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There’s actually a proven formula for calculating the proper amount of general light (usually expressed as the number of watts) you should have in each room or area of your home and it’s not difficult, just some basic arithmetic. Multiply the length times the width of the room. Then, multiply that number times 1.5. That gives you the amount of wattage you need to light the room properly for general illumination. Outdoor lighting 2011 is a new trend of decoration.

Example: A room is 12 ft. x 16 ft. (12 x 16 = 192). Then multiply 192 x 1.5 = 288 watts. That means an 8-light chandelier using 40-watt bulbs would give 320 watts, which is even more light than needed. Outdoor lighting 2011 is a new trend of decoration.

For specific task lighting in areas where stronger light is needed, multiply the area’s square footage by 2.5 rather than 1.5 to find the needed wattage. A kitchen work island or a desk area where schoolwork is done are examples of task areas in your home. These same rules apply to every room or area in your home.

Steel vs. Solid Brass – How do you tell the difference? Simply place a magnet on the metal portion of a brass lighting fixture. If it sticks, it’s steel. If it doesn’t, it’s solid brass, which is generally more costly. Chandelier Installation – If a chandelier is heavier than 50 pounds, it will have to be mounted more securely to the ceiling or wall. Make sure there is enough support.

Casting or Stamping – How are they different? Casting is generally heavier with more detail and durability. Whereas stamping is lighter, less detail and durable. Generally, cast fixtures are slightly more expensive than stamped products. Wherever possible, use the same color bulbs in all lights in a room so the tone of the floors, surfaces, walls, etc. will be the same intensity.

How should I prepare when shopping for lighting? First, know your budget. Second, if possible, look for pictures from magazines that reflect your taste. Third, bring in fabric swatches or color chips for any area you are re-decorating. Natural Light – Is this a factor in the amount of light you’ll need in a room? Think daytime vs. nighttime light.

A further measure to reduce energy consumption would be to de-lamp the T8 option from four to three lamps per fixture. This would produce approximately 44maintained foot candles, and decrease energy costs by an additional 10 percent. There would also be additional material and labor savings due to the fewer number of lamps.

Green Lights is an exciting and innovative program sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that encourages major US corporations and other organizations to install energy-efficient lighting technologies.

Lights will profit by lowering their electricity bills, improving lighting quality, and increasing worker productivity. They will also reduce the air pollution caused by electricity generation.

Lighting Maintenance is one of a series of documents known collectively as the Lighting Upgrade Manual. All lighting systems experience deterioration of performance during operation and therefore require ongoing maintenance conducted either by properly trained in-house staff or an outsourced lighting management company. As the useful light distributed by the lighting system decreases, wattage remains the same, resulting in waste.

In many buildings, lighting systems are maintained in a reactive rather than a proactive manner. As lamps fail, a service request is registered and the maintenance department can schedule the replacement with its other priorities. Defective components such as failed ballasts and broken lamp holders are only replaced when they cause the fixture to malfunction. And fixtures are rarely cleaned, although dirt and dust buildup is absorbing useful light rather than distributing it.

Considering the waste in labor and energy costs involved, it’s generally advisable to consider a planned lighting maintenance program during the planning of the lighting system.

Planned lighting maintenance is the practice of organizing labor and resources to ensure consistent recommended light levels and the most economical use of the lighting system. It tunes the lighting system and optimizes performance.