August 1st, 2012

by Littman Bros Lighting

There are many advantages to using ENERGY STAR lights; choosing more efficient bulbs or fixtures can make a difference in your overall carbon footprint, limiting greenhouse gases as well as save you money in the long-run.

ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) use less energy than typical incandescent bulbs, about 75 percent less energy. According to energystar.gov, replacing the 60w incandescent bulbs with a 13w CFL will save you more than $30 in energy costs throughout the lifespan of the bulb.

ENERGY STAR fixtures and bulbs are far more durable than other products out there; as indicated by energystar.gov, “pin-based fixtures must last 10,000 hours, about 10 times longer than standard. CFLs must last 6,000 hours.” And all ENERGY STAR products come with a 2-year warranty, far more than the industry norm.

Opposed to the average incandescent bulbs, ENERGY STAR CFLs produce about 75 percent less heat, reducing costs in cooling your home and making you more comfortable. Because of this lower heat production, this also makes ENERGY STAR bulbs much safer to the touch; they light up to less than 100 degrees, whereas Halogen bulbs can get as hot as 1000 degrees, causing burns and sometimes fires.

ENERGY STAR lights are one option in order to save money and be more energy efficient; you can always go another way by using LED lighting as well. Both types of efficient lighting will benefit you in the long run.

July 26th, 2012

by Littman Bros Lighting

Basements can be a fun room to decorate with various types of lighting to be used; they are larger spaces with often very little natural light emitted throughout. Because of that, in order to light a basement adequately, you may need an assortment of lights for your space. You should look for the best ceiling lighting with styles that will match your decor. You need overall general lighting while adding that extra accent and task lighting to certain areas throughout the basement.

Track Lighting – Track lighting is easy to install and is truly a newly renovated basement’s best answer for lighting. If track lighting isn’t what you are looking for then recessed lighting always can work too. It doesn’t take up space in the room and can be extremely adaptable for your space.

Table Lamps/Floor Lamps – These are wonderful choice for that extra decorative lighting you will need in your basement. Also, if you have lower ceilings in your basement (some basements tend to have lower ceilings than other rooms in the home) then floor lamps will be a great way to make your ceilings seem slightly taller than they actually.

Pendants – You can use pendants in your basement to hang over a specific area for ample illumination – for example over a bar area, pool table, or larger game table. Depending on the style of pendants you choose, these fixtures can also offer a great focal point for the space since pendants usually come in unique shapes and colors. You can use your pendants for accent lighting, task lighting or complete ambient lighting. Dimmers are also recommended in order to set the mood for your space.

Under Cabinet Lights – Under cabinet lighting is a great way to add lighting in subtle areas of your basement. If you for instance have a type of media/entertainment viewing area in your basement, under cabinet lighting is a great touch to a space when you are trying to create that mood lighting during a movie or show. Almost under the same category as this is LED table lighting, which can be used to line the bottom of your floors for safety when walking through a dark part of the basement.

July 25th, 2012

by Littman Bros Lighting

Maxim’s “Spot-Light of the Month” is shining a light on the quality, outdoor mission style that is the Santa Barbara Collection. Maxim’s Santa Barbara Collection features outdoor wall sconces, flush mounts, post lights and hanging lanterns to display a shining brilliance outside your home.

This month’s highlighted collection is made with an ultra-durable material called Vivex, which has twice the strength of resin, is non-corrosive and UV resistant with a 3 year warranty, perfect for outdoor fixtures braving the elements.

According to Maxim Lighting, this collection has a “distinctive masculine quality.” They say the collection is unquestionably a mission style fixture with bold lines connecting horizontally, creating that signature pattern; the robust column of seedy glass encloses a sturdy platform displays three pillar candles that shine a clear, inviting light through the large and generous windows.

The novel shape and solids brass design truly stands out and the warm finish of the “chocolaty sienna finish makes a statement all of its own with an esthetic range of hues from deep chestnut copper highlights.”

July 19th, 2012

by Littman Bros Lighting

The 12 volt is commonly used for under cabinet lighting. The 24 volt is only used for 40-foot or longer run of under cabinet lighting. When looking for under cabinet lighting for your home, remember to consider the lifespan, its energy efficiency and the light source of the fixture – cost and style isn’t everything when it comes to under cabinet lights.

July 12th, 2012

by Littman Bros Lighting

To begin the selection of your ceiling fan you should determine the size of the room that you would like the fan to be installed in. Once you have the dimensions of the room you can select the size of the fan you will need for the space. Here is a little key for you to know what size to choose from:

• Up to 75 square foot room – 29-36” fan

• 76-144 square foot room – 36-42” fan

• 144-225 square foot room – 44” fan

• 225-400 square foot room – 50-54”fan

Once you have calculated the size of the fan, you should find the price range you would like to be in. If the fan will be used in an area like the bedroom or office, the team at Littman Bros Lighting recommends using a better quality fan so you will hear less noise coming from the fan.

After you have determined the size and price range of the fan, it is up to you to pick the style (the fun part). Some other things to consider will be whether you want a light on the fan and what type of control you deem works best in your space.

July 11th, 2012

by Littman Bros Lighting

The Vertigo family of lights is a very unique style of lights designed by Corbett Lighting. The interesting shape of the pendants might seem to make it difficult to change the bulb efficiently; but it is a fairly easy process. There is a set screw on the bottom rim to loosen on the fixture and then the glass will slide down, allowing you to change the bulb effortlessly.

July 3rd, 2012

by Littman Bros Lighting

Lighting uses about 10 percent of the total energy consumed in a home so it is always questioned how one can reduce that energy consumption. Using less energy greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves the air quality of the environment. Here are some ideas to help you reduce your energy costs and intake:

• Energy efficient bulbs like LEDs, CFLs and fluorescents are the best way to reduce your energy costs. Using them all throughout your home will be beneficial not only to your wallet but also the environment. Energy efficient bulbs like these produce considerably more light and last much longer than the typical incandescent bulbs. Anything that is an ENERGY STAR product or ENERGY STAR qualified lighting will help in your strive for energy efficiency. Fun Fact: According to epa.gov, if every American home swapped their five most used light fixtures or bulbs in them with ENERGY STAR we would save about $8 billion each year in energy costs.

• If you don’t want to go in the LED bulb direction, use more efficient PAR bulbs, especially with task and accent lighting; a 50-watt PAR30 bulb produces about three times more light than 1 65-watt BR30 bulb.

• Keep light bulbs and fixtures clean because it is known that dirt absorbs light, a clean bulb produces more light than a dusty or dirty one.

• Use dimmers with photoelectric lighting controls, such as motion or occupancy sensors or timers to routinely turn off your lights. The dimmers can be used throughout your home and the timers would be a good idea for your outdoor lighting when the sun rises.

June 28th, 2012

by Littman Bros Lighting

It is important to get the ultimate performance from your ceiling fan and if a fan is wobbly it is not accurately circulating the air through the room. If a fan is wobbly it could be from various things; loose screws, warped or unbalanced fan blades or the fan is just not properly installed. Here are some tips to correct a wobbly fan:

• Initially, you should get a ladder and once up by the fan, hold onto it and attempt to shake it. If it moves easily then it is most likely the screws loose by the junction box. Detach the canopy and check to see if the junction box is secure in the ceiling – make sure to tighten all the screws and bolts just to double check everything is secure.

• Tighten all the screws holding the blades to the fan motor.

• Make sure the blades are not bent, warped or even out of their correct positions and that they are centered. In order to check this you can get a measuring device, a yardstick would be good, and measure the distance from the tip of one blade to the ceiling. From there, rotate the fan and see if the rest of the blades measure the same distance. If there are some higher or lower just adjust them accordingly.

• If your fan is hanging from a long rod then it is typical you might experience some wobbling. If this bothers you, try switching to a shorter rod and it should resolve the problem.

June 27th, 2012

by Littman Bros Lighting

There are plenty of ways to add a beautiful lighting design to your home but it is of course necessary for you to know the various types, styles, sizes and shapes of lighting that are out there. First you must know the three basic types of lighting you will be choosing, depending on the space you are lighting:

• General Lighting – Supplies an area with a wide-range of illumination and is known as ambient lighting. It allows for an adequate level of light and can be achieved with track or recessed lighting, ceiling lighting, chandeliers or wall sconces.

• Task Lighting – This type of lighting helps you carry out your everyday tasks like games, reading, sewing and homework. Task lighting can be supplied with table or floor lamps, under cabinet lighting, track lighting or pendant lighting; this lighting should be brilliant enough to prevent exertion on the eyes.

• Accent Lighting – Adds a nice touch to any space. It is meant to be an accent for your current décor and tends to highlight curtains, walls, paintings, sculptures and or various possessions around the house. Use track light, under cabinet light, tape or wall sconces to create your task lighting.

Once you know the basics about lighting it is now time to choose how you will light your space. Here is a list of just some of the different fixtures you can choose from:

• Chandeliers – Add a beautiful and elegant style to your space. They usually have an ornate set of billowing arms (depending on the style) with a large amount of bulbs (depending on the size). Chandeliers are a great way to impress upon entering your home or during dinner with guests. The ever-changing designs and unique placements of chandeliers create a wonderful stylish accent to the décor in your home. Try them in your foyer, kitchen, dining room, great room, bedroom or bathroom.

• Pendants – The larger pendants are usually seen in the foyer, kitchen or great room and mini pendants can go in the kitchen over an island or above a bar area. Pendants provide your home with both task and general lighting.

• Wall Sconces – Will bring all three types of lighting into your home. They are great lights to line your hallways or accent chandeliers in dining rooms or great rooms given a matching design.

• Under Cabinet Lighting – Offers task and accent lighting and tend to be placed under kitchen cabinets to light the countertops. Under cabinet lights supply illumination in areas you can’t reach or places task or accent light is needed (either in the office, storage spaces or the shelves in your kitchen.)

There are even more ways to light your home. Don’t forget portable table or floor lamps, vanity lights, and track lighting. With this list of the basic types and kinds of lighting you are sure to shine in your home’s lighting design scheme.

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.