Gregory’s Light Bulb

We often get questions from customers about quick and affordable ways to enhance under cabinet lighting without having to redo the entire kitchen. It’s a question asked with more than a little timidity as the words “under cabinet lighting” conjures up images of two or three electricians with screwdrivers and endless wires. But that’s unnecessary. For those who want a quick fix or are just not ready to commit to a whole new under  cabinet lighting system, the puck light from CSL (Creative Lighting Systems) is a fantastic way to get what you want without the hassle.

The CSL puck light is a small and inexpensive fixture that acts kind of like a “put anywhere” light. Puck lights are easy to install and they’re excellent for using as undercabinet lights. Also, they have a sleek design that looks good while blending in subtly with its surroundings.

We highly recommend getting a few puck lights for under cabinet lighting if you’re unprepared to do a mass lighting overhaul. You can also use them for step lights, garage lights, and anywhere else you need a small, easy-to-install light. Check them out!

It’s true.  Thomas Little, a computer engineer at Boston University, is working on ways to use LED lights as router points in order to create faster internet connection.

The idea is that by using energy-conserving LED lights as a way to access internet signals, thus bypassing  the crowded field of radio signals currently in operation and allowing faster internet connections. Here’s an excerpt from the article:

However, the most common wireless network technologies today rely on radio frequencies. Those frequencies can get crowded and slow browsing speed to a crawl as more Internet users and devices occupy the same bandwidth.

“It’s like being in a cocktail party,” Little told LiveScience, noting that the “conversation gets louder and louder” as more people try to talk.

We’re all for the possibility of getting internet access from a floor lamp. They’re definitely cooler looking than routers.

New York City has, quite possible, the most iconic skyline in the world. With world-famous buildings and a plethora of illuminated skyscrapers, the NYC skyline is a powerful example of the innovation and energy of the world’s most famous city. But NYC’s skyline uses a lot of energy to maintain its visual impact, and with rising energy costs as well as the surging “green” movement, many building owners are beginning to turn out the lights, making the NYC skyline a little less bright.

An article in the NY Times describes the sudden change of philosophy. Building owners are becoming less concerned with drawing attention to their edifice and more concerned in taking advantage of government rebates and tax credits by spending money on green-friendly building designs. So while it does cost more money to make a building green-friendly, that money is usually earned back in a couple years with the savings in energy costs as well as the government incentives. Furthermore, given that being “green” is a popular trend, creating green-friendly lighting systems in buildings is an excellent PR move.

The article discusses a number of ways companies all over New York are utilizing technology to make their spaces more energy-efficient. It’s definitely worth a read so check it out! If you’re a business owner, you may find some great ways to reduce energy costs for your business.

It’s getting close to that time of year again, and it’s no surprise that we love the holidays and all the lighting opportunities and creative ideas that abound. But amidst all the hoopla and good times, it’s important to take smart safety precautions for our holiday lighting.

A stark reminder of why it’s necessary to take safety measures when creating your holiday lighting display is Shawn Miller, a young man from Illinois who was electrocuted when attempting to toss a string of lights into the trees in his front yard. The lights got tangled with nearby power lines, resulting in 7200 volts of electricity running through his body and the eventual loss of his left hand. Here’s an excerpt from a recently published article:

“Miller had to be revived three times and ultimately, survived the tremendous shock. He lost his
left hand and a finger on his right hand, suffering 27 exit wounds throughout his body. Dozens of surgeries and skin grafts later, he is a walking miracle who wants to offer others the
gift of electrical safety awareness for the holiday season.”

Miller has now teamed up with SafeElectricity.org to spread the word about electrical safety tips to prevent injuries and death, especially during the holiday seasons when we deal with so many lights and lighting displays in outdoor environments - something most of us don’t do on a regular basis. Here are some tips you can use utilize for your lighting:

• Never throw holiday lights or other decorations into trees near power lines.

Don’t throw your lights into the trees.

• Use only lights that have been safety tested and have the UL label.

Look for the UL Certified logo!

• Before use, check each light string for broken sockets, frayed cords, or faulty plugs. Replace damaged strings. Always unplug light strings while replacing bulbs.

• Don’t string together more than three standard-size sets of lights.

• Make sure extension cords are in good condition, are UL-approved and rated to carry the electrical load you will connect to them.

• Match plugs with outlets. Don’t force a 3-pronged plug into a 2-pronged outlet or extension cord.

• Do not overload outlets. Use surge protector strips if multiple outlets are needed.

• Keep electric cords away from high-traffic areas, and don’t run them through doorways, or hide them under rugs or carpets.

• Outdoors, use only lights, cords, animated displays and decorations rated for outdoor use. Cords should be plugged into outlets equipped with GFCIs. Use a portable GFCI if your outdoor outlets are not equipped with them.

• Do not staple or nail through light strings or electrical cords, or attach cords to utility poles

• Don’t let children or pets play with light strings or electrical decorations.

• Place fresh-cut trees away from heat sources, such as heat registers, fireplaces, radiators and televisions; and water frequently.

• Always unplug lights before going to bed or leaving your home.

<—-DO NOT DO THIS!!!

• Lastly, and maybe most importantly, DO NOT wrap your pets or even your kids in lights. As cute as the photo op may be, a fractured wire or fractured bulb can result in a really bad electrical shock. Needless to say, a small child and pet are at a substantially higher risk to suffer serious injury from electrocution than dults are, so if you want to have a picture of junior or Rover in Christmas lights, use Photoshop!

Candles can add a powerfully elegant presence to any room. But put the wrong candles in the wrong way and you can ruin the perfect moment. A surefire way to get the right candle-lighting effect is with the Uttermost wall mounted candle holders.

Wall mounted candle holders are an easy and effective way to take hold of any room. These accessories are like large, framed works of art that you can put numerous candles on in various places. And not only do they add a wonderful candle lighting effect, but they’re also very beautiful in their own right.

The Uttermost Claris Wall Mount Candle Holder is elegant simplicity at its very best. Adorned with the natural-beauty look of branches and leaves, the Claris wall mount candle holder is a pleasant addition to any room. It’s neautral design ensures it can go well in traditional or contemporary design schemes in living rooms and bedrooms. The 8 candle spots also allow for a highly customizable light setting.

The Uttermost Kya Wall Mount Candle Holder is a more contemporary, Japanese-inspired design. Candle light is already usually pretty soft and thought of as highly romantic, but the Kya wall mount candle holder is designed with mini “windowpanes” of diffused glass to soften the candle light creating a cleaner and indirect light.

The Uttermost Siam Wall Mount Candle Holder is one of our personal favorites. The complex design is beautiful and can add intrigue and power to any room and any decor. Its riveting design also makes sure you have a beautiful work of art on your wall whether the candles are on or not.

Candle lighting can create the perfecr mood with a simple flick of a match. With a wall mount candle holder, you get tht best of both worlds: elegant lighting by night and a beautiful fixture by day.

Outdoor wall sconces are an excellent way to light up your outdoors. They’re easy to install and are allow you flexibility in where to position them. Some of the best wall sconces we’ve come across are Besa Lighting’s outdoor lighting collection has wonderful outdoor wall sconces. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback about them because of their elegant contemporary styles and high quality. Check them out! In the meantime, here are some quick tips to keep in mind for when you’re buying outdoor wall sconces:

• Put a wall sconce on either side of your doorway.

This is not only a great way to create a welcoming effect for visitors to your home, but it is also creates full illumination for when you leave your home.

• Don’t hang wall sconces too low.

For outdoor wall sconces on the patio or on the side walls of your home, make sure the sconces don’t jut out too far. If they do, they can cause trips and falls. Also, heads can hit the wall sconces if arranged too low.

• Get a softer light

Use wall sconces with frosted glass to create a softer, diffused light. This is especially useful for wall sconces used on porches or patios where a softer light is preferred.

One of our favorite decorative lighting manufacturers, Meyda Tiffany, has recently installed the world’s largest “green” chandelier in a performing arts center in Utica, NY.

What makes the chandelier “green” is its innovative use of LED lights. LED lights use a fraction of the energy incandescent bulbs while providing a higher quality light. According to Meyda Tiffany, the chandelier uses a total of 328 LED lights that only requires 1,120 total watts (about what’s needed to brew a pot of coffee), while conventional incandescent bulbs require 7,435 watts (about what’s used to power 17 refrigerators).

Moreover, the LED lights are made by the same guys who make the lights for Times Square New Year’s ball, so you know they have to be good.

We’re really excited about the use of LED lights in more and more places every day, including rock concerts (see our blog on Radiohead’s use of LED lights). Do you know of any other innovative LED lights?

How High?
Normally, you want the lamp shade to be about the same height as your lamp from bottom to the top of the bulb socket. This size is considered standard. But some contemporary lamps go a different route and may have a much smaller lamp shade

How Wide?
Look for a lamp shade that is at least as wide as the widest point of the lamp. You can go several inches wider if you wish.

What Material?
This is entirely up to you. Get any material as long as the shade is the right size and with a design you like. More traditional shades are made of cotton or linen while more contemporary shades are made of silk, plastic, paper, and more. The Mica Lamp Company also makes an interesting array of copper lamp shades that are worth checking out.

On October 22, 1879, the first successful test of the light bulb was conducted by Thomas Edison. It was a long process in the making that underwent several designs by several inventors before finally finding “the light” on this day 129 years ago. Along with the help of Joseph Wilson Swan, an English physicist and chemist, the duo used past failed attempts at creating the first electric light bulb by a slew of inventors to create the first successful one.

The entire process, according to many historians, was 20 years in the making and involved a wide range of materials. Edison and Swan used a carbon filament for their first successful test run and this is the model that became the first commercial light bulb that would change the way the entire world.

Nowadays, we are inundated with light everywhere we go. Light bulbs are on even when the sun is at its brightest. And now that our lives are dependent on constant illumination, light bulbs have evolved.

Nowadays we have a wide array of light bulbs for many purposes. A good place to look to see just how varied the light bulb is today is Sea Gull Lighting. With spiral fluorescent light bulbs and circle fluorescent bulbs that are designed to save energy and give off less heat as well as newer LED lights (see our blog on LED lighting!), the light bulb has evolved to levels Edison, one of the most creative men to have ever lived, could never have dreamed of.

The focus of light bulbs today is more than just a decent lighting source. The public have demanded light sources that are energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, as well as comforting to the senses with ambient and accent lighting (see our many Design Articles with info on creating relaxing bedroom lighting as well as general ambiance lighting). We’ve come a long, long way since just needing some way to see in the dark. 129 years will bring a lot of changes along the way. Thus, we wish the light bulb a happy 129th birthday! We have no doubt there will be 129 more and we can’t wait to see what will happen along the way.

Although many style guides may not say it, your child’s bedroom is truly the most important room in the house. Think about it: it’s the place where your child sleeps, studies, plays, and essentially grows up. Therefore, it is vital to take some time to make sure your child’s bedroom is not only comfortable, but inspiring and fun as well. Having the right children’s lighting will help you do just that.

For the avid adolescent sports fan, sports-themed lighting will bring smiles for a very long time. Lite Source makes a great deal of sports-themed lamps for kids.

The Lite Source “All Sport” lamp is perfect for those kids who can’t get enough of any sport, no matter what game it is. The lamp itself is durable and high-quality, so it should be able to handle a couple tackles or home run hits. Likewise for the more focused sports fan with Lite Source’s Football Lamp.

All of Lite Source’s sports lamps are excellent for kid’s rooms both in quality and design. The bright colors adds to the atmosphere and the themes add help to encourage healthy interests in your child. Lite Source also has several other children lamps, including…

Cowboy lamps!

Astronaut lamps!

And for girls (or boys  in touch with their feminine side), Lite Source has several lamps with girl-friendly themes including ballerina lamps with a built-in night light…

The pink shade of the lamp helps create a soft, warm shade of pink light. The shoes attached to the lamp base are made of actual ballerina shoes which makes for an excellent gift for your ballerina fan.

Another girl-friendly lamp is one of our favorites: the “hippie flower” lamp… This lamp is fun, creative, and perfect for those interested in art and design. It’s also the type of lamp that looks cool in any young person’s room, whether they’re in elementary school or in a college dorm. Also, the narrow shape makes it perfect for a space-saving desk lamp when working hard on home work.

Your child’s room is the most important room in the house and taking time to get the right lighting is an absolute must. Be sure to check out our entire children’s lamps selection from Lite Source as well as other manufacturers of children’s lamps such as Trans Globe and Minka Lavery!