Transform your home lighting

If you’re a landlord or tenant about to move into a new property, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will likely be looming large. Now mandatory for all properties being bought or leased, the certificate rates the home’s energy efficiency levels on a sliding scale from A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient). A low rating can affect the home’s resale value and the rates commanded from tenants.

In order to make a rental property or house bought specifically for leasing further down the line as attractive as possible, there is one simple action that can contribute towards a more efficient rating – install energy efficient lightbulbs throughout the house. Energy efficient lighting can be used in every part of the home and with the huge range and expert advice available from the energy saving lighting experts BLT Direct, swapping out energy hungry incandescent bulbs for eco-friendly counterparts like the GU10 is the work of minutes.

Halogen GU10 bulbs are perfect for the kitchen and can be used to transform the cooking and food preparation areas in to the hub of the home. Combining colours and styles can personalise the lighting design – try fluorescent tubes for the main lights and then discreet under cupboard light bulbs for a more relaxing hue at meal times. Used as downlighters, a GU10 light bulb in a kitchen setting can last anything from 2000 to 5000 hours.

For the bathroom, replace harsh, dated overhead lights with any one of the range of IP65 rated bathroom downlighters, available in brass, white, chrome and brushed chrome. Available in low voltage and GU10 versions, the lights add a stylish touch and can transform the bathroom into a soothing sanctuary at the end of a busy day.

Energy saving light bulbs consume less power, emit less pollution and make less of an impact on the electricity bill. With a longer lamp life they also need replacing less, which makes them a much more economical choice all round. Visit the BLT Direct web site at www.bltdirect.com for more information on choosing energy efficient lighting for your home or workplace. You can also follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bltdirect

Prestigious office developments switch on to LED lighting

A slew of energy-efficient alternatives to traditional incandescent bulbs are enjoying a surge in popularity as the UK works to reduce its carbon footprint and meet EU guidelines. One of the early favourites in the race to become more energy efficient is the LED lighting.

The first all-LED lit office building in the UK takes the form of London’s prestigious Tower 42. Philips is the team behind the scenes responsible for revamping the entire building with LED lighting at Tower 42, otherwise famed as the tallest building in London.

Occupants of the prestigious offices will be saving an impressive 40 percent on energy with the utilisation of the latest energy-efficient LED lighting solutions. However, even more impressive is the LED system that is currently being installed in India’s Nagpur, replacing incandescent lamps at major traffic signals as part of the traffic improvement plan of the city. According to sources, the new LED lighting system will save an astronomical 90 percent on energy due to its low power consumption and longer life qualities.

Back in London, the Tower 42 project leads the way but more and more blue chip organisations and large office building management agencies are expected to follow the trend for installing LED lighting. It’s a major achievement that is set to help meet guidelines set at Copenhagen earlier this year.

Considering the energy and power consumed by big corporations across the United Kingdom, project Tower 42 is a great example of how one change can make a big difference. LED light bulbs (Light Emitting Diode) function as a cluster of individual units that produce white light. It is the exact combination of these units that yields the tone of the light. BLT Direct has taken a special focus on low energy light bulbs with its stock of LED light fittings and selection of LED light bulbs. As a cool alternative to the incandescent light bulb, the LED bulb not only saves energy but can last from 50,000 to 100,000 hours, while incandescent light bulbs last around 1000 hours. Devoid of fragile filament, the LED lightbulb is also shock resistant and durable.

With the bar raised, there is no doubt that office building management companies, large corporations and blue chip organisations will begin to consider a switch to LED lighting, making a significant contribution to reducing the UK’s carbon footprint while creating an positive public image.

About BLT Direct: BLT Direct are an online supplier of lighting solutions. They provide a wide range of lighting products, as well as light fittings and lamp disposal services, and are committed to offering energy efficient solutions to meet a wide range of home and business lighting needs.

Editor’s Note: BLT Direct is represented by search engine optimisation agency, Apple Jupp. Please direct all press queries to Rebecca Appleton. Email: rebecca@applejupp.com or call: 01623 600666.