Lighting and Ceiling Fans specializes in energy saving lighting. We have programs to lower your electric bills through energy saving lighting.

Precise lighting effects with lower energy consuption: This means lower overall cost.Low voltage is more cost energy efficient than any high voltage lighting system. Cost for running a low voltage system are minimal in comprison to high voltage. Energy used for lighting is dramatically reduced when more efficient low voltage lighting is used.

The right bulbs can help make your home or business more effective and efficient.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about lighting.

Fluorescent Lights

Q: Our home has six recessed lights in the ceiling. The home builder suggests using 75-watt indoor floodlights. These bulbs get a lot of use because they are in the kitchen and dining area. They cost between five and $10 each to replace, so I am considering fluorescent lights instead. What are the pros and cons of fluorescent fixtures, and would the energy savings be enough to warrant changing the lighting?

A: Going with fluorescent is a very good choice. There is a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL, flood-light type) that can just screw into the existing fixtures. They can be purchased at Lighting and Ceiling Fans. A 75-watt incandescent can be replaced by 20 watts of CFL while maintaining the same light level. They are also rated for 10,000 hours, whereas the standard flood lamps are rated at only 1,000 hours. So, over the life of the lamp, the CFLs pay for themselves about three times in the amount of energy they save and you don't have to replace as often.

Full-spectrum lights

Q: Are any full-spectrum lights energy efficient?

A: Full-spectrum refers to the light source's ability to render the color of objects correctly, or in their natural state. In other words, objects that look like they should under natural light, or daylight.

Full spectrum fluorescent lights are a good choice. The color rendering index (CRI) is the measurement. On a scale of zero to 100, the closer the CRI is to 100, the more correct, or natural any object will look. Standard fluorescent is typically around mid 60s on this index.

The higher the CRI, the more expensive the lamp. Be sure to check to see if your current ballasts will operate these type lamps. This information is indicated on the ballast.

Lights on or off?

Q: Is it cheaper to continually turn your lights off whenever you leave the room very briefly, or is it better to just leave them on and only turn them off when you'll be out of the room for long periods?

A: The answer to your question really depends on the type of light bulb you use. Incandescent bulbs (standard light bulbs) are very inefficient as a light source. Only about 10% of the energy consumed by the bulb actually goes to producing light, the rest of it is turned into heat. So if it's an incandescent bulb, turn it off when you leave the room, especially during the summer when the air conditioner is running.

Fluorescent lighting, on the other hand, is more efficient and cool burning so you can leave these fixtures on if you're planning on returning to the room within five to 10 minutes. If you'll be away longer, you should turn them off.

Voltage sag

Q: My lights dim slightly when I operate my portable space heater. Is this a result of operating the heater? Does it indicate a dangerous situation?

A: Dimming of the lights when the heater is operating does not indicate a dangerous condition. Sending electricity through the wires always causes a reduction in the voltage because of the resistance of the wires. When the voltage is reduced beyond a certain level, and depending on a person's sensitivity, type of lighting and other factors, the effect can become noticeable.

The effect is similar to a drop in water pressure in the shower when the toilet is flushed. In both the electric and plumbing case, there is resistance to the flow of the fluid in the conductors (pipes or wires). To fix this effect requires elimination of some of the resistance, such as by installing larger pipes or wires, or more circuits so that each circuit has less water or power load to serve.

Though no hazard is necessarily indicated, if the circuit breaker isn't in good order, or if it is not the appropriate size, there could be a dangerous condition. A circuit breaker is designed to protect the wires against being overloaded.

Assuming that the electric system in the house is in good order, the dimming is not a technical problem. However, further concerns only can be addressed by hiring an electrician to inspect and test the house wiring and circuit breakers.

Please note: It is not sufficient to test the GFI (ground fault interrupter) which is mandatory in bathroom circuits. Most bathroom circuits have their GFI protection in the form of an outlet with GFI capabilities. GFIs are intended to protect people from being shocked, not to protect the house wiring. Protecting the house wiring is the function of the panel-mounted circuit breakers.

Q: Leed?

A: Approved by United States Green Building Council members in late 2007 following a two-year pilot phase, the LEED-for-Homes program covers new housing construction, including mass-produced homes, custom-built residences and low rise, multi-family buildings. Unlike other certification systems that apply to individual projects. Under LEED-for-Homes, for example, residential structures earn points towards a LEED rating-platinum, gold, silver or simply “certified” – by satisfying specific green building criteria. The six LEED credits categories cover sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovative in design. The number of points a project earns determines the level of LEED certification. Home builders can earn points in LEED’s Energy and Atmosphere category by following one of two paths. The first path consists of meeting LEED’s own specific energy criteria. The other is to follow Energy Star standards. Today hundreds of homes have received LEED certification; thousands more are in the application process. The USGBC plans to LEED certify one million homes by 2010. By 2020, USGBC envisions 10 million LEED-certified homes. The National Assn. of Home Builders (NAHB) sees things a bit differently. It will launch its National Green Building Standard certification program during 2008 Intl. Builders Show in February. To be certified under NAHB program, homes must meet energy-efficiency levels that are least equivalent to Energy Star. “We are bringing green building into mainstream,” said NAHB President Brian Catalde.

Efficient Lighting Technology

Efficient lighting starts with a light source that provides the required amount of light for the fewest watts of power. For general lighting where standard household incandescent bulbs have traditionally been used, the most efficient light source choice now is compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). In some applications, such as under-cabinet lighting in a kitchen, lighting emitting diodes or LEDs are probably the most efficient choice because they are efficient at providing a small amount of light in a given direction. Has the job of choosing the “most efficient” light source become more complicated? Yes! There are more technology choices and the correct choice may involve more than simply comparing the light output and wattage numbers printed on the lamp carton. More then ever before, the specifier or purchaser of lighting fixtures needs more information and help to make the proper lighting choice that will not only save energy, but also result in quality lighting which satisfies the needs of the user. In 2007, the “ban-the-bulb” legislative efforts in countries around the world and several U.S. states confirmed that it is not only critical to increase consumer education; but that the opportunity to improve residential lighting efficiency has become compelling. Below is some information about today’s lighting technology which will help you make those energy-efficient choices.

Lighting and Ceiling Fans are big fans of green design

We prefer either fluorescent or LED (except for the bulbs in the fridge and the oven). We recommend 6-inch cans with LED retrofit kits, and yes, they are dimmable. Unfortunately, there is not a simple formula to convert an LED light output into an incandescent equivalent. It is still mostly subjective. It depends on the LED manufacturer and color temperature. Cool-colored LEDs tend to give more light than warmer-colored. In our own experience, manufacturers tend to give a higher lumen output than what we see in reality. This was true in the industry long before the advent of LEDs. For example, LCF can attest that a 12w LED MR16 gives 35w worth of light in the spot version and 20w in the narrow flood version, which is a bit less than what manufacturers are putting out there. As far as retrofit trims go, the Permlight 6-inch LED down light trims (permlight.com) give around65w worth of light for 15w of LED. The LLF 6-inch (LLFinc.com) is a bit more, but with a more even distribution. They say that the 12w gives 650 lumens. To keep cooler color temperatures (even though they are great for closets and laundry rooms); they just want an incandescent quality of light. They don’t know that LED s and fluorescents come in different color temperatures. They are used sources that are all basically the same color. LEDs may be too dim for high ceiling commercial applications at this point, but we have great faith that this is possible in the very near future. Fluorescent is a better choice for the here and now. Although we still warn people that fluorescent lamps have mercury in them and need to be treated as toxic waste and disposed of safely. The LLF web site does show some pretty convincing commercial applications.

Energy Saving Ceiling Fan Tips

In summer, run the blades counter clockwise (downward) to cool more efficiently. On hotter days, dialing up the thermostat by only two degrees and using a ceiling fan can lower air conditioning cost by up to 14 percent over the course of the cooling season. For year round saving, reverse the fan motor (clockwise), and operate on low speed in the winter to redistribute warm air. Use low voltage CFLs in the ceiling fan light fixture for cooler running light bulbs and more energy savings. Ceiling fans cool only people, not the room, so when leaving a room turn off the ceiling fans.

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