlay of capital expenditures on furniture, a fax and a copy machine, the company provided the computer system and pays for the internet connection. Everyone wins. My wife’s commute to work is 35’ and she is available for over time, which the company frequently needs.
Pendant lighting is a relative newcomer to the market of home lighting fixtures. Although it has been around since the 1940’s, this type of lighting is just coming into its own as homes are built with higher ceilings. Although there is no evidence of this, the development of the pendant light was probably a reaction to finding a form of lighting that was less elaborate than the chandelier but that served basically the same function and purpose.
One of the most common choices in illumination for homeowners is outdoor security lighting. Keeping an area well lit during the hours of night goes a long way as a deterrent to help keep intruders and burglars away. Brightness and responsiveness are two of the most important characteristics to look for in outdoor security lights.
It is important for outdoor security lighting to be bright. The more illuminant a fixture is, the farther its light will carry. Many outdoor security lights are designed to use very high wattage bulbs which emit brighter rays. More focused illumination is important as well, so that the light does not “get lost” in the vast darkness of night.
Lighting is an important part of any home improvement project. Foyer lighting is especially important in home improvement because the foyer is the first room that guests see when they enter your home. Great foyer lighting will set a great first impression. Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing foyer lighting in your home improvements.
Now that you have set up your home, it is time to give some cool thoughts to the lighting aspects. While everyone would naturally like to get the best for their dream home, the budgets of this world often play spoilsport. More so, you also have to keep your home decor and the overall settings in mind while selecting your home lighting - most expensive may not necessarily be your best bet for a breathtaking effect.
Recessed lighting has become quite popular during the past few years. Its modern design and a subtle way to light an area has made it an appealing choice for discriminating homeowners and those remodeling their current home. There are no wires to conceal or exposed surfaces to dust. Besides changing the bulbs, recessed lighting is virtually maintenance free. This type of lighting is also called can or pot lighting because it is embedded in the ceiling (or sometimes in the wall) and is contained in a cylindrical container.
Let’s face it; most of the time we spend at home in the United States (and certainly elsewhere) is spent in the kitchen or in the dining area, as some prefer to call it. In earlier times, homes often lacked a living room and the kitchen area served the multipurpose use of a place to take meals and a place to socialize and just plain relax.
In many places, things haven’t changed that much over the years because family traditions are typically hard to change.
