Going Green

The reasons that prompt you to turn all or some of your home green can be based on a desire to help save the earth, improve your health, save money or even make life more convenient. Here we tell you how to achieve a green home using product that is available to you through Lights of Oconee or by means already at your fingertips.

Energy Star Recessed Lighting –
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During new construction or remodel you have the option of installing fluorescent or LED housings.  This achieves two major objectives of Green construction – a source of light that uses significantly less energy than incandescent or halogen lamps with a much longer life.  The longer life means a reduction in the amount of waste in our landfills (be sure to recycle properly) and you benefit from far less inconvenience by not needing to change the light bulbs as frequently. 

Light Green
You can cut your energy costs by replacing blown bulbs with fluorescent bulbs made specifically for recessed fixtures.  These bulbs are now being made to look like the bulbs that you are replacing.  Be careful however, as fluorescent bulbs cannot be operated with dimmers at the present time.  Retrofit units are available for LED retrofit and these are capable of being dimmed.

Energy Star Decorative Interior & Exterior Light Fixtures –
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These fixtures will be made with fluorescent bulbs or LED units.  Because of the appearance of fluorescent bulbs there will generally be opaque globes or glass panels to hide them.  The fixtures are assembled with sockets that will not allow you to convert back to incandescent bulbs.  You will not be able to find Green traditional chandeliers that use candelabra base bulbs but you can furnish the rest of the home with Green fixtures.  LED fixtures are used primarily in areas that require small amounts of bright light such as under kitchen cabinets or mini-pendants.

Light Green
Bulb manufacturers are now making compact fluorescent bulbs that resemble standard household bulbs.  It is no longer necessary to look at a spiral compact fluorescent in an open fixture such as over your vanity.  Be careful with the bulbs you select to convert fixtures to Light Green as not all fluorescent bulbs can be used in an enclosed fixture such as a flush mount or base up such as in an exterior light or vanity light.

Energy Star Ceiling Fans
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Ask our lighting specialists about those fans that have received the Energy Star designation as they have been specially designed to be more energy efficient based on RPM efficiency, blade size, blade span and blade design.  Any up or down lights will also qualify as Energy Star.  The most energy efficient fans are now made with DC motors.  A remote control that is included with the fan will allow you to brighten or dim the lights and adjust the speed as well as reverse the fan.

Light Green
Change light bulbs in the fanlight to fluorescent.  Reverse the fan to move warm air down in the winter.  Turn the fan off when you leave the room for any length of time as a fan does not cool or warm the room in your absence.  It only causes you to feel cooler or warmer by moving air across your body.   Proper use of ceiling fans reduces cooling and heating expense all year.

Energy Star Ventilation Systems
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The three purposes of an exhaust system are to remove moisture from an enclosed area, control odor and replenish fresh air.  A green exhaust fan uses an energy efficient AC motor or better yet, a DC motor.  The motor is ultra-quiet so that the consumer will allow the unit to run as necessary rather than turn it off because the noise is annoying.  If the unit has the extra feature of a light it will be an energy star light bulb.  The motor, while running quietly, will also be strong enough to pull fresh air into the bath room or laundry.  The finest Green exhaust units incorporate motion sensors and timers so that they engage or disengage based on activity in the room.

Light Green
If your budget doesn’t include a Green unit you can still improve the health of the home and family by using the exhaust system that you do install to its maximum capacity.  Let it run after a shower or bath to minimize mildew buildup.  Put a fluorescent bulb in the light compartment or have your electrician install a timer switch on the wall for the unit.

Lighting Controls
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Technology has reached the point where you can have your entire home wired to control lighting, heat, air conditioning, televisions and music systems by finger tip at your bedside stand or kitchen desk.  These elaborate systems are the ultimate in energy conservation.

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The mere installation of dimmers on light fixtures automatically improves energy consumption by reducing the light to 90% efficient and will extend the life of the bulb, even when turned on to full level.  This reduction is imperceptible to most eyes.  You can take dimming a step further by installing occupancy or vacancy sensors.  Indoor occupancy sensors turn lights on and off based on motion in an area and the best ones also detect levels of ambient light so that they will not turn a light on in broad daylight.  An indoor vacancy sensor is one that is turned on by way of a switch but which turns the light off when the room is vacant.

Outdoors you can use motion sensors and photocells to minimize energy consumption, extend bulb life and improve security.