8 Ways Window Tinting Can Keep Cooling Costs Down

You may have read somewhere that residential window tinting can save you money on your cooling costs. Well, according to the website energy.gov, this is certainly true. Window tinting is listed as an energy-efficient window treatment. 40% of the heat buildup in the home comes in through it's windows. Window film helps by blocking the heat and harmful UV rays that cause furniture and carpeting to fade or look bleached in spots.During summer one of the biggest expenses of the month is your cooling bill. One of the best ways to lower your cooling costs is to not use your air conditioner as often, but that may be an impossible task depending on where you live. Of course the less you use of something, the less it costs. What you can do, if you can't turn off your air conditioner completely, is to lower the thermostat a few degrees during the hottest part of the day. Covering sun-facing windows in the afternoon blocks heat and keeps down humidity making your cooling system work m…
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LED Color Temperature 101

LED lights are an energy-saving and efficient light source that come in an array of colors to liven up any environment. Because LED lights are such a new technology, though, some people have questions about how the intensity or color temperature of LED lights compare to their incandescent counterparts.What is Color Temperature? LED Color temperature tells you the amount of pure white and other colors present in an LED light source. Although color temperature can range from roughly 1500 kelvin to 8000 kelvin, for most intents and purposes the range is 2000 to 6000 kelvin.The light being emitted from a candle, for instance, is just under 2000 kelvin whereas the indoor light you're used to seeing every day is probably closer to 4000 kelvin.The color temperature of most LED lights is thought to be around 4600 kelvin, which is bright enough to give you a full palette of coloration.The eye perceives the color temperature of LED lights as natural white. Color t…
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6 Modern Ways to Use LED Light in the Bathroom

Bathrooms are one of the easiest areas in any home to give a quick facelift. Today’s savvy homeowner can make even the smallest, windowless water closet feel like a modern throne room with the clever use of LED lighting. LED lighting is both flexible and environmentally friendly – providing a vast array of styles and low-energy options for virtually any requirement. Today we’ve lined up six top tips for using LED lighting in your bathroom to inspire you on your next home decorating adventure.On Task!LED lighting can provide an excellent alternative to those kitsch globe lights your aunt Hilda had above her vanity mirror in the bathroom. By choosing a pair of lower-wattage sconces to grace the sides of the mirror over the sink, you’ll be thankful for the more balanced lighting and the healthier look that greets you in the mirror every morning.Accentuate the DetailsAccent lighting is often overlooked in smaller spaces in the home – but a smaller room, like the…
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How to Remove Residential Window Tinting

Whether the film on your home's windows is fading, bubbling, or you're just tired of looking at it, getting rid of it can seem like a challenge. Rather than simply trying to peel it off and then deal with the sticky mess that's left behind, try these three simple techniques for removing residential window tinting.1. SteamThe easiest way to remove window tinting is using steam and patience. A fabric steamer works best and if you don't already own one, an inexpensive model can usually be purchased for under $30. You can also try a tile and grout steamer or a floor steam cleaner. Make sure to have several razor blades on hand for scraping as well.Hold the steamer up to one corner of the window and allow the area to heat up. The adhesive will begin to soften and you'll be able to lift up one corner of the tint with your fingernail or a razor blade. Hold the steamer so it heats under the lifted corner and very slowly work your way across the window. Take your time and do…
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LED Light vs Incandescent Light

The development of the incandescent light bulb was one of the most revolutionary inventions of the 19th Century. And yet, in the present, this lighting source does not hold up to modern competition. Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights are the newcomers to the industry. And, though LED lights are still more expensive than the traditional incandescent lights, in nearly every way, they prove the superior choice.ConstructionAlthough LED light bulbs and incandescent light bulbs fulfill essentially the same purpose, their construction is significantly different. Incandescent light bulbs rely on old technology. A metal piece attaches to a filament. The glass bulb surrounds this apparatus, and encases either a vacuum or gas. Electricity (or turning on the light) causes the filament to glow. Incandescent light bulbs produce more light if they command more electricity. By comparison, LED light bulbs use a semiconductor to release that electricity as light.EfficiencyWhen…
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The Pros and Cons of Window Film

Window film is a thin coating that's often applied to the inner side of windows in homes, cars and boats.One of the main advantages of retrofitting your home's windows with window tint is glare reduction and the retention of heat in the colder, winter months and the retention of cool air in the warmer, summer months.Window Film and Energy Savings It's estimated that two-thirds of AC and heating expenses are squandered by poorly insulated windows. If you don't have a window film currently in your home, chances are you're watching your utility expenses shoot out the window.The US Department of Energy even says that taking energy-saving steps like caulking and applying window tint can result in hundreds of dollars in energy savings annually.In a 2011 study, the US Department of Energy also found that in 50 commercial buildings one of the quickest and surest ways of saving money on energy savings was to apply window film.In fact, window film received a "top-…
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Getting to Know Residential Window Film

Getting residential window film installed on your home's windows can do everything from slash your annual heating expenses to reduce glare and UV damage.Window film is technically a laminate coating made from polyester. The reason polyester is used is that it blends with the natural clarity of your windows and retains its shape over time.The film itself is only a few millimeters thick and it fits snugly on the interior side of your window with the help of some adhesive.Dyed Window Film A window film that is dyed (colored) prevents UV damage and glare just like sputtered or deposited film. The key difference is that dyed window film actually absorbs the harmful UV rays from the sun instead of deflecting or reflecting them.There are many benefits to going with a dyed window film. Dyed window films come in a variety of colors to match your decor and their darker hue can actually prevent theft and enhance home's privacy.The downside to using a dyed window film is that…
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Reasons to Give Decorative Window Tinting a Try

Installing decorative window tinting can reduce glare, lower your utility bills and block harmful UV rays from entering your home virtually overnight.Since residential window tinting comes in a spectrum of hues and patterns as well, you could easily apply a  no-nonsense, dark tint in your living room and a stained glass tint in your bathroom, or mix and match to suit your aesthetics and home's decor.Decorative Window Tinting Window tinting need not be dark and one-size-fits-all. You can find window tints that emulate stained glass or tints that have a frosted look and seamlessly create privacy in your home.Stained Glass Window Tint.  Mom and pop shops around the country already use these kinds of window tint to beautify their brick-and-mortar storefronts and create more privacy for customers.Stained glass window tint is a great decorative option for home bathrooms as well. A lot of these stained glass films are static cling, which means that you don't need to use an…
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How Residential Window Tinting Can Reduce Your Utility Bills

You may have already heard that residential window tinting can give your home more privacy and a greater sense of comfort.While that's true, residential films can also lend an aesthetic quality to your home and allow you to customize the particular tint and hue that goes with your room's layout. A residential film can also give you more privacy while reducing glare and harmful UV rays.The really surprising thing about window film, though, is its ability to reduce your utility bills 365 days a year.Going Green with Residential Window Tint Residential window tint is a great way to help save the planet and your own personal financial ecosystem at the same time.As Americans spend, and in some cases squander, hundreds of dollars on heating and cooling during months of more extreme weather, something needs to be done to put more money back into homeowners' pockets. The solution is coming from an unconventional player: residential window film.The Environmental Protection…
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10 Ways to Use LED Lighting to Make Your Garden Glow

Light emitting diode (LED) lights are changing the way homeowners illuminate their back yards. These compact, affordable and energy-efficient lights are so versatile, they can be used for everything from fixed patio lighting to whimsical hanging lights. How you use LED lighting in your yard is really only limited by your imagination.10 ways LED lights can enhance your outdoor spaces1. To illuminate a patio or deck. One of the most useful things you can do with LED lights outdoors is to light up your patio or deck. Use these lights underneath the railing, atop the posts or wrapped around the individual rails to add a little sparkle and a lot of romance to your back yard.2. To lead the way to a secret garden. Do you have a portion of your garden that's tucked away in a corner of your property, a space where you go to get away from household stress? LED lights can be used to mark the way.3. To highlight your landscaping. Wrapping LED lights around the trunks an…
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