US Department of Energy Lighting Design Tips

Tami, Creative Lighting Staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:25:11 +0000

Energy Efficient Indoor Lighting Design

When designing indoor lighting for energy efficiency, you want to consider some basic design principles and methods.

Energy-efficient lighting design principles include the following:

Remember that more light is not necessarily better. Human visual performance depends on light quality as well as quantity.
Match the amount and quality of light to the performed function.
Install task lights where needed and reduce ambient light elsewhere.
Use energy-efficient lighting components, controls, and systems.
Maximize the use of daylighting.

Here are some basic methods for achieving energy-efficient indoor lighting:

Install fluorescent light fixtures for all ceiling- and wall-mounted fixtures that will be on for more than 2 hours each day. These often include the fixtures in the kitchen and living room, and sometimes those in bathrooms, halls, bedrooms, and other higher-demand locations.
Install dedicated compact fluorescent fixtures, rather than compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in incandescent fixtures, so that fluorescent bulbs continue to be used for the life of the house.
Use CFLs in portable lighting fixtures that are operated for more than 2 hours a day.
Use ENERGY STAR® labeled lighting fixtures.
Use occupancy sensors for automatically turning on and off your lights as needed.
Consider light wall colors to minimize the need for artificial lighting.
If recessed lights are used in a ceiling with an unconditioned space above it, use only Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved fixtures that are airtight, are IC (insulation contact) rated, and meet ASTM E283 requirements.

To read at the US Department of Energy Site, click here

Visit Creative Lighting to talk to lighting experts who can help with lighting your home in an efficient , functional, and beautiful way!

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Half Yearly Sale – March 2012

Tami, Creative Lighting Staff — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:07:53 +0000

Prices Better than what you’ll find online!

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Mardi Gras Time for MN Builders, Remodelers, Architects & Designers

Tami, Creative Lighting Staff — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:10:24 +0000

It’s Mardi Gras Time in Minnesota!

Kick start your year with great information, a chance to network with friends and colleagues and see the latest products and services at BATC’s Minnesota Builders Show (MBS).

We’ll be there in booth 304 and we want to see you there as well. This show brings more than 1,000 builders, remodelers, architects and interior designers to the Minneapolis Convention Center on Thursday, February 23, from 3-8 pm.

Here’s what you’ll find at this year’s show:

ñ BATC Foundation Recognition Luncheon from 11:30 to 1:00 pm ($25)

ñ Free Industry Forecast – What’s Up with 2012 – with NAHB Economist Eliot Eisenberg and Minnesota State Demographer Tom Gillsapy from 1:00-3:00 pm

ñ More than 200 exhibit booths

ñ New Green Path Pavilion

ñ $500 Cash Giveaway

ñ New Exhibitor Demonstration Stage

ñ New Casino Night (after the show floor closes – with an additional $500 cash drawing)

ñ Great Mardis Gras meal (four free dinners per attending company)

Be sure to block off the evening too because the show is offering a brand new Casino Night from 8:00 pm to midnight. Just walk across the hall from the exhibit floor and you’ll be transported into the Minnesota Builder Show Casino – where we’ll give you chips galore to play. It’s another chance to visit, reconnect and make new friends.

See you there!

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Diode LED: Standout in a Crowded Field

How Do I Light My Foyer?

Tami, Creative Lighting Staff — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:00:24 +0000

Here are a few guidelines we follow when lighting a foyer for our clients:

To determine the proper fixture width: add the length and width dimensions (in feet) of the foyer area together. This number will be approximately the proper width (in inches) for the fixture you’ll need there. The visual weight, materials used and design of the fixture should also be taken into consideration.
To determine the proper fixture height: The bottom of the fixture should be at least 7 feet from the floor. Depending on ceiling height, you can use a flush mount, a semi-flush, or if you have a tall ceiling, you could use a 2 or 3 tier chandelier. Sconces may also be added to the mix to add another layer of light.
If there is a window above the front door, center the chandelier so it can be seen from outside. If the foyer area is large, you may also need to include wall sconces to insure proper lighting levels. Install them approximately 60 inches from the floor, 6 – 8 feet apart.
Table or buffet lamps can be added to tables to add extra lighting and a cozy feel to a larger foyer.

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WINTER CLEARANCE SALE

Tami, Creative Lighting Staff — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:21:42 +0000

With everyday prices as low as the internet, this sale means great values on clearance items throughout the store!

Take advantage of our clearance prices In-Store at:

1728 Concordia Avenue , St. Paul MN 55104

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Add Light with a Torchiere Lamp

Lesa, Creative Lighting Staff — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:32:51 +0000

A common problem in many homes is not having enough light, especially in the main living areas. A very practical, and often times inexpensive solution to this problem, is making use of a torchiere lamp.

Torchiere lamps throw light up toward the ceiling allowing the light to reflect throughout the room and fill the entire space with light. The most common way to use this type of lamp is to place one in a corner of a room which will not otherwise get adequate light, or to place one beside a couch or chair. There are a multitude of vendors who design quality torchiere lights. In our showroom we have designs ranging from contemporary to traditional, and prices ranging from the low hundreds to multiple thousands and everywhere in between.

If you are looking to increase your overall light level in any room of your home a torchiere may be the easiest solution to the problem.

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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Light Therapy

Tami, Creative Lighting Staff — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:42:37 +0000

As fall and winter begin in the upper Midwest, we are often asked about SAD lighting. There are many products on the market making all different kinds of claims. Since these products are not approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, it can be challenging to figure out which will work best for your particular needs. That’s why it’s important to understand your options before you choose one. Mayo clinic has provided some guidlines for shopping for these products:

How bright is it? Some light boxes are brighter than others — which means you need to use them for less time each day than dimmer light boxes to achieve the same effect. Look for a light box that provides the right intensity of light when you’re a comfortable distance away. For example, it may be effective to use a light box that produces 10,000 lux (a measurement of light intensity) 12 to 14 inches (30.5 to 35.6 centimeters) from you for 30 minutes each morning. However, using a box that produces 2,500 lux at the same distance may take two hours or more to achieve the same effect.

Can it be positioned appropriately? Think about where you’ll want to place your light box. Keep in mind, most light boxes need to be positioned within 2 feet (61 centimeters) of you. Make sure the light box you choose can be positioned appropriately.

Does your doctor recommend it? Before you purchase a light box, talk to your doctor, mental health provider or pharmacist. Ask about the light box you’re thinking about buying. He or she may offer additional guidance or tips to make sure that treatment with a light box is safe and as effective as possible for you.

To read the full article from Mayo clinic: click here

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Update Your Lighting & Still Keep Your Polished Brass Hardware?

Tami, Creative Lighting Staff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:52:39 +0000

Some people in the industry say that the polished brass finish will never go out of style. With that being said, when looking in various showrooms or online, one would be hard pressed to find any fixtures in polished brass.

What do you do when you have polished brass fixtures and hardware throughout your home and want to update?

Currently, bronze and satin nickel finishes dominate the options for finishes in light fixtures and hardware. Depending on budget and how long you plan on living in your home, you can minimize your polished brass by working with the newer finishes that are out there.

Let’s take a bathroom for example, in the past, most of the time the light fixture finish would match the sink faucet hardware. Which in turn, also matched the knobs on the door cabinets, shower and bath hardware and possibly the mirror. You can minimize the polished brass by replacing the light fixture with a finish that matches the colors in your vanity counter top, wall color, and or flooring color. If your bathroom has warm colors in the the three above mentioned areas, a bronze fixture with cream glass may look better. If you have lighter or white colors in your counter, walls, or floor; a satin nickel finish may work better. The mirror frame color could even match your light fixture for a further tie in.

Some bronze finishes have a mixed painted finish look in which multi-colors like brass and copper show through the bronze finish and can pick up those colors within your space.

A finish from Capital Lighting called Winter Gold has a silver/gold mix that could tie in with polished brass hardware. Kichler Lighting has a Cambridge Bronze finish that’s a mix of antique brass and a bronze finish which makes it a lighter bronze. Hinkley Lighting has a Brushed Bronze finish or a Brushed Caramel that is a lighter finished brushed brass look.

While polished brass may not be the current trend, by updating with the newer finishes that compliment and work with the brass, you can create an updated look for your home.

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Selecting Lighting for a New Home or Remodel

Michelle, Creative Lighting Staff — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:14:19 +0000

Many customers come in, not really knowing where to start when it comes to lighting a new home they are building or doing a large remodel. Here are some things to consider when starting to think about lighting.

Call a lighting showroom, and set up a time to meet with a consultant. Set aside 2-4 hours for this process, any longer than that and you’ll be feeling drained.
Make sure to bring plans if you have them, any pictures you might have, and an idea of a budget. Keep in mind, if you haven’t shopped for lighting in a long time, prices have changed.
When you come in for the meeting, the consultant will most likely go over your whole plan with you, and make some recommendations of placement and types of lighting for each area, going over details with you.
A list will be made, for all of your lighting needs, and notes.
Usually, you will walk around the showroom and look at different options, and jot down any that you like or could work.
It will be different for every consultant, but usually you will get photocopies or emailed links of all the selections you made, and then you’ll either meet again, or work via email to make all of the final selections. Also, your consultant may want to visit your home to do a walk-through, and talk with your electrician to verify decisions and clarify any questions. The rest of the terms will be discussed at the time of ordering.

Things to Note: You will want to plan the locations before they install all of the junction boxes/wiring. Lighting is the last thing to go in, but you’d want to get it on order at least 2 months prior to your move-in date. Lighting is usually a 2-3 week lead time, but there can be unforeseen backorders. The earlier you can pick out your lighting, the better.

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LED Recessed Lighting: How is it different from Incandescent?

Rob, Creative Lighting Staff — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:52:22 +0000

With rising energy costs and a general wish to consume less energy, many homeowners are deciding to install LED recessed lighting. LED recessed fixtures have reached a point in the marketplace where the cost-performance ratio makes them a viable replacement for older incandescents.

Why choose LED for recessed lighting? What are some of the differences from traditional incandescent that make LED worth considering?

LED, when performing correctly, uses roughly 25% of the energy of incandescent sources. This not only leads to energy savings, but fewer watts equates to less heat in the lit spaces. LED will produce a quarter of the heat of incandescent, and even that small amount of heat is filtered up through the top of the recessed fixture, rather than projected downward like a flood lamp in an incandescent fixture.

Today’s LEDs are reliable and rated operating life can exceed fifteen years. Imagine not having to get up on a ladder and change a light bulb until your toddlers go off to college! If you tire of bulb-changing, the investment of LED recessed lighting may appeal to you.

In the not-so-distant past, people have been turned away by the harsh, blue light of LED. It is now common to find affordable, bright, color-true LEDs in a variety of recessed trim styles and sizes.

Homeowners with existing recessed fixtures may be unable/unwilling to tear open their ceilings to install an entirely new LED system. Thankfully, many manufacturers supply ‘retrofit’ canisters that replace older incandescent trims, and utilize the existing recessed housings. Replacing a trim takes only minutes, and there are styles available for less than $100. If you factor the energy and bulb cost over 15 years for the old light, the money doesn’t seem so daunting.

Even if you are reluctant to change an old fixture, you can still pick up a reliable LED flood bulb for around $30 that will give you the same brightness as incandescent, yet last up to 50 times as long.

Whether new construction, retrofit trim or replacement bulb, you will find many choices of recessed lighting that will bring you energy savings, lower heat and extremely long life- all with a light quality that will please even the most discerning eye.

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