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May 12
“Green” Light Special (Luxecoliving.com, May 12, 2010) In addition to cabinetry, the lighting you choose for your home has a very significant impact on your health and the environment.  Thus, it is essential to be conscious of the type of bulb, materials of fixtures, power output, and your habits.  Below are some suggestions on how to make your lighting have the least negative impact on the environment. • Natural Light – Natural lighting is the most ideal and best source of lighting you can have in your home. It is FREE of cost and gives off full-spectrum light. When designing your home, maximize the number of windows along the sun’s course and/or include skylights wherever possible. In addition, modern technology has greatly enhanced glazing options with low-E glass to solve the problem of drafting, inefficient windows.  Today, it is possible to capture the daylight in your home, as well as beautiful views, and incorporate them into your design without worrying about losing costly heat or air conditioning. • CFL Bulb – Although compact florescent bulbs cost more than incandescent bulbs, they use 75% less energy and last about ten times longer.  Also, because CFLs release less heat, they are safer and your cooling load becomes significantly less inthe summer. • LED Lights – Light-emitting diodes are a technology that allows for extremely energy efficient and long-lasting light bulbs.  These lights are only beginning to become available and affordable to the consumer.  Although they still cost quite a bit morethan CFL bulbs, LED lights can reduce energy consumption by 80-90% and last around 100,000 hours.   Definitely LED is a new source of lighting, which was unveiled at the 2010 Light Fair.  It is affordable, contains no mercury, is recyclable,dimmable and long-lasting. • Materials – “Green” lighting is not always about the bulb.  Pay particular attention to the materials going into your light fixtures.  Are they made with natural, recycled, or reused materials? Copper, recycled glass, aluminum and sustainably harvested woods are great material options to select from. • Dimmers & Motion Sensors  – Motion sensors can be a good way to keep lights turned off when not in use.  Similarly, dimmers can give you just the right amount of light without having them on maximum voltage. • Good Habits & Recycle – Get you and your family into the habit of shutting off your lights and recycling your dead bulbs. As efficient as your lighting might be, it still doesn’t make sense to have lights on when you are not around.  Make sure to turnoff the lights in one room before you enter the next.  Also, don’t forget to recycle! CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, which means they cannot be thrown in the trash.  Look for local recycling services in your area to best dispose of your bulbs. http://www.luxecoliving.com/luxeco-lifestyle/“green”-light-special/

“Green” Light Special (Luxecoliving.com, May 12, 2010)

In addition to cabinetry, the lighting you choose for your home has a very significant impact on your health and the environment.  Thus, it is essential to be conscious of the type of bulb, materials of fixtures, power output, and your habits.  Below are some suggestions on how to make your lighting have the least negative impact on the environment.

• Natural Light – Natural lighting is the most ideal and best source of lighting you can have in your home. It is FREE of cost and gives off full-spectrum light. When designing your home, maximize the number of windows along the sun’s course and/or include skylights wherever possible.

In addition, modern technology has greatly enhanced glazing options with low-E glass to solve the problem of drafting, inefficient windows.  Today, it is possible to capture the daylight in your home, as well as beautiful views, and incorporate them into your design without worrying about losing costly heat or air conditioning.

• CFL Bulb – Although compact florescent bulbs cost more than incandescent bulbs, they use 75% less energy and last about ten times longer.  Also, because CFLs release less heat, they are safer and your cooling load becomes significantly less in
the summer.

• LED Lights – Light-emitting diodes are a technology that allows for extremely energy efficient and long-lasting light bulbs.  These lights are only beginning to become available and affordable to the consumer.  Although they still cost quite a bit more
than CFL bulbs, LED lights can reduce energy consumption by 80-90% and last around 100,000 hours.   Definitely LED is a new source of lighting, which was unveiled at the 2010 Light Fair.  It is affordable, contains no mercury, is recyclable,
dimmable and long-lasting.

• Materials – “Green” lighting is not always about the bulb.  Pay particular attention to the materials going into your light fixtures.  Are they made with natural, recycled, or reused materials? Copper, recycled glass, aluminum and sustainably harvested woods are great material options to select from.

• Dimmers & Motion Sensors  – Motion sensors can be a good way to keep lights turned off when not in use.  Similarly, dimmers can give you just the right amount of light without having them on maximum voltage.

• Good Habits & Recycle – Get you and your family into the habit of shutting off your lights and recycling your dead bulbs. As efficient as your lighting might be, it still doesn’t make sense to have lights on when you are not around.  Make sure to turn
off the lights in one room before you enter the next.  Also, don’t forget to recycle! CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, which means they cannot be thrown in the trash.  Look for local recycling services in your area to best dispose of your bulbs.

http://www.luxecoliving.com/luxeco-lifestyle/“green”-light-special/