Bring on Spring with BLT Direct’s Range of Daylight Light Bulbs

Spring is approaching at what seems to be snail’s pace; the mornings and evenings are steadily getting lighter and despite monumentally bad weather across the country in recent weeks, temperatures seem to be finally climbing. The freshness of spring can be kick-started by using daylight light bulbs, which have been created specifically to imitate that rejuvenating and pleasant glow of sunlight rather than the artificial ‘yellow’ created by many light bulbs. If a home feels dull and has suffered the effects of a long and bleak winter, brightening it up with some cleverly placed daylight light bulbs can help it appear as though spring as sprung much sooner.

Lighting colours are measured on a scale called the Kelvin (K) scale. Lower colour ‘temperatures’ contain more red light and appear warmer, whilst those with a higher blue content appear to be colder. Standard light bulbs sit at around 2700K, closer to red than blue, whereas daylight bulbs are much closer to natural light at around 6500K. Swapping an older bulb for one of these more natural looking modern bulbs can brighten the home and have a whole range of other benefits besides.

Lifestyle-wise, using light bulbs which imitate daylight shades within the home has a range of advantages for all members of the family. Research has found that using such bulbs in schools or places of work results in lower levels of fatigue and higher levels of concentration, with academic or work-related performance levels boosted in the presence of these bulbs. Eye strain is lessened, and general well-being is improved, making the swap to these bulbs a necessary change for those who find winter a tough time of year.

Disregarding the benefit that a more natural type of illumination will bring to any home, the next most important aspect of these daylight bulbs is their energy-saving credentials. Many last for up to 8,000 hours and boast the ability to reduce running costs by around 80%. A standard GU10 energy-saving light bulb in a daylight shade will last for approximately 8,000 hours and over the course of this incredible life span, will end up saving the users around £31.68 on their electricity bills.

Switching to daylight lighting solutions does not have to mean ripping out all existing fixtures and fittings and installing new ones. The vast majority of these bulbs on the market today come with the popular Edison screw or bayonet cap bases, which are the most commonly encountered bases in many homes. The energy-saving GLS 11-watt daylight light bulb are considered to be like for like replacements for the familiar GLS bulbs, except the focus is placed less on the yellow-tinged light and more on a refreshing, daylight-style illumination. They can be swapped simply and easily and will integrate into any home immediately.

To find out more and order online, visit http://www.bltdirect.com

EEM – The Energy Efficient Mortgage

An increased mortgage scheme from the 1980s has seen a resurgence in popularity in America, as future homeowner attempt to make their properties more compatible with green energy solutions. The EEM stands for an Energy Efficient Mortgage, and features a larger loan which buyers can use to convert to energy-efficient power sources across the entire property. This could include solar panels, LED light bulbs, double glazing and insulation.

Research has showed that residential energy consumption in the USA has declined year-on-year since the 1990s, which is a remarkable statistic when taking into consideration the amount of technology which has been implemented into homes in this time. The decrease has been put down to increased awareness of energy issues, and also on the emphasis placed on schemes such as replacing incandescent light solutions with their energy-saving light bulb counterparts. The EEM mortgages help to fund these types of upgrades for all houses and will surely contribute to an even lower rate of consumption in the homes of those who take out such mortgages.

The loans amount to no more than 5% of the original property value, but a home which is fully equipped with the latest energy-saving lighting solutions, insulation equipment and energy-efficient technology can end up being sold for much more than it was originally purchased for. ‘Green’ homes are more attractive to buyers nowadays and the installation of such features can add thousands to asking prices. These environmentally-friendly additions to the home will also help the homeowner to save money whilst they are residents there; their energy costs will decline by an incredible amount, with savings on heating and electricity almost guaranteed for a home which has been renovated to ensure efficiency. Also, though the loan is significantly larger than the original price of the mortgage and the property, the extra amount granted to buyers does not increase their down payment and it has no effect on their interest rate. It is simply added to the existing loan, and the terms of the original mortgage apply.

The Energy Efficient Mortgage has not taken off in the UK to the extent that it has in the USA as of yet, but with many lenders and banks introducing green incentives and assistance to their customers wishing to go ‘green’, the advantages of converting to sustainable and energy-saving power sources and accessories are plentiful. Not only are savings almost guaranteed from the minimised use of power from energy companies, who charge over the odds for their services, homeowner are contributing to the future by providing ecologically sound homes for their children and grandchildren.

To find out more and order online, visit http://www.bltdirect.com