Christmas Lighting Trends for 2017

It’s the holiday season, which means traditions galore. But don’t let that stop you from making updates to your outdoor lighting plan this year. From adding more color in creative places to natural alternatives, here’s some great tips to lighten up your yard this December.

LEDs

Although there is more costs upfront when it comes to LED string lights, the savings you receive in energy and cost makes up for it in the long run. They last longer and use about 15% of the electricity that a traditional strand uses.  And LED’s don’t break easily, so you don't have to worry too much about the packing and rough assembly.

LED Colors: These have more of a pop of color as opposed to traditional lights, which have more of a hue.

White Lights: Edging the windows, doors, and roof outline with white lights will make the special features of your home stand out.

Falling Snowflakes: No matter the forecast, your home can be a winter wonderland at all times by suspending LED snowflakes from your trees.

Different Color Bushes: Strategically picking non-matching colors for your landscaping than your home will help to set each apart, adding to the overall illuminating factor.

“Natural” Alternatives

To make your lighting designs look more natural, (especially during the daylight hours), consider the more options that highlight nature around your home.

Garland: Using a pre-lit garland to outline your front porch, and/or decorate your outdoor banisters will bring class to your outdoor decorations. Don’t forget to hang up lighted wreaths on front doors and windows as well.

Lighted Trees: Fully outline your trees and shrubs with a string of lights, or opt for an artificial one and wrap the base in burlap. Various sizes make for an enchanted forest feel.

Rattan Spheres: Try hanging these from the porch or overhang, or even place a few in large vases or just coupled on the ground. These produce a soft glow and give your décor more texture.

Added Color

Lamp Posts: Adding an artificial lighted lamp post will turn your home into a Christmas cottage.

Candy Cane Colors: Draw some inspiration from your favorite minty treat and alternate red and white bulbs around your home for a more animated display that sets your home apart from your neighbors.

Lanterns: Flickering lighting from beautiful lanterns can be an easy and welcoming way to light up your walking paths.

Snowman: Let Frosty the Snowman be apart of the welcoming committee to your home.

Candles: Adding a candle in each window is the time-tested classic lighting display of the season.

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(Source:  Good Housekeepiong)

Green Initiatives That Will Save Your Warehouse Energy

Any warehouse manager or owner knows that their building consumes a significant amount of energy. But there’s a way to save some serious cash while maintaining workable conditions that your staff requires.  

1. Convert your lighting system over to LED

An inefficient lighting system can be the biggest energy consumers in big spaces such as warehouses due to high ceilings using standard highbay fixtures. Converting to led technology as opposed to common metal halide technologies for high bay fixtures, you will be able to save about 75% of energy and costs associated with these lights. Switching out fluorescent tubes in places such as offices or hallways can save nearly 30% of energy when making the switch to LED fixtures. This switch can be one of the most important energy saving tactics to implement.

2. Install skylights

There’s a way you don’t have to pay for lighting at all, and that’s by utilizing the natural light put forth by the sun. Reduce the amount of time you need any sort of light on in your warehouse by installing some skylights throughout the ceilings of your warehouse.

3. Inspect your commercial HVAC system

First and foremost, ensure that your HVAC system is maintained with regular tune ups and filter cleanings. Next, determine which rooms you need to cool/heat for how long each day – if a room is barely in use, turn off the heating/cooling to that room. Last, have the peace of mind to know that the HVAC is system is at the proper setting with a programmable thermostat.

4. Turn off the conveyor

Turning off your conveyor when not in use will surely save money, just like turning lights off when not in use. This goes for any machine that isn’t being used.

5. Conduct building commissioning

If your building isn’t being maintained on a basic level, then no matter what you do, there will be some sort of wasted energy somewhere. Hire a company to run a full audit.

Although addressing these issues and implementing the change may seem initially overwhelming or expensive it pays for itself once you see energy waste and overhead costs decrease after implementing these changes.

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(Source: My LED Lighting Guide)