When it comes to your home’s energy output, there are a lot of different things that can drain your energy, such as your heater or air conditioner, especially if you have drafty windows or roof issues. However, if you’re not careful, your home’s lighting systems could be costing you money, too. Fortunately, there are ways to save energy with your lighting.

LED Is the Way to Go

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, when it comes to home lighting, you can save money when using residential LED products since they can use around 75% less energy. They can also last a lot longer (about 25 times longer, in fact) than your regular incandescent lamps.

Make Sure That It’s Energy Star Rated

Energy Star isn’t just something that you should pay attention to when it comes to your appliances. Your lights should also be rated to save energy. Ever tried to touch a traditional bulb even after it’s turned off? It’s scorching hot. That’s not the case with Energy Star lights. Sure, they are a bit warm to the touch, but you’re not going to be wincing in pain.

More people are becoming environmentally conscious as well. Since you’re not going to have to change your bulbs anywhere near as much as you would with regular bulbs, that’s a lot less waste going to landfills. You’ll also be shopping for the bulbs a lot less frequently. A large box of them can last for quite some time, which makes them even more cost-effective. Just do some research on the different brands that are out there and get ones from well-known companies that get good reviews.

Use Motion-Sensor Lights

If you’re worried about your outdoor lights staying on all night and hiking up your energy costs, consider investing in motion sensor lights instead. These outdoor home lighting options allow you to light your property for security purposes while only activating when there’s movement, so they’re using less energy while still accomplishing their goal.

When you combine energy-efficient home lighting with other energy-efficient appliances, you can greatly reduce how much you pay on your energy bills. That’s good for your mentality, too, since you won’t be stressed about your budget.

Are you looking for more home lighting solutions? Check out our selection at Premier Lighting today or contact us for more information.

Posted: September 19th, 2023

Ambient home lighting can come in various shapes and forms. Ambient lighting provides general illumination. In other words, it is not a task-lighting option. Each room in your home can benefit from ambient home lighting.

What is Ambient Lighting?

Ambient lighting describes illumination that sets a room’s color, temperature, and feel. Ambient home lighting is typically provided by ceiling lights, pendant lighting, wall sconces, and other lighting fixtures. It can add color to a room as well as provide general lighting. This type of lighting is a broad-spectrum type of lighting. It can be a great addition to any home.

What Are the Benefits of Ambient Lighting?

Ambient lighting provides general lighting, which can light up a room, but that is not all it offers. This type of lighting can create a mood in a room. Ambient lighting is often referred to as “mood lighting.”

This type of lighting is often controllable. You can control the brightness to control the “mood” in space. This lighting option distributes light evenly throughout the room, unlike task lighting, which focuses on one area of the room. For example, canister lights over a countertop in the kitchen are task lights, while overhead lights that light up the entire room are ambient lighting.

Where Can You Use Ambient Lighting?

Ambient lighting can be used in every room of your home. There are different recommendations for different rooms. For example, according to the American Lighting Association, kitchen lighting should be about 5,000-10,000 lumens for ambient lighting and about 450 lumens for each area of task lighting. For example, task lighting in the kitchen would be over the sinks, countertops, and cooking area.

Ambient lighting can be used in bedrooms, living areas, and other areas of your home in combination with task lighting. In the living room, table lamps would be the task lighting, while overhead lights or sconces would be ambient lighting.

Choosing the right home lighting is essential to enhance the look and feel of your home. Learn more about ambient lighting options to design your home lighting to bring out the best in your home. Professional support in making your lighting choices can go a long way. Get the support you need today.

Choosing the right indoor lighting fixture is essential to your home design. Clearly, one of the things that you should look for in an indoor lighting fixture is high-quality construction and materials, but that is not the only thing you should consider when you are looking for the perfect lighting option. There are three more things you need to look for in an indoor lighting fixture.

1. The Right Fixture is the Right Size

When you are considering indoor lighting fixtures you want to consider the size of the space that you will be illuminating. If you go with a light fixture that is too small for the space, you will wind up without enough light. If you go with a light fixture that is too large for the space, you will wind up with glaring light that makes the room uncomfortable to be in.

Look for a lighting fixture that is the right size for the room. For example, a 36-inch light fixture would be ideal for a 20-foot by 15-foot room, but it would overpower a smaller space.

2. The Right Fixture Works Well with Other Lighting In The Room

When you are designing the lighting in your room and deciding which interior light fixtures are right for your style, be sure to look for qualities like how well the fixture will work design-wise with other levels of lighting. For example, if you are looking to add ambient lighting to a room, before making a choice, consider how the fixture fits in with the task lighting.

3. The Right Fixture Will Deliver Energy Efficiency

Consider lighting that uses LEDs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, LED lighting can last up to 25 times longer than other options and uses 75% less energy. If you have not looked at LED lighting lately, you need to take a second look. This energy-efficient lighting delivers both style and energy efficiency. You do not have to sacrifice one for the other.

You can find the perfect indoor lighting fixture for your home by shopping at the right source. Shop today to find the perfect high-quality indoor lighting for your home.

If you are looking for indoor lighting, there is no shortage of lighting from architectural, to pendant, and recessed lighting. Each has its pros and cons. However, recessed lighting is becoming an increasingly popular choice for homeowners, public institutions, and businesses.

Recessed lighting saves space and is aesthetically appealing. However, installation requires some caution and prior knowledge. For example, according to HGTV, recessed lighting fixtures require at least six feet of ceiling space, and you have to insulate to prevent condensation from dropping into the fixture. Here are four other things you should know before installing recessed lighting.

1. Brighter Lights Does Not Mean Installing Fewer Lights

Recessed light fixtures are placed at a distance from each other proportionate to the room size. You may assume that if you install brighter bulbs, you only need a few lights. Yet, spacing is more important than brightness. If you install spaced bright bulbs, you will have well-lit spots, while other areas will have poor lighting with shadows.

2. You Can Install Recessed Lighting During Construction

Most lighting fixtures are done after construction. However, recessed lighting is easy to do during construction. It will give you more flexibility in choosing where to place wiring and fixtures that create optimum indoor lighting conditions. However, you can also install recessed lighting fixtures after construction. Just ensure you use appropriate cutting tools.

3. Strategic Wiring Can Make Recessed Lights Independent

You could have four to six recessed lighting bulbs in a room. Yet sometimes you may prefer some ambient lighting. You can make the wiring strategic by grouping several bulbs in zones. That would allow you to turn on specific zones simultaneously for custom lighting.

4. Recessed Lighting Is Not Easy to Undo, so Do it Right the First Time

Recessed lighting is pretty permanent, especially the wiring. It is challenging to switch to a new placement. Sometimes, even the building codes do not permit covering wiring junctions. Therefore, ensure you love the current plan because it is hard to change it.

Are you planning to install recessed lighting fixtures for indoor lighting? Premier Lighting prides itself on professional and convenient online shopping. We offer high-quality lighting fixtures at affordable prices. Contact us today to explore different recessed lighting fixtures.

For new construction or remodeling projects, selecting your bathroom’s premier lighting design can be intimidating. Different lighting choices are ideal for different parts of the bathroom. The shower, tub, and vanity require varying degrees of illumination and shade. Here are some suggestions for using lighting to transform your bathroom into a beautiful space.

1. Incorporate Layers of Lighting

Using three layers of lighting is a great way to improve the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom. Go for a combination of ambient lighting, from flush mounts, pendants, and chandeliers, combined with task lighting for everyday grooming tasks like applying makeup or shaving. As the third layer of lighting, use accent lighting to draw attention to the bathroom’s architectural details and decor. This approach will ensure a premier lighting setup that offers an even distribution of light.

2. Use Dimmer Lights

Adding dimmer lights gives you complete control over your bathroom’s lighting and overall mood. For small spaces, dimming the vanity fixtures may offer integrated task, ambient, and accent lighting. Dimmers are also an effective way of conserving energy. By dimming a bulb by just 10%, it will last twice as long as one at full brightness.

You can use modern dimmers with any light source, but it helps to know what to look for. Low-voltage and fluorescent fixtures need compatible dimmers, whereas 120-volt incandescent or halogen light sources need an incandescent dimmer. Dimmed bulbs will often buzz when the filament vibrates. A lower-watt bulb with a smaller filament should decrease or eliminate the noise.

3. Know the Different Types of Bulbs Available

Halogen bulbs are the gold standard. Low-voltage variants, which include an integrated transformer to convert 120 volts to 12 volts, are particularly compact and provide a wonderful sparkling effect. While they cost a few extra dollars more than incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs last three times longer.

Most bulbs feature screw-in bases that are marked medium-base (MB). They are shaped like typical incandescent bulbs and are ideal for most fixtures. The most recent compact fluorescent bulbs are up to ten times more efficient than conventional incandescent bulbs, and yet they provide superb color rendering. According to HGTV, a bathroom’s ambient lighting should be between 4,000 and 8,000 lumens, with task lighting in the mirror no less than 1,700 lumens.

Does your bathroom need an upgrade? Why not start with some great lighting fixtures? Contact Premier Lighting today for high-quality lighting fixtures at affordable prices.