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Thursday, 20 November 2008 02:00 |
The interior lighting of any home space contributes hugely to the atmosphere within that space and therefore to your mood whilst you inhabit that space. Every area of your living space needs a mixture of lighting styles, different ones for task lighting, background lighting and ambient lighting. Every room that has a theme applied to it or a particular task performed in it will need as much thought put into the lighting of the room as goes into the décor, furniture and appliances within that room.
The traditional lighting of a room, a pendant and bulb from the ceiling and a wall switch is fast becoming a thing of the past. Whilst wall switches still remain in the majority of rooms many have been replaced by a dimmer switch, automatic movement sensing switch, or daylight detection systems that turn lights on automatically as dusk approaches.
Thought for the environment has also influenced many people to replace their old tungsten light bulb for a modern mini fluorescent that consumes approximately 15% of the energy for the same light output.
Halogen lighting is on the increase. Popular in kitchens and offices where more directional light is required it can also be used to highlight a painting or sculpture. It gives a brighter, crisper light than the traditional tungsten light bulb and highlights features far more clearly.
When completing the design for a room it may be beneficial to include some form of lighting display. Not complex pyrotechnics but a simple fibre optic lamp or a tried and trusted favourite such as a lava lamp, now found far more commonly as they make a come back into fashion after their hey-day in the 1960Â’s. Not to everyoneÂ’s taste but the lighting of an aquarium can make an interesting talking point within a room where social gatherings are held. It provides for the practical needs of the inhabitants of the aquarium whilst also providing a focal point for the room. It is also a starting point for conversation and provides ambient light within the room. There is the proven relational benefit of unwinding in front of a suitably lit aquarium.
Never forget that natural light is the most precious form of light that comes into your house. It can be enhanced using glass ornaments and reflected around using mirrors. The coverings that you use at your windows can affect the amount of natural light that is available. Blinds can help protect from direct sunlight but still reflect light into a room whilst curtains should be tied back away from windows to allow as much light as possible to enter the room.
A more traditional form of lighting is the candle. It can be used on special occasions over a romantic meal to complete the atmosphere in a room or a scented candle can be used to disguise unwelcome odours from pets, smokers and other sources. Some older antique lighting fixtures can be given a new lease of life by having them converted to use candle effect bulbs that appear to flicker in the same way that the original candles would have but do not bring with them the problem of lighting many candles and replacing them on a regular basis.
However you decide to light your home ensure that you plan it out properly before you do it and always use a competent person when carrying out alterations to lighting and electricity supply.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Karen Hughes is an interior decor consultant, get further lighting ideas at Lighting Capital this is your first stop for information about lighting.
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Saturday, 08 November 2008 09:01 |
You may be used to your standard watt light bulb. But nowadays it seems that fluorescent lightings are really gaining popularity.
Unfortunately, over the years fluorescent lightings have carried the negative stigma that they provide flickering, sickly, green-tinted, institutional-like, headache-inducing, noisy light. But, those lights that used to be favored only for lighting the garage are making their way into other rooms.
Today, the way of fluorescent lighting has changed. It is not only one of the most efficient options offered, giving the longest-lasting bulb, but it also comes in a variety of colors, types, and sizes. And, best of all, thanks to the new electronic ballasts, they are very quiet.
But you may wonder what exactly makes a fluorescent light a fluorescent light.
Fluorescent lightings are phosphor-coated, glass tubes that are filled with an inert gas and also a small amount of mercury. Since different brands also can have different mixes of the gases that are inside, fluorescents produce a wide assortment of color light that can easily match the warm glow often given off by incandescent.
In order to operate correctly, all fluorescent lightings need a controlling ballast. The ballast alters the electric current that flows through the fluorescent tube, activating the gas that is inside, causing it to glow. Newly developed electronic ballasts have the ability to eliminate the once annoying flicker and buzz that was so commonly associated with old magnetic ballasts, which were also quite a bit heavier and less efficient.
Now there are even more impressive improvements to the design of fluorescent lightings. In order to create the same amount of light that is created by an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent tube uses only ¼ to 1/3 of the energy. In addition, fluorescent lights last 10 to 15 times longer, about 10,000 hours or even more.
When these new designs were introduced in the early 1980s, they definitely revolutionized lighting. Compact fluorescents, a variation on the fluorescent tube, works the same way. The only difference is the tube has been made smaller and is folded over in a way that it makes them fit into spaces that are designed for incandescent bulbs, with even a screw base that fits a normal light bulb socket. In addition, they operate on a quarter of the energy that is used by incandescent, also lasting ten times longer.
Since fluorescent lightings last so much longer and use less energy, they can really help you to reduce your monthly energy bill. By replacing just 25 percent of your highly-used lights with fluorescents, you can cut your energy bill nearly in half.
There are also environmental benefits of fluorescent lights, too. A single, 20-watt compact fluorescent lamp that is used in place of a 75-watt incandescent will save you about 550 kilowatt-hours over its lifetime. So, if your electricity is produced in a coal-fired plant, much like many areas are, that savings represents nearly 500 pounds of coal that doesnÂ’t have to be burned. That means that 1,300 pound of carbon dioxide and 20 pounds of sulfur dioxide will not be emitted into the atmosphere.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
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Friday, 07 November 2008 01:00 |
EveryoneÂ’s home needs some sort of outside lighting. Whether itÂ’s to help you get the key in the lock after a night out, or to emphasise some of your favourite garden features, outdoor lighting is a must.
The most common and practical lighting fixture is one that is activated by movement or an infra-red motion detector. These can be set to become active at dusk and any movement will turn the light on. It means that energy is saved as the light is off when not required but it switches on when someone moves. This type of light has the added bonus of deterring unwanted visitors and also lighting up any callers who come to your door giving you added security.
Another form of exterior lighting is solar lighting. This stores energy from the sun when lights are not required, and releases it as light energy when needed. Solar lighting can take the form of individual lamps or a major lighting installation that uses a central store of solar light stored in a battery. The individual lights each have their own solar mechanism and can be used to light paths or driveways with the minimum amount of installation work as they do not need electric cabling between them and the power source.
A major garden lighting installation will need to be done by a qualified electrician who knows all of the current regulations. Cables need to be laid in ducts to prevent damage from the weather and wildlife and so they cannot be disturbed by general garden activities, digging and the like.
An overall garden lighting scheme should not be too bright so as to annoy you neighbours but must be bright enough for the purpose they are intended. Some fairy lights strung between two trees make your garden look much more inviting than a 1000W floodlight that bathes everything in harsh white light.
Many people only venture into the garden with lights at Christmas when taste and practicality gives way to neon Snowmen and flashing reindeer all done “for the children” but often a competition between homes to see who can improve on last year’s display. I say why not? It’s the holiday season and anything that brings a bit of sparkle to an otherwise unused area in the winter months is more than welcome.
Other lighting in the garden can be used to highlight specific features. A well positioned spotlight can emphasise the features of a garden statue or a particularly precious tree or shrub. Many ponds have underwater lighting to help you see your fish and outdoor swimming pools often have lights set into the sides to improve vision in the pool.
Whatever route you decide to travel down to light your garden ensure that you have a plan before you start and you will increase your enjoyment of your outside space after daylight hours.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Karen Hughes is a decor consultant, get further lighting ideas at Lighting Capital this is your
first stop for information about lighting.
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