Thursday, June 21st, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
If you are beginning to make a conscious effort in making energy-efficient adjustments to your home or business, you may qualify for federal tax credits if you meet the eligibility requirements.
In most cases, commercial buildings can benefit in federal tax deductions of up to $1.80 per square foot by indicating a savings of 50% of their combined energy use; this means your ventilation, heating, cooling, water heating as well as your interior lighting energy costs.
LED bulbs and CFLs offer immediate and long-term savings for you and your company. Replacing the standard incandescent bulbs with energy efficient ones will save you money on your electric bill and in turn possibly qualify you for these federal tax credits. Focusing your attention on commercial LED products when lighting your business will absolutely give you an advantage for the future.
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
Lighting a space in your home isn’t always the easiest process and it is often questioned how much lighting is necessary within a room, depending on the type of room being lit. There is actually a method one must utilize when designing a lighting plan for your home.
First, you must determine the square footage of the room you want to light. Figure out the length and width of your space and then multiply those numbers – for example, if your room is 10 feet wide and 14 feet long, the square footage of that space is 140 square feet.
Next, figure out what is known as the foot candle of a room, depending on the type of room or room purpose. A foot-candle is how illuminated the light is one foot from the foundation of the light. Here is a common spectrum of foot candles needed per room:
• Living Room – 10-20 foot candles
• Kitchen General – 30-40 foot candles
• Kitchen Stove – 70-80 foot candles
• Kitchen Sink – 70-80 foot candles
• Dining Room – 30-40 foot candles
• Bed Room – 10-20 foot candles
• Hallway – 5-10 foot candles
• Bathroom 70-80 foot candles
After the foot candles are determined, the next step is to decide how many lumens are needed in your space. A lumen is a measurement of light. So, if you are trying to light your 100 square foot dining room (which needs 30-40 foot candles), you will need 3,000-4,000 lumens in order to light that space efficiently.
In order to find what kind of fixture can achieve this amount of lumens, just make sure to check the rated lumens based on the max wattage of the bulb and fixture as a whole. For example, a 4 light semi-flush mount that has a bulb max wattage of 60 and a fixture max wattage of 240 will have a rated lumen of 2,688.
From here it is up to you to decide what style and type of fixture you think looks best in your space, which is definitely the fun part.
Wednesday, May 30th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
ET2 Lighting’s “Spot-Light of the Month” showcases the fresh and avant-garde Neo Collection; a collection that features an array of pendants, wall sconces and one very unique 8 light flush mount.
According to ET2 Lighting, “Neo stuns with optic crystal glass cubes that take on the hues and tones of the spaces they inhabit.”
They say the substantial yet compact design of the Neo Collection is ideal for dining rooms, entry ways, hallways and media/entertainment rooms. Wherever these fixtures end up in your home, they will entice with a dramatic and striking illumination of light.
The crystal glass cubes emulate that of an ice cube reflecting in a glass, while dark and light tints spread through the clear, glossy chunks. A xenon bulb sits within each cube on the fixture, shining from within and allowing the polished chrome finish to luster even more.
The wall sconces featured in the Neo Collection range from 1 to 2 lights, the pendants are offered in 1, 3, 5 or 9 lights (with each cube being suspended in a unique and progressive manner). The flush mount, shown here, is an 8 light fixture with rows of crystal cubes that emit a brilliant sparkle.
ET2 Lighting offers a wide selection of inventive and bold collections of lighting and continues to be the pioneer of contemporary designs that renovate an area from a commonplace space to a unique stretch of territory.
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
Corbett Lighting has done it again. For the second year in a row, the distinguished U.S manufacturer of premium fixtures has won the “Lighting Manufacturer of the Year” Award at the 23rd Annual Arts Awards Gala for 2012.
This award is recognized as one of the most esteemed acknowledgements in the lighting industry and this year’s winner was announced at the Dallas International Market and the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market. A private panel of judges chose the nominees and the awards were decided based on votes from independent manufacturers and designers, retailers, sales representatives and other industry professionals.
As a nominee, Corbett submitted the Dolcetti Pendant; a wonderfully stylish and lavish design featuring glamorous shells, crystal and stainless steel subtleties that combine to make an overall magnificent fixture.
According to Corbett Lighting, “It is Dolcetti’s innovative use of materials and exquisite handcraftsmanship that singles it out among the competition and makes it a standout for Corbett Lighting.”
Corbett Lighting has been creating tasteful and elegant designs for more than 40 years, manufacturing an array of fixtures for residential, hospitality, commercial and contract settings. Corbett’s inspired expertise and valued dedication to detail is apparent in the majority of their designs and products. Their chic 2012 spring line of products, known as Temptation, holds the company’s reputation to be true with its use of high-quality, stylish yet unique materials and exclusive creations.
Corbett Lighting is part of the Littman Group, which includes: Corbett Lighting, Troy Lighting, Hudson Valley Lighting, CSL (Creative Systems Lighting), Troy Lighting Contract Hospitality and Troy Landscape Lighting.
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
Earth Day is coming up this April 22 and for years it has brought awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment and pushes everyone to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable planet. There are several ways in which people can make a difference and one of the easiest is to incorporate energy efficient lighting into their homes.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs have transformed energy-efficient lighting. Compared to traditional incandescent options, LEDs are long-lasting, resilient, temperate, Mercury-free, cost-effective and extremely more economical. They last 10 times as long as compact fluorescents with an operational life of about 100,000 hours and consume 50% to 90% less power than conventional light bulbs. LED bulbs normally use only about 10 watts of electricity, which is equivalent to 60 watts of an incandescent. They remain cool by converting energy to light instead of heat and are made of recyclable components and do not contain any toxic or hazardous materials.
Although LED bulbs are initially more expensive, the cost is recovered over time – the longevity allows for significant savings in electricity, operating costs and bulb replacement.
There are various designs and models of LED bulbs so when choosing a bulb remember to assess your preferred wattage (a 3W LED is comparable to a 45W incandescent), decide between ‘warm’ light used for accent lighting or ‘cool’ white light for task lighting. LEDs are also offered in an array of standard base or pin base bulbs to choose from, depending on your sockets.
So, in celebration of our Planet Earth, do something green for the environment and switch to energy efficient lighting with LED bulbs; they drastically reduce your energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gasses and other pollutants and are instrumental in saving you money in the future.
Monday, January 23rd, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
Specific elements need to be taken into consideration in order to properly light your home theater. First, avoid harsh lighting that would cause a glare on the screen. Be sure the lighting you choose has dimming capabilities, such as recessed lighting, that will allow you to choose the brightness and create a certain ambiance. Home theater lighting is essential in providing comfort and avoiding eyestrain that can occur from viewing a movie in total darkness.
Here is a list of essential home theater lighting:
1. Ceiling: recessed lighting
2. Wall: decorative sconces
3. Aisles: rope lights or accent lights
4. Storage: under cabinet lighting
If you need further assistance with selecting the appropriate lighting, please feel free to call one of our lighting professionals at 877-237-9098, or email lightingdesign@littmanbros.com
Monday, January 2nd, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
Add Contemporary Lighting to your home to complement your style:
Contemporary/Modern Lighting should incorporate a very clean and simple design with minimal use of accents or ornamentation. Contemporary designs represent a very subtle complexity of up to date trends; smooth lines, fresh geometric shapes with the most current and avant-garde materials are used. Since this style of lighting is so minimalist and modest it tends to be a wonderful choice of lighting for an array of settings.
This 8 Light Chandelier from Access Lighting is an excellent example of Contemporary/Modern Lighting.
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
by Littman Bros Lighting
Littmanbros.com has recently added a Shop by Collection feature that that will make buying lighting online easier than ever before. Most leading Lighting manufacturers make thousands of products to choose from. Though this is true, they will create Collections or Families of fixtures that follow a particular style and finish.
Selecting Lights for your entire home is as easy as selecting a collection you like. Within each collection are Chandeliers, Sconces, Flush/Semi Flush Mounts, Bath Lights, and Pendants that will offer you home a coherent style. Let your fashion sense guide you through our vast Collection list including manufacturers such Hinkley, Hudson Valley, Savoy House, Kichler, and many more. We are very excited about our new Designer Lighting Collection feature and we hope you share the same enthusiasm. Create a glowing master piece in your home with Littman Bros Lights. And, as always, thank you for choosing Littman.
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
by Littman Bros Lighting
The Littman Bros. love summer. For us, summertime is full of long runs, motorcycle rides, and most importantly family barbeques. Get ready for this warm weather holiday season by maximizing the beauty and functionality of your yard space with Landscape Lighting from Littmanbros.com.
Summer is our favorite season of the year and we would love to help you celebrate the sunshine and warm moonlight by making your outdoor areas shine. Though it comes in many forms, there are a few categories that are essential for adding safety and beauty to your outdoor spaces. Generally we like to begin with Path Lighting. These lights are best placed in six foot increments. We offer a wide selection of Path Lights from the leading Landscape Lighting manufacturers such as Kichler, Sea Gull, and Hinkley. No walkway is complete without glistening light.
Another area that will get a good deal of use during the summer months is your deck. As the place of mass congregation during the Fourth of July and Labor Day, you want this are safely lighted for your family and friends. Browse our selection of Deck and Step Lights. Have a fun and safe summer.
Monday, June 27th, 2011
by Littman Bros Lighting
Recently my sister, who is a successful licensed realtor, was telling me that a simple way to add significant value to your home is with the addition of stylish Outdoor Lighting. She explained that while exterior lights emphasize the beautiful character of a home, they also enhance a home’s safety. These are two features that directly influence the value of real estate.
Littman Bros. Lighting is ready to help you add value to your precious investment. The world of Outdoor Lighting has been quickly growing in recent years. Without some direction, selecting the right Exterior Lighting Fixtures can certainly be overwhelming. The arrival of summer makes selecting the right lights even more important. Littman Bros Lighting is ready to help you select Outdoor Lights that will truly make your home illuminate with beauty on these warm summer evenings.
Outdoor Lights generally begin at the entrance. Outdoor Wall Lighting provide amazing illumination for the front, side, and back entrances to your home. Littmanbros.com carries a wide variety of sizes, style, and finishes to guarantee your exterior lights accentuate your home while remaining unique in your neighborhood. Additionally, Outdoor Hanging Lighting and Outdoor Ceiling Lights cast a beautiful downward light for added illumination.
Placement is essential for outdoor lighting. Wall Lights should stand at two-thirds the height of your door while Hanging Lights and Ceiling Lights should never go below the height of your door. As always feel free to contact one of our lighting experts with any questions about placement or style. Protect your family and your investment with the simple addition of Outdoor Lighting from Littman Bros. Lighting. Have a great Holiday Season.