La Jolla Real Estate: La Jolla Luxury Homes

Lighting Lingo For Your Luxury La Jolla Home


Like most aspects of luxury La Jolla home improvement, the lighting industry has developed its own language, foreign to those of us who haven't taken the course,  uber chic luminaries 101.  Hopefully, the lighting store that you visit will have a friendly, helpful salesperson that is willing to gently guide you toward the perfect lighting selection for your luxury La Jolla home. Just in case, here are a few key terms.

Here are a few of the industry's most often used terms:

• Watts. The standard units of measure in electricity. One watt is equal to 1/746 horsepower.

• Lumens. The standard measure of light produced by a bulb. Standard 100-watt bulbs produce about 1600 lumens.

• Incandescent Bulbs. Bulbs that have a filament that's heated to the point of glowing. The glowing filament produces the bulb's light.

• Fluorescent Bulbs or Tubes. Bulbs or tubes that are filled with a mercury vapor that emits ultraviolet light when electricity is applied. The bulbs and tubes have a coating inside that turns the ultraviolet rays into visible light.

Interior Lighting Tips
We all remember a parent complaining about every light in the house being left on. If you're paying electricity bills, you've probably said it at least once yourself! While it's true that it's a good idea to turn off a light when you leave a room, there are other ways to conserve energy with your interior lighting choices.

Switch to Energy-Wise Lighbulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 1/4 the energy of regular incandescent bulbs to produce the same number or more lumens. They also last about ten times longer than regular bulbs. Some compact fluorescents are warranted for eight years. Compact fluorescents cost a bit more initially, but the long-term savings more than offset the initial difference in price. A compact fluorescent that gives the same amount of light as a 100-watt regular bulb can save you over $80 over the life of the bulb.

Use Task Lighting. Task lighting concentrates the light where you need it. When you use task lighting, you aren't wasting energy casting light in spaces where it isn't needed. You also aren't annoying others in the area with an intrusively bright light. With task lighting, you can also use a lower watt bulb to accomplish the desired result - and that saves additional energy.

Install Three-Way Bulbs. Using three-way bulbs in touch lamps or regular three-way lamps is another good way to save energy on interior lighting. The bulb allows you to use only as much light as you need, giving you the option of brighter light when required.

Exterior Lighting
Lighting isn't limited to the inside of your home. That's why, when looking at ways to improve home energy efficiency, it pays to evaluate exterior lighting as well. Most homes have at least a light at the front door and some way to illuminate the walkway to the house; your home may have additional or decorative exterior lighting. Whatever your situation, consider these energy-saving tips:

Install Motion Detector Lights. Motion detectors are great energy saving devices for your exterior needs. They come on automatically and stay on as long as motion is detected in the area. With motion detectors, there is no need to leave a light burning while you're out. It will come on automatically to light your way when you return home.

Use Low-Voltage Lights. Low-voltage lighting can be used to light walkways with significantly less power than regular incandescent bulbs. One 60-watt string of light can illuminate up to 100 feet of walkway.

Install Timers and Sensors. You can install timers and sensors that turn the lights on at dusk and shut them off after a specific time. Not only does this save energy, it can go a long way toward making your home a less appealing target for would-be intruders.

Invest in Solar-Powered Lights. Solar-powered exterior lights charge all day in the sunlight, and then come on as darkness falls. Solar lights are slightly more expensive than regular low voltage lights, but they don't require any electricity or cords. You can place solar lights anyplace that receives sunlight.

Take a walk around the house - inside and out - and see how you can create a more energy-efficient house. It's not just money you're saving - it's also the environment. Investing in a few light bulbs or fixtures is an investment in the future as well.

Interested in home energy conservation? It's easier than you think to make your house into an energy-efficient home. From simple home improvement DIY projects like installing energy-wise lightbulbs to more extensive do-it-yourself home remodeling projects like installing replacement windows, Lowe's can help you develop a home energy efficiency scheme.