8 Ways To Use Step Lights (Photo Inspiration)

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Jun 142013
 
PinExt 8 Ways To Use Step Lights (Photo Inspiration)

Step lighting can take any staircase from dangerous and dull to safe and stunning. Whether you’re lighting stairs in the foyer or the basement, up to the porch or down to the patio, step lights add that perfect finishing touch.

If you’re thinking of adding stair lighting to any set of steps in your home, you may wonder what kind will look the best. For this blog post, I’ve pulled together 8 of my favorite step lighting photos that illustrate just how many ways you can use these handy light fixtures.

In the end, I’m sure you’ll agree that these are stairs worth staring at:

1. Shrouded Brick Step Lights

LED Step Lights At Home 8 Ways To Use Step Lights (Photo Inspiration)

These warm LED lights create the perfect atmosphere for breezy summer evenings on the porch.

2. LED Step Lights With Lenses

LED Step Lights Indoors 8 Ways To Use Step Lights (Photo Inspiration)

These sleek staircase lights add a beautiful layer of light to this basement, while also acting as safety lighting. Continue reading »

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A Guide To Energy Efficiency [Infographic]

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Jun 052013
 
PinExt A Guide To Energy Efficiency [Infographic]

Today’s infographic breaks down the essential facts about energy efficiency. It explains why energy efficiency is so important, and goes into detail about how wasting energy can harm the environment. Then, after convincing you that conserving power is a good idea, it offers a comprehensive guide to help you start saving more energy at home, assessing the efficacy of your appliances, insulation, and of course, your lighting.

I especially like this infographic for the Incandescent/CFL/LED comparison chart at the very bottom. Good stuff!

Save The World By Saving Energy Infographic infographicsmania A Guide To Energy Efficiency [Infographic]

Continue reading »

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11 Beautiful Photos Of Under Cabinet Lighting

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May 082013
 
PinExt 11 Beautiful Photos Of Under Cabinet Lighting

 

Taking your kitchen from dim and dull to bright and beautiful is no small task. While experts agree lighting is one of the most important design features in any room, it might not be so easy to create your perfect kitchen lighting scheme flying solo.

A stylish, functional kitchen needs to have overhead/ambient lighting, accent lighting, and of course task or under cabinet lights.

If you’re still in the dark about what lighting scheme will work best in your kitchen, check out these 11 amazing photos for a little inspiration:

1. Microfluorescent Under Cabinet Lights

Microfluorescent Under Cabinets and Over Sink 11 Beautiful Photos Of Under Cabinet Lighting

 The microfluorescent fixtures under the cabinets in this kitchen provide bright white light, adding to the space’s ultramodern feel.

2. LED Puck Lights

Puck Lights In Kitchen 11 Beautiful Photos Of Under Cabinet Lighting

These bright LED puck lights add pops of much needed illumination in the main work areas of this contemporary white kitchen. To find out how many puck lights you need in your kitchen, check out this helpful article.

3. LED Motion Sensor Lights

Motion Sensor Under Cabinet Lights 11 Beautiful Photos Of Under Cabinet Lighting

If you prefer your task lighting quick, easy, and automatic, battery operated LED motion sensing lights will turn on only when you need them.  Continue reading »

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: The Future

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May 062013
 
PinExt The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: The Future

Kozzi chinese fortune cookie 441x294 300x200 The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: The Future
This is the concluding post in a series exploring the differences between LEDs and CFLs. To read the entire series, click here.

We’ve spent the last several weeks figuring out all the ways LEDs and CFLs are different. We’ve learned practical facts about each light source, like LEDs have longer rated lives, CFLs contain mercury, LEDs are more durable, and CFLs emit omnidirectional light (to name a few). All this makes for an excellent understanding of the current state of lighting technology.

Today, LEDs and CFLs are still rivals on the market. But will it always be like this?

The development and improvement of LED technology is still taking place, while the CFL’s technological development has reached an endpoint. It’s really thanks to LEDs that we’re in the midst of a very dynamic lighting revolution.

Since CFLs are already completely developed as a viable lighting technology, many lighting specialists think of them as the bridge between old incandescent lights and innovative LED lights. They’re an effective, efficient bridge, but a bridge nonetheless. We don’t expect CFLs to be popular forever. Continue reading »

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Durability

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May 032013
 
PinExt The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Durability

Kozzi mid section of a person with hard hat and tool belt 312x416 224x300 The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Durability
Do you know what makes an LED different from a CFL? In this blog series, we’re explaining just that!

We all know incandescent light bulbs are delicate. You break that filament, and it’s lights out (literally). It’s easy to understand why our basic incandescent lights are so fragile – we can see and understand the simple internal structure at a glance. But, when it comes to understanding the capabilities of LEDs and CFLs, the answers aren’t as straightforward. Both light sources use more complex systems to generate light, but does this make them any less breakable?

It’s time to dive a little deeper.

LEDs:

Since LEDs don’t use a filament, they can easily withstand almost any kind of jarring vibration. When you’re rough on LEDs, transporting them from place to place while in use, or keeping them in jolt-prone spots (like in and around elevators), you don’t have to worry about easily breaking or damaging them. Continue reading »

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Glass Envelope

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Apr 302013
 
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LED Reflector Lamp The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Glass Envelope
If you’re deciding which light source to use for your next project, look no further! In this blog series, we’re going in-depth to explore the differences between LEDs and CFLs, so you can make the best decision. In this post, we’re talking about structure…

LEDs and CFLs are built very differently.

LED light bulbs use glass or plastic envelopes of almost any thickness. They’re built to last, even in the most demanding circumstances. CFLs, on the other hand, have a daintier construction. If you drop one, the thinner glass envelope could easily break. This can be a problem, especially because CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury that will be released when the light bulb shatters.

To prevent CFLs from cracking so easily, some manufacturers have begun encasing CFLs in silicone coatings, so even if the glass breaks the shards and mercury will stay within the silicone, not allowed to get into your environment. The CFL’s traditional spiral is covered by a more conventionally shaped envelope like this: Continue reading »

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How Energy-Efficient Buildings Work (An Infographic)

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Apr 232013
 
PinExt How Energy Efficient Buildings Work (An Infographic)

Ever wonder how to make a building energy-efficient? Well, look no further than this snappy infographic from Spaceway. Learn how our modern buildings are still losing energy, and what you can do to prevent the waste. Start with the lights, and assess everything from flooring to furniture to water usage. The infographic also highlights several great examples of energy-efficient buildings around the world…

How Energy Efficient Buildings Work Infographic How Energy Efficient Buildings Work (An Infographic) Continue reading »

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Infrared and UV Radiation

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Apr 192013
 
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Kozzi dark sunglasses 441x294 300x200 The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Infrared and UV Radiation
We won’t rest until we’ve explored every way LEDs and CFLs differ! This post is part of a series doing just that. So far we’ve covered everything from the basics, like rated-life and energy-efficiency to more complex topics, like how each source performs in cold temperatures. Click here to explore the entire series.

Radiation. We’re talking about lights here, so the topic was bound to come up sooner or later.

Infrared Radiation (IR)

First of all, it’s a myth that LEDs don’t generate heat. All light sources generate some heat, and LEDs are no exception. Excessive heat can damage an LED or lessen its rated life – so it’s essential that LEDs have well designed “heat sinks” to dissipate the heat generated in the rear of the LED.

This myth may have originated from the very true fact that LEDs don’t emit infrared radiation in the same direction as the emitted light, unlike other light sources.

A CFL, on the other hand, does emit IR and can get very hot to the touch. Continue reading »

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What is Under Counter Lighting?

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Apr 182013
 
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LED Under Cabinet Lighting Vertical 160x300 What is Under Counter Lighting?
Just in case you’re wondering, under cabinet lights are known by a whole bundle of different names. Besides the name “under cabinet lighting,” which makes a lot of sense because they’re the lights you install under your cabinets, they’re also called undermount lights, task lighting fixtures, kitchen under cabinet lights, and under cupboard lighting.

But, the name that has caused the most head-scratching here at Pegasus Lighting is “under counter lights.” Most everyone understands that under cabinet lighting and under counter lighting are different names for the same thing, but when you really think, it doesn’t make much sense.

Under counter lights are always installed over the counter, but they’re not called “over counter lights.” If I didn’t know better, I might picture small accent lights below the lip of a counter. Or even better, backlighting under translucent counters, making them glow. Though now that I think about it, that might actually be cool. Why don’t we call those under counter lights? Continue reading »

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Directionality

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Apr 162013
 
PinExt The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Directionality

Directional LED Display Light 198x300 The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Directionality
This post is part of a series exploring how LEDs and CFLs differ. Click here to browse the entire series.

LEDs and CFLs aren’t always suited for the same applications, because they emit light differently. LEDs are made to emit light in one general direction, while CFLs are omnidirectional, emitting light in all directions, just like incandescent light bulbs.

The LED’s directional light beam is very convenient for many applications because there’s little to no wasted light emitted away from the area you want to illuminate. However, this can get problematic when you replace an omnidirectional light source with a directional LED.

Directional LEDs are perfect for task lighting, display lighting, focused accent lighting, and even for use in recessed cans. Omnidirectional CFLs will work better for decorative lights, like table lamps, chandeliers, and ceiling fans, when you need even light coming from all sides of the light bulb.  Continue reading »

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