Offset Carbon Footprints and Energy Bills Simultaneously With Energy-Saving Light Bulbs

Temperatures have severely dropped all across the UK in recent weeks, and after a relatively mild December and Christmas season, the freezing cold weather has started to hit many parts of the country. Snow and ice has hit the roads and a bitter wind is making temperatures dip below freezing more often than many would like. This has the knock-on effect of much more energy being consumed within homes in order to keep them warm and protected from the elements; with energy rates always rising and the environment’s ecological state considered to be deteriorating, many are wondering how they can offset the funds and energy they will spend on keeping their homes heated this winter. One of the best ways to achieve this is by swapping conventional light bulbs for the more modern energy-saving lighting solutions which consume less energy, provide more light and save money in the long run.

Switching to LED lights or other types of energy-saving light bulb is an extremely simple process. Many of the newer bulbs have identical bases to their older counterparts, so they can easily be swapped over without a fuss. There is no need to have extra lighting fixtures fitted, and no need for extraordinary measures in order to accommodate this new technology.

The initial outlay of these bulbs might be considerably more than a traditional bulb, but their significantly longer life-span and lower energy consumption results in much higher savings in the long run, helping to offset those cold winters for years to come. These bulbs can save more than £50.00 in electricity bills over the course of their lifetime, with some savings even estimated at more than £100.00; running costs in general are reduced by 70%. These calculations are for each and every bulb, and so the heating bills will almost pay themselves once the house is lit by energy-saving light bulbs.

The lower level of energy consumption is also desirable for those who wish to ‘go green’, as is common with many who are concerned about the state of the planet. Cutting one’s own carbon footprint is the best way to be pro-active about making this planet more eco-friendly, and using energy-efficient lighting solutions is an important step in this process. The bulbs have a better light quality than their incandescent predecessors, and there appear to be only advantages regarding these bulbs, especially where lighting the home in the cold winter season is concerned.

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

Energy Saving Light Bulb Disposal: A Guide

Energy saving lighting solutions are becoming more and more prevalent in the homes and businesses of today, as people look to cut energy costs and become more aware of the carbon footprints that their energy consumption leaves behind. The advantages of using these bulbs are seemingly endless; they last for much longer than regular bulbs, they burn brighter, they consume far less energy and they are environmentally-friendly. But with the surge in popularity of these lighting solutions, there also comes the question of how to dispose of these bulbs.

Disposing of energy saving light bulbs properly is vital in the bid to protect the environment, as each one contains an average of five milligrams of mercury. If exposed due to incorrect disposal of these bulbs, this small amount can pollute much larger amounts of air and water. Though the mercury is utterly harmless when encased within the bulb, if the glass is broken and the mercury escapes during the disposal of the bulb, they can pose risks both to the public and to the environment.

When disposing of these types of bulb, it is important to understand that they should only be thrown away into normal bins if there is no other option, and even then, they should be wrapped tightly in plastic bags which are sealed. Alternatively, there are many recycling stations across the UK which handle hazardous materials and understand how to get rid of such items which are potentially harmful.

If one of these energy-saving light bulbs is smashed, it is also important to take the right precautions. All windows should be opened and the room should be completely cleared for at least fifteen minutes. Disposable rubber gloves and stiff cardboard or paper should be used to collect the glass fragments, with adhesive tape used to collect any excess powder. The entire area can be cleaned thoroughly with a wet wipe, and once all of the debris has been collected and cleared, the normal recycling instructions should be followed.

The great advantage of using energy saving LED bulbs is that they will often last for decades, or even lifetimes, and will rarely burn out or need to be replaced, minimising the amount of times these procedures will need to be carried out. But with the energy saving bulb becoming more and more common, it is important that the general public understand how to correctly dispose of their waste lighting solutions, as well as clear up any breakages which may occur as a result of an accident.

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

How LED Lights Work

The LED light bulb is known as an unsung hero in the world of lighting solutions. They feature in everything from digital locks, remote controls, watches and microwaves, and when grouped together they can create vast television screens and traffic lights. More recently they have been used in traditional light bulbs as a more energy-efficient way of lighting homes and businesses. Their eco-friendly credentials mean that they reduce power consumption whilst providing a brighter and more consistent light than their incandescent counterparts. This guide outlines exactly how the LED light bulb operates and why this is so effective for so many purposes throughout the home.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are essentially very small light bulbs which fit easily into electrical circuits. They function entirely as a result of the movement of electrons in a semi-conductor material, which means they can easily surpass the life span of an incandescent bulb, which will work until the filament burns out. A diode is the simplest form of semi-conductor. It is a material which has varying ability to conduct electrical current. Semi-conductors which have abundant electrons are called N-type material; in this sort of conductor, free electrons move from a negatively charged are to one with a positive charge. P-type semi-conductors have extra holes in their make-up, and the extra positively charged particles it possesses can jump from one hole to another, effectively moving from a positively charged area to a negatively charged one. Diodes are a mix between N-type and P-type materials.

The interaction that is caused as a result of the electrons jumping between holes from negative to positive charges (and vice versa) creates light, and a viable lighting solution for homes and businesses. The process also emits significantly less heat than incandescent bulbs, which gives off light as a result of heating the filament to a high temperature.

LED light bulbs can be altered to vary the colour of the light. By changing the distance which the electrons have to leap, the colour of the light is altered. This is more useful in the red or green lights on alarm clocks, but with visible LEDs growing in popularity, there are steps being made to create the diodes that are infrared, ultraviolet and all of the colours of the spectrum in between.

The biggest problem currently faced by manufacturers creating LEDs for public use is the upfront costs. Currently, energy-efficient LEDs can cost around three times as much as a traditional incandescent bulb, but the life span and electricity savings that are facilitated by the energy-efficient lighting source mean that money is eventually saved in the long run. If customers are replacing bulbs for many fixtures at the same time, the initial outlay can be costly, but with LED production increasing and improving all the time, affordability will be one of the key areas they target in the future.

Battle Of The Christmas Lights

The friendly competition between neighbours that takes places every Christmas over who has the most extravagant or beautiful Christmas lights can now officially begin, with the beginning of December underway. Many streets or areas enjoy the yearly battle over whose display is the most original or whose arrangement can attract the most visitors. Just last year, a documentary was broadcast on Channel 4 which followed the lives of a number of people who throw themselves wholeheartedly into the spirit of the season, showing the real motives behind the extravagant decorations and the highs and lows that the Christmas period brings them. This guide runs down some of the most extravagant home light displays from across the world, and examines exactly how they achieved the desired effects.

1. Gangnam Christmas

This year, a man in Texas, USA, has kitted out his entire house with over 25,000 LED Christmas lights which are timed to the beat of the South Korean hit, Gangnam Style. The display, which lasts for the entirety of the four-minute song, is timed to perfect and features rippling effects and blackouts, all with a classy blue and white theme. The man behind the display, John Storms, has told a radio station in Texas that due to the cost-effective nature of the LED light bulbs he has used, the entire display will cost just $15 to run for the entire month of December.

2. ‘Ditto!’

Across the country in Chicago, Illinois, an inventive homeowner thought outside the box in order to produce a brilliantly eye-catching display. Every year, Chet Cybulski is renowned in his neighbourhood for producing incredible Christmas light displays which draw visitors from all over the state, but his next-door neighbour, Dave Nosek is attracting all the plaudits for his original take on the tradition. Where Mr Cybulski has a display which takes a staggering five days to assemble, Mr Nosek simply wrote the word ‘DITTO’ in light above his garage, with an illuminated arrow pointing to his neighbour’s more impressive achievement.

3. Somerset Winter Wonderland

After being inspired by some incredible displays on a visit to the USA, Paul Toole from Somerset decided to create a similar winter wonderland in his own home as well as raising money for charity. With a total spend of £20,000 since he first started decorating his bungalow in 1998, Mr Toole calibrates his displays so that they flash in time to his own radio station and also gives any donates he receives to the Make A Wish Foundation. More than 50,000 LED Christmas lights are attuned to flicker on and off to the beat of a song, and the display has become so popular that his last switch-on was attended by 1,000 people, as well as Only Fools and Horses legend John Challis.

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

Combat Festive Price Hikes With Energy-Saving Light Bulbs

A rise in energy prices now occurs so frequently that it is almost a Christmas tradition in itself. British Gas has announced that millions of their customers will face a 7% energy hike just in time for the festive season, adding around £1.50 to the average weekly gas and electricity bill. The price hike kicks into gear on December 10^th, just in time for the festive season, and traditionally the time when many homeowners start to utilise the most electricity, what with the extra Christmas lights and the colder weather. Wholesale prices are said to have risen by 25% since spring this year, and those who are with British Gas will surely be looking for any possible way in which they can cut back their energy bills over this expensive Christmas period.

Fitting the home with energy-saving light bulbs before the festive season kicks in is a great way to ensure that there won’t be any nasty shocks where energy bills are concerned. However, with a hundred and one things to do before the 25^th December, is there really time to completely change the lighting solutions within a home? The answer where energy-saving light bulbs are concerned is yes. One of the most prevalent myths in relation to switching to energy-saving lighting methods is that all existing fixtures must be taken out, re-wired and re-fitted. This is completely untrue; Energy Saving GLS Bulbs all use the conventional Edison Screw Caps or Bayonet Caps, and are completely compatible with the majority of existing fixtures already within the home. Just one 11-watt GLS bulb will see a huge reduction in energy consumption, with 80% less energy used to create the same amount of light as a harmful halogen bulb.

Using a dimmable bulb is also a superb way to save money on energy bills. Sometimes during the morning or the evening, having a light blasting at full power does not produce an energy-friendly environment but using a Dimmable Energy Saving Light Bulb ensures that consumers have total control over the amount of light they are using. The savings can also be incredible when using these innovative bulbs, with predications estimating that around £194.20 in average electricity bills can be saved over the lifespan of just one dimmable bulb.

There are also some festive options for those who want to decorate their home ready for Christmas but don’t want to pay over the odds in doing so. Features such as solar panels powering outdoor lights can help to minimise energy consumption, as well as bulbs like the Energy Saving Coloured Spiral Light Bulb. A red or a yellow bulb placed in any normal fixture creates a festive Christmassy glow when placed in an alcove or even on a front porch, and with projected savings of around £51.00 per bulb over its lifespan, they are perfect to combat the harmful energy price hikes this Christmas.

Host A Switch-On Worthy Of Any Celebrity This Christmas

Artists such as Robbie Williams, McFLY, The Wanted and JLS have been confirmed to be switching on the public Christmas lights up and down the country in huge extravaganzas over the coming weeks. In some of the country’s biggest cities, such as London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Birmingham, some of the UK’s biggest stars will be welcomed and will put on a spectacular show before they press the all-important button that switches on the festive decorations for the remainder of the Christmas period.  Many people around the home might decide to host their own Christmas light switch-on over the coming weeks, as they complete their traditional decorative displays and turn them on for the first time. BLT Direct is a premier provider of lighting solutions that can outshine any celebrity switch-on ceremony, with low prices to fit festive budgets, and high-quality that will last for many winters to come.

One of the most popular ways to form the basis of a large display is to line windows, fences and other vertical surfaces with Snowing Outdoor Icicle Lights, which have an authentic Christmas look when turned to any of their different settings. Pulsating at different speeds or simply remaining static, these lights are perfect to boost Christmas spirit and their neutral white colour won’t clash with more colourful elements of the display. These chains of lights come in sets of up to 720 bulbs, so they can practically cover the entirety of the outside of a house or other building, and they are perfectly appropriate for outdoor usage. Prices at BLT Direct start at just £29.99.

To bring a little Christmas cheer to the inside of the home and continue the theme of a display on the transition from outdoor to indoor, swapping some of the regular bulbs around the house with a Coloured GU10 LED Bulb is a cost-effective solution. These bulbs don’t require any extra fittings or fixtures, and adding a warm red light or a warm yellow glow to the area around a Christmas tree, or in a hallway, can give a home a much more festive feel. These bulbs are also great for energy-saving; running costs compared to GU10 halogen bulbs are down by around 80%, so the electricity bills need not be sky-high this Christmas season. The GU10 LED bulbs start from just £5.99 at BLT Direct.

Not everyone has the time to produce a show-stopping lighting display at Christmas, but there are more subtle ways in which the festive season can be referenced in the home. Candle Bridge Arch Lights are a wonderfully understated way to decorate a mantelpiece, a windowsill or a dining table this Christmas. There are plenty of different varieties to choose from, in varying colours, shapes and sizes, but all of them are a stylish and simplistic way to add to festive decorations. Prices start at just £9.90 for a seven-bulb arch.

Enjoy The Halloween Scare-Fest with BLT Direct

There are just weeks to go until the annual season of trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving and an abundance of fake blood, and BLT Direct is gearing up for this year’s Halloween spectacular with a range of dramatic light bulbs to create spooky effects around the home or workplace. Whether hosting a party or simply looking for ways to make the event more exciting for trick-or-treaters, the carefully chosen selection of flickering candle bulbs and blacklights help to set the scene for the so-called witching hour, and help everyone truly get into the spirit of this lighthearted tradition.

Simply changing light bulbs is a great way to completely change the atmosphere of a room, and with LED GU10 Light Bulbs already being compatible with many of the existing fittings and fixtures around the home, switching them for coloured alternatives can help to create a truly eerie setting. Green and magenta clash perfectly and summon to mind images of zombies and ghost trains, while ultraviolet lights can use glow-in-the-dark capabilities to create spooky patterns on walls and ceilings. All of the coloured LED GU10 bulbs available from BLT Direct have a reputed lamp life of up to 50,000 hours, meaning that they will not only come in handy for this Halloween, but many ghostly celebrations for years to come.

Flicker Flame Incandescent Light Bulbs are particularly suited to creating atmospheric lighting, and the constant judder and shiver of these fake flames are sure to set anybody on edge this Halloween. These bulbs are available with a variety of different bases so no costly modifications need to be made to existing fittings to accommodate these spine-chilling lights bulbs, and they are particularly effective when the bulb is exposed. At just £3.36 per bulb, with an expected life span of up to 1,000 hours, they are a budget-friendly way to convert a standard room or corridor into a flickering passage of terror, and they will last for the entirety of the spooky season.

For those who want to get into the spirit of Halloween, but are concerned about the costly energy bills that they might be unpleasantly surprised with, there are energy-saving options that can turn any home or workplace into a veritable haunted house. The Energy-Saving Blacklights available from BLT Direct come in a variety of different wattages and are predicted to save consumers around £58.50 over the course of their life span. The special dark blue filter creates a truly macabre effect, and simply using one of these bulbs within a porch or hallway can give trick-or-treaters the sense that this house might be one to avoid in the future.