Stock Up For Winter Nights With BLT Direct

The clocks have gone back and the dark nights are drawing in much earlier for the residents of the UK. From now until next March, we spend more time in darkness than we do in light. This means that people will be looking for innovative and effective ways to brighten up their homes without breaking the bank. BLT Direct has been a leading supplier of lighting solutions for the best part of a decade, with a great selection of energy saving light bulbs, halogen lamps, LED lights and all sorts of light fittings. Their special offers are great for anyone looking for stylish ways to illuminate their home this winter.

The kitchen is always a much-used room in the winter months, whether sending the children off to school with a hot breakfast inside them, cooking a warm stew on a cold evening or spending the last days before Christmas preparing a turkey. The 13 Watt Fluorescent Smilight Tube Lights currently on offer at BLT Direct are a great addition to the underside of cupboards in any kitchen, providing a warm white light which is not only practical when preparing food, but also looks welcoming and homely and fitting with all colour schemes. The recommended retail price (RRP) of each tube light is £9.99, but BLT Direct is currently offering a set of three 420mm long lights for just £14.93, a saving of more than 50%.

Winter has always been synonymous with the festive season, and BLT Direct’s fantastic range of decorative Christmas lights provides excellent choice for people with all budgets. Their 120 LED Blue Fairy Light Set is a sophisticated way to illuminate a Christmas tree or the outside of a house and comes with 8 different pulsating controllable via a remote. Add a splash of colour to your Christmas decorations - the elegant 6-metre set with an additional 5-metre wire is currently in the clearance section of BLT Direct and priced at just £9.99, saving 33% on the previous price.

BLT Direct also has a wide variety of conventional bulbs on offer, with both 60-watt and 100-watt GLS bulbs (more commonly known as a standard light bulb) currently on sale. The bulbs have a bayonet base, compatible with a huge range of existing light fittings and lamps. With the intended phasing out of the incandescent light bulb, prices of these types of bulbs have been pushed up, and they will soon be impossible to find at a reasonable price. Stock up now at BLT Direct, where prices remain low and stock is plentiful. A box of 10 GLS Pearl bulbs (100-watt or 60-watt) costs just £10.49 (excluding VAT).

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

Cut Energy Costs This Winter With BLT Direct

After a brief Indian summer where Britain spent a week walking around in flip-flops and sunglasses, the UK has finally succumbed to it's trademark cold winter. With the onset of wind, rain and even some snow forecast, temperatures have dropped dramatically within the last few weeks and residents of freezing Britain will be turning up the heating for the first time in months. Not only is the meteorological climate dropping, but the economic climate is facing tough times, with energy providers driving prices sky-high and making it more expensive than ever for people to heat their homes through winter.

BLT Direct, a leading UK supplier of light bulbs, is offering the perfect method of saving money and to even out the energy bills. Their range of energy-saving lightbulbs come in all shapes and sizes, at a budget price to suit everybody. Energy-saving bulbs have dramatically reduced running costs, consuming much less power and resulting in lower electricity bills. The bulbs are also much longer-lasting than conventional halogen bulbs, lasting for up to 15,000 hours and practically ridding us of the need to replace them, saving even more money.

The Energy Saving GU10 Light Bulbs are now popularly considered as a direct replacement for the standard halogen bulbs which are slowly being filtered out of production. The bulbs fit any GU10 light fitting and come in a range of different colours and wattages. The shape of the bulbs and the lighting they produce make them perfect for accent and effect lighting. It's been predicted that GU10 lightbulbs can provide up to an 80% reduction in running costs, leaving you with much more money to keep the house warm through the colder months. The bulbs are environmentally friendly and highly luminous thanks to state-of-the-art technology. BLT Direct has the GU10 lightbulbs starting at just £4.99 each.

BLT Direct also provides direct energy-saving replacements for GLS bulbs. The energy-saving lightbulbs are exactly the same size as the standard GLS bulbs but instead of consuming pointless energy, they are more energy efficient, reducing costs and protecting the environment whilst still providing the same amount of light. With the standard incandescent bulbs slowly being taken off the shelves, now may be the perfect time to stock up on their environmentally-friendly replacements, just in time to cut down your energy bills over Christmas.

With the days becoming shorter and the hours of darkness becoming longer, it's important that your energy-saving light bulbs last, as during winter we need to use artificial light for much larger portions of the day. BLT Direct's fantastic Dusk To Dawn Sensor Lamps have a unique sensor built-in which automatically switches on the light at nightfall and off again when the sun comes up the next morning. For areas that require constant illumination throughout the night, such as landings or hallways, these cutting-edge light bulbs are the perfect choice. The lifespan of these bulbs is estimated at around 8,000 hours, and they are fitted with a bayonet cap which will fit a large number of existing light fittings. The Dusk To Dawn Sensor lamps are currently on sale at just £15.99.

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

BLT Direct – One-Stop-Shop For Christmas Lighting Needs

Supermarkets have already started to stock up on advent calendars and tinselly decorations, with Christmas offers appearing in adverts on television. Consumers are urged to start their Christmas shopping early to get ahead of the crowds and the inevitable onslaught of celebrity books, calendars, DVDs and other novelty items will soon be upon us.

It is often remarked that Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier every year, but there's no harm in being prepared for the festive season. When it comes to decorating the house over the Christmas period, everyone wants to have the stand-out house on the street. All it takes is one person to place a light-up reindeer on the lawn and the whole street will be in silent competition over whose house can look the merriest. With the darker nights drawing in, why not provide some cheerful lights on the outside of your house to alleviate the gloom as the cold winter weather sets in?

BLT Direct, an online supplier of lighting solutions, is home to all your Christmas light display needs, whether it be the traditional fairy lights or the more modern energy-saving models hitting the shelves. To add a classy touch to your array of lights, choose the Snowing Outdoor Icicle Lights, starting at £39.99 for an 8.9 metre set and going up to £79.99 for a fantastic 27.9 metres. The LED lights have low energy consumption and are brighter than conventional bulbs. With 8 different pulsating settings controlled by a remote, you can really get that wintery feeling of icicles on your roof. The set also includes a static mode to act as ordinary fairy lights, sure to brighten up any window display.

If you're looking for something a little more discreet in your Christmas decorations, BLT Direct's range of Christmas tea lights are perfect. With three different styles, a Santa, a snowman and a tree, the battery-operated lights are great for brightening up your Christmas dinner table or for placing along the mantepiece in between your Christmas cards. The LED lights change colour and add warmth and simplicity to to any home over the festive season.

If you already have your Christmas lights display under control, why not think about giving a light-based educational gift to one of the younger members of the family? BLT's excellent selection of Educational Lighting Sets make great gifts for children or grandchildren, providing entertainment and helping them to learn about lighting, electricity and electronics, in compliance with the Key Stage 1 & 2 curriculum.

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

What Are Solar Photovoltaic Systems?

In recent years there has been a lot of emphasis placed on conserving energy, being energy efficient and being eco-conscious. With the planet heating up at an alarming rate, measures are being taken to slow the onset of global warming and we are constantly encouraged to be more conscious of our carbon footprints.

There are many ways we can all go about being more 'green' and environmentally friendly. Recycling is more commonplace that it has ever been before, more people are abandoning their cars to cycle or use public transport, Fairtrade and organic products are taking up more and more aisles in our supermarkets – but what of the more dramatic ways of cutting our carbon emissions?

Solar panels have long since been in the periphery of public awareness – we have known that they exist but haven't come across them too often, especially not in homes. But now in these eco-conscious times they grow more and more popular in domestic use and are completely viable as a way of generating your own power and cutting costs of energy bills. The correct term for the systems is 'photovoltaic' – photo coming from the Greek word 'phos', meaning 'light' and volt, an electricity measurement unit. Literally, photovoltaic translates as 'light-electricity'.

How do these systems work? Solar photovoltaic systems are panels which have a thin layer of semi-conducting material placed over the top, not dissimilar to the smaller versions used on calculators and watches. When this material is exposed to sunlight, the electrons inside the atoms which comprise the material are knocked loose and flow through the material to create what is known as a direct current, or a DC. The direct current cannot be utilised to power a home and so it is channelled into an inverter, which transforms it into an alternating current, or an AC. The alternating current can then be used to heat your water and supply your home with electricity.

The system is eco-friendly and a great way to play your part in protecting the environment, but there are also cost-related benefits that add more weight to the cause. Not only does converting to solar energy diminish the worry of ever-rising energy costs from all the main companies, you can also turn a profit. Any energy not consumed by your home can be sold back to the national grid – the average 4-bedroomed house fitted with 2.5kw solar panels using a normal amount of electricity can earn up to £850 per year tax-free by selling back their generated energy.

To find out more about using solar panels in your home, visit www.ellwoodelectrical.co.uk or Tel: 01473 712 868.

How can solar Photovoltaic Systems Help Reduce Energy Bills?

In this eco-conscious world that we live in, carbon footprints and energy consumption is at the forefront of our minds. In the average household, between 25% and 35% of the energy used is wasted. With so much emphasis constantly placed on recycling, using public transport rather than our own vehicles and energy efficiency, it is hard to know where to begin with our own personal save-the-planet mission.

If you are a homeowner, the focus will also undoubtedly be on energy bills. After the recession, at a time when the nation is just getting back on its feet, energy bills have been steadily rising, with the six major energy suppliers (EDF Energy, British Gas, Scottish Power, E.On, Scottish & Southern Energy and Npower) all planning to up their prices this year.

There is a solution to both the issue of eco-protection and price. Reports claim that the production of solar photovoltaic systems has doubled every two years since 2002, making it the fastest-growing method of solar power in the world. It is now considered the leading renewable consumer energy source.

Solar photovoltaic systems are panels which have a thin layer of semi-conducting material (similar to the small ones used on watches and calculators). When exposed to sunlight, the electrons inside the atoms which make up the material are knocked loose and flow through the material to create a direct current, more commonly known as a DC. This is then carried from the solar panels through to an inverter, which changes the current to an alternating current (AC). This can then be used as energy to power your electricity, heat your water, etc. Many worry that, living in England, where sunshine is hard to come by, their solar panels won't be effective but this isn't the case – the panels made in Europe are designed to generate power even on cloudy days (of which there are many in this country).

When a home doesn't require energy from the main energy suppliers, the owner will undoubtedly be saving money. When energy prices rise, which they have been steadily doing, it has absolutely no effect on those powering their own homes. Not only can the solar photovoltaic systems save you money, it can also turn a profit. In April 2010, the government also announced a 'Feed-In Tariff', to encourage homeowners to generate their own energy. Any energy you don't use from the solar panels is effectively sold back to the national grid, with you pocketing up to £850 a year in payback (tax-free). The 'Generation Tariff' earns you a fixed income for every kilowatt hour of energy you create and the 'Export Tariff' earns you an income for the energy you sell back to the grid. This tariff is guaranteed by the government for 25 years.

To find out more about using solar panels in your home, visit www.ellwoodelectrical.co.uk or Tel: 01473 712 868.

Christmas Lights At BLT Direct

Now that September is in full-swing, many towns and cities across the UK will undoubtedly turn their attentions to Christmas festivities and the famous Christmas lights switch-on. The annual events, usually hosted by pop stars, TV stars and other celebrities, generally attract crowds of thousands and every city wants their Christmas lights display to be the most impressive – which is why preparations have to start so early!

In a similar way to High Streets across the country, many people like to decorate their house for Christmas, and everybody wants their lights to look the most spectacular on their street. The most prepared will start putting their lights up in October or November, and will most likely already know exactly what their display will look like. Once that first light-up Santa appears on a lawn, the floodgates will open. Why not get ahead of the crowd and start planning your seasonal display now?

From the traditional coloured fairy lights to the latest energy-saving bulbs, BLT Direct, an online supplier of light solutions, is home to all your Christmas light display needs. With fantastic ranges of both indoor and outdoor Christmas lights, BLT Direct aims to make your house stand out from the crowd this Winter. Conventional Straight Christmas Lights start at just £7.90 for 40 bulbs of the LED variety, which use around a tenth of the energy of filament bulbs, and provide a brighter light. Safe to use outdoors as well as inside, string these lights up around your garden or create a pattern in your window to let Santa know you're home and impress your neighbours and guests.

For the eco-conscious among us, trying to reduce our carbon footprint, BLT Direct sells Solar Christmas Lights for excellent prices. 100 LED lights with a solar kit costs just £19.99 and is 9.9 metres in length. The kit will save on your electricity bills throughout the entire festive season, leaving you free to treat yourself to an extra present come Christmas Eve.

BLT Direct knows that having the best display is all in the detail, and that the light show has to continue indoors. The very traditional Candle Bridge Arch Lights provide a warm and cosy feeling for your home during the cold festive period. Place them in the window, on a dinner table or on a mantlepiece to add style and simplicity to your Christmas decorations.

Undoubtedly some people will stop at nothing to have the best display, not just on their street, but in the country. To achieve some truly dramatic illumination, try BLT Direct's Coloured LED Flood Lights, available in a whole assortment of different colours. The lights cost just £44.99, a saving of 36% on their recommended retail price of £69.99. For basic radiance try the warm white lights, or to create an even more seasonal atmosphere, why not try both red and green? The flood lights are available separately, or as a colour changing light for the same price.

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

The End Of The 60-Watt Lightbulb - Stock Up Today

Legislation by the EU will soon come into action prohibiting the sale of 60-watt incandescent lightbulbs all across Europe. The ban will be enforced on September 1^st 2011, halting the production of the conventional bulbs in favour of more energy-efficient lighting methods. Whilst it will not be illegal to sell any of the restricted products that were purchased before the ban came into effect, retailers will be forbidden from restocking the filament bulbs from the beginning of September onwards.

The ban is the latest stage in a worldwide plan to gradually phase out incandescent lightbulbs, a proposal which has already been wheeled out across the United States of America and has seen the production and sale of 100-watt bulbs brought to an end. In an era where we are more conscious of the environment and our carbon footprints than ever, the notion that the majority of the energy that is fed into the traditional incandescent light bulbs is converted to heat rather than the intended light is considered to be too inefficient for manufacturers to continue production. The new legislation endeavours to encourage people to convert to more modern energy saving light bulbs.

The truly eco-friendly LED lightbulbs, which can last for up to five years longer than typical incandescent lightbulbs, are being recommended as 'green' replacements. LEDs, or 'light-emitting diodes', can require just 7 watts of power to create the same amount of light generated by a typical 60-watt bulb, and there are claims that replacing just one incandescent bulb with an LED can cut electricity bills by £5 per year, such is their effectiveness. They barely emit any heat and as such, are considered the perfect option for Christmas lights and other decorative purposes. There has been some speculation and research into the fact that the newer GU10 lightbulbs, whilst considered the best in energy saving lighting methods, may not produce as much light as the older alternatives and though this may have been true in the past when the research was carried out, the production techniques and the processes used to create such bulbs have certainly developed since then.

With the imminent ban approaching fast and demand for incandescent bulbs soaring, many retailers have pushed up the prices of the long-established 60-watt bulbs to increase their profits while they can. But for those people who want to stock up before the restriction comes into effect, without spending extortionate amounts of money, there is a solution. The traditional 60-watt bulbs are still available to buy from BLT Direct, an online supplier of light solutions, in a wide variety of shapes and colours and with a great range of bases and attachments, starting at just £1.43 each or as a box of ten at only £12.59 (VAT included).

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