Light Your Life

2012-01-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

Why are LED's so expensive? They are a new technology, and like compact fluorescent bulbs eight years ago, they are a new product and their cost is above and beyond the standard incandescent bulbs (by the way, the higher watt standard A19 100's and 75's will be going off store shelves in most stores in 2012.)

Most people like the CFL's and their energy savings. If you have replaced a few bulbs and not seen a great reduction in your electric bill, it might be because your lighting is a small percentage of your electric bill--the big electric gobblers being your clothes dryer, your electric range and your water heater.

But, if we all switch out at least one standard incandescent to a CFL, the impact on the grid is huge--comparable to the emissions of 8 million cars annually! Those still embracing incandescents need to consider that an incandesent bulb uses 80 percent of its energy just radiating heat--the rest goes for light. This is a very old technology introduced to us by Thomas Edison and has not changed much over many decades. In this economy, it was time for a change!

CFL's, on the other hand, use 80 percent of their energy for illumination. That is why a 60 watt CFL (good for seven years) draws only 14 watts of power from the grid. A substantial reduction of energy in wattage and length of illumination.

Wattage demands of LED's are even lower--but the best news is that an LED bulb will last for 35,000 hours. In many cases, once you put an LED into your lamp, sconce, recessed light or exterior lantern or security light, it will last a good part of your lifetime.....

As technology progresses, LED's no doubt will come down in price just like the CFL's did. LED's are an illumination of our new future, reducing drastically our grid dependence, reducing our utility costs per month and guaranteeing a better life in the future for our children and grandchildren.

Decorative Lighting Options for Your Yard and Garden

2011-08-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

There are many great decorative outdoor lighting options to choose from these days.

Solar Lighting is the most economical and easiest to install. Solar lights have staked ends and can be inserted into soil or mulch. Once the battery inside the light is activated (often by just pulling a tape that prevents contact with the photo cell) it takes about ten or twelve hours of exposure to sunlight to charge the battery and your solar light will be ready to illuminate your sidewalk, driveway, shrubs or flowers at night.

Solar lights come in a variety of styles: two or three tiered lamps, lanterns that hang from an ornamental rod, bollards (small, dome-shaped lights,) tiki torches, fence lights, post lights, small reflector-type flood lights and walk lights with star-patterned down lights. The average cost of a solar light can range from $2.50 to $5.00 depending on the size and whether it is metal or plastic. Most solar lights are LED’s today and give a crisp white light that lasts longer than an ordinary incandescent bulb. Solar lights can last for two, three and sometimes four years—the rechargeable battery can easily be replaced when the light grows dim.

Solar light provides an attractive accent light that can be used in any area of a yard or garden. Place them where they can be exposed to sunlight all day to get the best and longest illumination at night (usually eight to ten hours.) Solar lights can be purchased singly or in packs of six and ten.

Rope Lighting is ideal for accent lighting covered decks, porches, patios and gazebos. They come in a range of lengths (3 ft. to 25 ft.) and can be linked by plugging them together end to end. They are available in many colors including clear white, yellow, red, blue and green. The tiny bulbs used in rope lights can be incandescent or LED’s. The bulbs are a bright white, color variation is produced by the tubing around the light rather than the bulb itself.

Rope lights consist of heavy vinyl tubing which houses the string of tiny bulbs. The tubing stands up fairly well to weather, although, rope lights last longer when protected from the elements and used only during milder spring, summer and fall weather. Small hooks can be purchased to screw into material and anchor the rope light strings. The advantage to rope lighting is that it is flexible and can be wound or wrapped around deck and porch railings and strung along eaves. They require regular 120 voltage and can be plugged in wherever there is an exterior GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet. Rope lights can illuminate for years as long as the vinyl tubing jacket is not compromised by severe weather and temperature. The tiny bulbs produce very little heat and the rope lighting can be handled easily, even when lit. Rope lighting can cost from $4.00 to $40.00 depending on the length.

Landscape Lighting, although more expensive, has some definite advantages over solar and rope lighting. It is much brighter than solar or rope lighting and can be placed anywhere (lamps do not have to be exposed to the sun to illuminate.) Landscape lighting lamps are typically made of metal to withstand harsh weather although lamps are also available in more economical plastic. Wattages for landscape lamps can range from two to fifty watt bulbs. Lamp styles come in a variety of shapes and styles including small floodlights, spotlights, two and three tier lamps, bollards, lanterns, coach lights, step lights, deck lights, fence and post lights.

Landscape lamps are attached to special landscape wire by a simple contact that pierces the jacket of the wire. The wire is attached to a transformer that is designed to be installed outside and plugged into an exterior GFCI outlet. The transformer, or power pack as it is also called, reduces the landscape lighting from 120 volts to 12 volts, making the run of lamps and the wire safe for dogs, children and the occasional errant lawnmower or gardener digging with a shovel. There is not shock if for any reason, the landscape wire is exposed, cut or compromised.

Transformers come in a range of wattages, usually ranging from 100 to 500 watts. The wattage of the transformer determines the length of landscape wire and the number of lamps attached to the wire. Usually it is best to keep the total wattages of the lighting lamps just under the wattage of the transformer. Also, a very long run of wire, even with an accepted number of lamps attached to it, it might cause the lamps to dim, especially at the end of the run of wire. Typically, transformers come with a timer which can be set to turn the lights on and off at given times. Unlike solar, which will not charge and illuminate if days have been cloudy, landscape lighting provides bright, reliable light anytime.

Some applications for landscape lighting include the use of small floodlights whose beams can be adjusted to showcase shrubs and trees or the side of a house. Walkway lamps provide downlight for safe passage to a house along a sidewalk or path. Blooming flowers, shrubs, fountains and pools can be showcased with landscape lighting and there are low wattage bulbs available in a variety of colors as well, for dramatic effects.

Each lamp is attached by contacts to the wire and has a staked end which can be pushed into the ground to keep the lamp anchored and secure. Wire can be buried under two or three inches of soil or mulch. Today, a new line of LED landscape lighting lamps are available. LED’s last longer, provide bright, white light and are more energy efficient. Transformers, wire and lamp heads can be purchased separately or in a kit which includes wire, transformer, contacts and lamps. Kits come in a variety of wattages and lamp styles and range in cost from $20.00 to $150.00, depending on the size of the transformer, length of wire and number of lamps.

Consider these lighting options when seeking to enhance your house, front or backyard at night. Solar lights can be easily placed and provide excellent accent lighting. Landscape lights provide brighter light for secure access along a sidewalk or path, while floods and spot showcase shrubs, trees and trellises. Rope lights provide additional colorful accent lighting for your deck or patio. All are inexpensive, easy to install and will brighten your nights with a variety of welcoming lights.

The CFL Controversy: Pros and Cons

2011-05-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

A NATION OF CONVERTS?

Millions of us have switched over to using CFL's (compact fluorescent bulbs) in our lamps, overhead fixtures, sconces and exterior lights. And, for the most part, we have noticed a slight lower rate in our electric bills because the CFL 60 watt bulb we put in our desk lamp only draws 14 watts of electricity. The reduction in electrical power usage is not dramatic for the typical American household because the real culprits which demand much more electrical power are our old and outdated refrigerator, water heater and dryer. These appliances, as well as well as heat pumps and air conditioners, are responsible for our very high utility bills.

The savings we don't see is that, because millions of us have switched from regular incandescent bulbs to CFL's, we have made a significant reduction of our impact on the grid and have, as a nation, lessened the demands on our electrical utilities.

Introduced to the market in 1980, CFL's have improved considerably--costing less, lighting instantly, not flickering and giving off a good, white light. But to date only abut 5% of light bulbs purchase are CFL's, the rest being incandescents. CFL's remain a small, niche market product and as a "green" resource, their credibility is still relatively low.

CFL's have freed us from our former high demands on electrical power, but much still can be done to alleviate our high energy usage. Converting to alternative energy resources like solar and wind power will significantly lower our electrical usage. The more energy-efficient our appliances become and the more we replace our old appliances and HVAC systems with energy star rated products, the less dependent we are on the grid.

Everyone agrees this would be for the better, less usage, less dependence, less demand on utilities and lower energy cost for the consumer.

THE ADVANTAGES OF CFL'S

The typical American household has between fifty electrical sockets and an average of twenty to forty illumination sources including lamps, sconces, ceiling fixtures, exterior and security lights and night lights or auxiliary lights. If 110 million American households replaced one incandescent bulb with a CFL (compact fluorescent light) the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people or all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island. In terms of oil not burned, or greenhouse gases not exhausted into the atmosphere, one bulb is equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the roads.

Power plants are the single greatest source of greenhouse gases in the United States and half our electricity comes from coal-fired plants. The replacement of one incandescent with one CFL in 110 million households is enough electricity saved to turn off two entire power plants--or skip building the next two.

Those of us who are visually challenged and need a better reading light than the incandescent they are using, can find great visual support in replacing the incandescent with a cool spectrum CFL which emits a white light that duplicates sunlight and makes a book page very white and the text very black, creating high contrast in reading material that will aid the visually impaired in reading,

CFL DRAWBACKS?
Many of us that are affected by migraines claim that the light from a CFL bulb can trigger a migraine reaction. Often, fluorescents in general, including the commercial and residential tubes cause this migraine reaction as well. There is some research being done on the sine waves that electromagnet frequencies produce. Clean electricity produces smooth sine waves. Dirty electricity produces spikes in sine waves and research proves that these spikes make diabetics blood sugar climb. Devices that measure amounts of dirty electricity show that other things in the home that create dirty electricity are computers, printers, monitors. We may be living in a blizzard of dirty electricity these days and, it is reported, that CFL's contribute to that storm of voltage energy.

CFL bulbs give off Ultraviolet rays, like the sun does. For that matter, so do halogen bulbs, which were regulated to be covered with a glass seal to prevent exposure to UV rays. Not provided with a glass diffuser which filters the UV emission, CFL's can cause issues to those of us with photo-sensitivity to UV rays, especially for people prone to skin diseases like Lupus, CFL's could make their skin condition worse. CFL's with a glass envelope (a cover) over the swirly bulb tested negative for any UV radiation, but this information is not on any CFL package, to date.

A new area of research is being developed relating to electro-magnetic sensitivity, which is the monitoring and documenting of people who get skin rashes, migraines, depressions and fatigue due to the high frequency dirty electricity from a variety of devices in our residential and commercial environment, including CFL's.

Not sure if the CFL's you have in your home are causing your headaches, migraines, fatigue, arthritic pain? It has been advised by medical experts to replace the bulbs and see if there is a difference. But, if the household has the typical electronic cluster of computer, monitor, flat screen TV, etc. it may be difficult to the malady to one single source like a CFL bulb.

CFL ADVERSARIES

The news that incandescent bulbs will disappear from store shelves and we will all be required to use CFL's does not go over well with many of us. Many do not like being told they can no longer use incandescent bulbs. The complaint often is, "It seems that the government is seeking to control everything, including what we use to light our houses!" And because the dramatic savings in using CFL's may not be seen on the electrical bill, it seems to the American householder that the withdrawal of incandescents from the market is just another ploy of the powers that be to manipulate consumers.

There is also a dislike for CFL's because of certain disadvantages to using them. One is the mercury content and indeed, all fluorescent bulbs and tubes do contain a small amount of mercury (5 mg or less) which is a neuro-toxin. CFL's contain less than 5 mg of mercury. If broken they pose a hazardous material risk of inhaling the toxic mercury powder that lines their swirled tubes. There are no HAZMAT (hazardous material) guidelines for incandescents, but there are for CFL's. They must be disposed of like batteries, motor oil, etc. Broken CFL's can be disposed of responsibly at your local Home Depot store. But how many of us know that?

If disposal is not done responsibly, landfills could become polluted with mercury, a toxic substance which can leach into water ways and water sources. This build up has been evidenced in our oceans as large fish are monitored and increasing high levels of mercury are recorded in their bodies.

Lastly, CFL's cannot be used with a dimmer and even though there are dimmable CFL's on the market, they are more expensive than other CFL's and there is a criticism that some of them dim "in steps" and do not fade or brighten like incandescents.

CFL CONFUSION

So, a person replacing a standard 60 watt incandescent with a 60 watt CFL might find that the CFL is dimmer and yellower and therefore inferior. If they replaced with a different spectrum CFL, they would discover that the CFL in the same wattage is actually brighter and whiter than the incandescent. CFL's do not behave like incandescents in the sense that there can be (depending on the brand) an offering of three different spectrums (color temperature and illumination) which significantly affects the brightness and color of three different same wattage bulbs.

There is a complaint about how CFL's look and not everyone likes the swirly look of the bulb. CFL's that look like standard incandescents are available. A glass envelope in the same standard bulb shape simply cover the swirly CFL.

CHANDELIER CONUNDRUM

Lastly, to date, CFL's cannot resemble or replace small based, clear, flame-tipped or blunt tipped chandelier bulbs. Although CFL's do come in small (candelabra) based bulbs in that elongated shape, they are simply a small swirly bulb in a glass envelope that visually duplicates the standard chandelier bulb. And, they are not clear, so that jewel-like sparkling filament so characteristic of the standard chandelier bulb simply cannot be duplicated by a CFL. For many who want to replace this type of bulb in their chandelier, this is a draw back. If there is any solution to this problem, it will be solved by LED's, which can easily duplicate both base, flame-shape and clear glass envelope.

For all of the controversy that CFL's have created, the millions that have been sold and are in use today and are helping us reduce our dependency on our utilities (they generally last for seven years.)

LED's OF THE FUTURE

The true light at the end of the grid-dependency tunnel, however, will most like by LED's. They're expensive now, just like CFL's were a decade ago and they still need to be more consumer-friendly. What is their advantage over CFL's? They can be clear (where CFL's cannot come in a clear bulb,) they can be easily dimmed (using a standard dimmer,) they have even less temperature than CFL's, they use even less wattage (a 60 watt comparable LED uses-watts as compared to 14 watts a CFL uses,) and the bulb life of a LED is 35,000 hours compared to a CFL's 10,000.

As new products develop to ease our increasing dependency on our utilities sources, there will no doubt, still be those that lament the eminent extinction of the technologically ancient, high temperature, short-lived and highly inefficient incandescent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6169225

Light of the Future -- LED's

2011-02-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

You see them in big box stores, the LED (Light Emitting Diodes) are here in many shapes and sizes including A19's: your standard light bulb size and shape, R20's, R30's and R40's: Reflector floodlights for track lights, exterior lighting and recessed lights, and night light accent bulbs: small bulbs with candelabra bases. How are they different from CFL's (Compact Fluorescent Lighting,)and standard incandescent bulbs? Across the board, in a 60 watt illumination, their wattage is even less than CFL's (14 watts for 60 watt illumination and much less than incandescents (60 watts is 60 watts of illumination.)

And the quality of light in this array of bulbs is soft white, not the icey blue of LED's of the past. There are also very effective undercabinet LED's now that are as bright as a halogen or xenon bulb, but again, draw much less wattage and have little or no heat temperature when lit. And there are no reflector bulb units that combine 60 watt equivalent illumination in a floodlight that fits quite nicely into a 6 inch recessed can light. And it is pretty, because the unit is not only the LED lensed bulb, but the baffle (the inside covering in the can) and the trim as well in smooth white--all in one unit. Just screw it into the socket in the recessed can, push the little wings out to secure it in place and that's it!

I cannot tell the difference between the soft white spectrum of the LED, the soft white CFL and the standard soft white incandescent.

The advantage of LED's is the ultra-low wattage, the lifetime (30,000 hours average) and the reliable quality of the light. What is the disadvantage? Price.
Bulbs average $24.00 each and for the recessed can unit--$50.00. Most people are not ready to pay that for a light bulb, even with all its awesome qualification.

I imagine that, like CFL's, LED prices will come down and with the next couple years, become affordable for all. Meanwhile, I feel, like many do, that we are that far ahead using CFL's. The lifetime of a standard CFL is about seven years.

Disadvantages to CFL's? Not cost. For the most part they cost the same or, in special pricing, even cheaper than incandescents. They cannot be dimmed unless they have a dimmable ballast. And after their seven year life, disability is a big concern. There is but a minute amount of mercury in each bulb or tube--but if they all get tossed into the landfill in their old age, that could be a real ecological problem. Big box stores like the Home Depot will take any of your fluorescents and dispose of them responsibly.

In the end, what this all means is that the days of the highly inefficient incandescent light bulb are just about over and all of us will be that much more removed from our reliance on the grid.

And when LED's become a bit more affordable, I'll be replacing my CFL's with them.

Spreading The Light!

2010-07-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

SUMMERART - AUGUST
DRAWING AND PAINTING
WORKSHOPS

Professional instruction with Lois DeWitt, MFA.
Over thirty years of art teaching experience.

Individual tutoring available--$25.00 for a two hour session.

To enroll or for more information email:
loislight@bellsouth.net

Paint From A Photo Workshop - $20.00
Tuesday Afternoons-- 3:00PM – 5:00PM
Bring your favorite photo or printed image, learn basic painting skills to turn it into your own beautiful painting!

Water Color Workshop – $20.00
Wednesday Mornings--11:00AM – 1:00 PM
Wet and dry brush, expressive brushstroke, light and shadow washes, spray and splash! Learn watercolor basics or refresh your painting skills.

Drawing Workshop – $20.00
Wednesday Afternoons -- 3:00PM – 5:00 PM
Line, shading, composition and how to draw what you see. Learn the basics or refresh your drawing skills.

Drawing Workshop – $20.00
Saturday Mornings--11:00AM – 1:00 PM
Line, shading, composition and how to draw what you see. Learn the basics or refresh your drawing skills.

Acrylic Painting Workshop – $20.00
Saturday Afternoons---- 3:00PM – 5:00 PM
Color mixing, brushwork, gradations, light and shadow. Learn the basics or refresh your painting skills.

Light For Less Money

2010-07-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I've replaced all of my incandescent bulbs with CFL's--that is, compact fluorescent bulbs and have seen a 5% drop in my energy bills.
There are new CFL bulbs that look like the standard incandescent and a 60 watt CFL will only use 14 watts of energy. Great savings in these times for me and for you, too!

Be mindful of the illumination quality of CFL bulbs. This is what a lot of consumers are not aware of--CFL's come in several color coded packages. 60 watt soft white, which is the usual CFL bulb, is dimmer than a standard 60 watt incandescent bulb although it gives a rich , yellow light. The daylight and sunlight CFL packages in the same 60 watts are notably brighter. Keep this in mind when you are shopping for CFL's. Most CFL package are color coded: the soft white is a green package, the bright white is a red package and the sunlight is a blue package (this is the brightest!)

What is your usage? Are you wanting to light an exterior fixture, lamps in your living room, dining area, bathroom or bedroom? Become acquainted with these various spectrums of CFL's. At the same wattage, different packages or color designations can be dimmer or brighter.

Now there are CFL's available for your recessed lighting and outdoor floodlights. There are also candelabra and intermediate based bulbs for your fan lights and chandeliers.

Time to try out CFL's. Remember, your vast savings in this technology can be soon evidenced my your utility bill!

Temporal Light

2009-07-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

It's the end of June and I'm sitting on my patio, sipping wine and throwing the ball for Charley, my Black Standard Poodle. As I look over the fence, I am facing south and not far away is the sea and Carolina Beach.

Sunsets across the ocean on the Gulf Coast are spectacular, but here, in Wilmington, NC, we see the sunsets across the expanse of the Cape Fear river, which is what you'd look across if you were facing west. I have noticed many times that the reflection of the sunset, especially in the long, golden days of summer, tints the sky on the coastal side and this is what I was seeing that evening.

"Red sky at night, sailor's delight.." as the saying goes. It promised to be a lovely day tomorrow. What I noticed also, was the remarkable speed at which the light was changing, shifting in color from rose to pink to violet, all within a span of minutes. And I noticed that the roof tops and the sidings of the houses were changing as well, and even the electric lines glistened yellow than blackened, like pencil marks again the darkening sky.

Here is a visual clock, I thought. A steady time lapse of illumination going to dark--all just as calibrated and relentless as a ticking clock.

I could feel time--my life progressing as I was swept along with the fade of light to dark. Indeed, we are all swept along with the tide of temporal existence.

It is a particularly significant analogy for me, being age 66 and soon to turn 67. I am reaching the time of my life where much more is behind me and less is before me. I am at the dusk stage of my life and the gentle, almost imperceptible migration from day to night seems a bittersweet reminder of what little time I have on this Earth. Days tick by, one by one, fading into night and blooming into morning and many times we journey through them, unaware of the steady progression and hypnotized by their repetition.

And suddenly it was dark and I could barely see Charley with his ball, begging me for one more toss.

I've always been fond of the translated poems of the great Persian poet, Omar Khayyam. Even as a kid, with infinity before me, I was stung by the beauty of his understanding of temporal existence and how fleeting life is.

"Come, and in the Fire of Spring,
The Winter Garment of Repentance Fling,
The Bird of Time has but a little way to fly,
And, lo, the Bird is on the wing."

Louis Comfort Tiffany's Stained Glass Legacy

2009-01-17T17:06:00.000-08:00

Working in the Lighting/Electrical Department at the Home Depot this past Christmas reminded me again of how the season sparks a renewed interest in stained glass items. Perhaps it is the jewel-like colors that often mimic the warmth and inspiration of church windows. There is no other time of year that rivals the amount of stained glass Tiffany-style items purchased.
After a spirited conversation with a customer about the beauty of stained glass, I set about gathering up my old art school notes and garnering information on the Internet regarding Louis Comfort Tiffany, the founder of the Tiffany style stained glass. Today, the term "Tiffany" is generic, referring to the craft and technique of making items from small pieces of colored glass. In the past, the pieces of glass were connected with a network of lead. Today, foils and less toxic solders are used to bond the myriad fragments together.
Lamps, chandeliers, night lights, sconces and pendants in stained glass are manufactured in many parts of the world and illuminate many households with their magic glowing colors.

Louis Comfort Tiffany was the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany and Company. He was born in February 18, 1848, heir to an already successful enterprising family.

Tiffany studied painting in Paris and painted oils and watercolors in Europe and Morocco. His family wealth and connections ultimately would help make his own artistic business do very well. Louis Tiffany became interested in glassmaking in 1875 and then worked at several glasshouses in Brooklyn until 1878. In 1879, he partnered with Candace Wheeler, Samuel Coleman and Lockwood de Forest to form a company known as Louis Comfort Tiffany and Associated American Artists. Establishing Tiffany Studios, the firm specialized in favrile lamps and vases of iridescent glass made in natural forms in the art nouveau style. He trademarked Favrile (a French word meaning handmade) on November 13, 1894. The lamps became very popular and were widely imitated. To this day, Louis Comfort Tiffany is best known for his work promulgating the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic art movements. Ironically, he did not trademark his own name and to this day, the term “Tiffany” describes the stained glass technique and style used in the manufacture of objects, including light fixtures, vases, bowls, windows and architectural details.

Although he embarked on starting his own business, Tiffany always kept close ties with the family firm and he became Artistic Director of Tiffany & Co. after his father's death in 1902. The Tiffany Studios remained in business until 1932.

Tiffany loved the textures, color and mineral impurities of commercial jelly jars and bottles. Fine glassmakers would not leave the impurities in, so he began making his own glass that had those textures and impurities. In 1893 Tiffany built a new factory, which became known as the Tiffany Glass Furnaces, located in Corona, Queens, New York. In 1893, the Tiffany Company introduced the term, favrile in conjunction with his first production of blown glass at his new glass factory. Tiffany lamps were exhibited in the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago

Tiffany's first commercially produced lamps date from around 1895. Much of his company's production was in making stained glass windows and Tiffany lamps, but his company designed a complete range of interior decorations including pottery and enamel pieces, as well. At its peak, his factory employed over three hundred artisans.

Tiffany used opalescent glass in a variety of colors and textures to create a unique style of stained glass. He used all of his skills in the design of his own house, an 84-room estate called Laurelton Hall, in Oyster Bay, Long Island. It was completed in 1905. Later this estate was donated to his foundation for art students along with 60 acres of land. The entire estate was sold in 1949, and, unfortunately, was completely destroyed by a fire in 1957.

The Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida was founded by Hugh McKean, a former art student at Laurelton Hall. The Museum houses the world's most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, including Tiffany jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass windows, lamps, and the chapel interior he designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. After the close of the exposition, a generous benefactor purchased the entire chapel for installation in the crypt of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York in New York City. As construction on the cathedral continued, the chapel fell into disuse, and in 1916 Tiffany removed it and re-installed it at Laurelton Hall. After the 1957 fire, the chapel was rescued by Hugh McKean and it now occupies an entire wing of the Morse Museum. Many glass panels from Laurelton Hall are on exhibit as well.

A major exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art on Laurelton Hall opened in November 2006. A new exhibit at the New-York Historical Society in May, 2007, features new information about the women who worked for Tiffany and their contribution to designs credited to Tiffany. Louis Comfort Tiffany died on January 17, 1933. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Interested in the creative process? Want to take an information-rich, easy, fun and rewarding art class that is free?

Light In the Dark Season

2008-12-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

The winter solstice approaches. The sun is farthest away from our North American latitudes and the days are the shortest. I am among those people who are affected by the short, dark days of winter, even though I live in North Carolina and do not suffer the slings and arrows of ice and snow. Nevertheless, I survive by several endeavors. As a lighting consultant, I always recommend more light, turn on more lamps, get the full spectrum bulbs and install them in all of your fixtures and lamps. But, for me, and maybe for you, this season has more light to give than just lamplight. This is another light that I became aware of at an early age and that employ each winter year to keep me positive and unencumbered by darkness of the season. Here they are:

Baking cookies--This I have been doing for several decades. I use traditional Swedish recipes and produce dozens of ginger and butter cookies, plus an oatmeal, crunchy kind and a killer butter ball cookie that is covered with powdered sugar. I send the cookies to friends and share them with guests to my house or I take them to parties, to share there.

Making a Christmas card. Every year I draw, paint, or take photos for a Christmas card to update my friends. Most of whom I email anyway, but it is important for me to link with them on a more personal, physical and traditional basis.

Making a little smorgasboord--I have a small party, inviting four to ten friends for an evening of Swedish treats like creamed herring and Swedish meatballs. Typically, friends will bring wine, cheeses or appetitizers to augment the meal. It is always a wonderful time!

This holiday season is all about giving--not just prettily wrapped gifts, but part of one's own heart--extending love and wishes of peace and joy to all--those that we love, those that are friends, those that we meet as strangers in our lives. It is always wonderful to see a loved one open a present and glow with great pleasure at what they have received from you. But this is a brief and rather cosmetic happiness..There are other things that can deepen the warm glow of this season beyond mere gift giving. Here are some things that I have done, that have made the holiday so much more rich and meaningful...

Apologize to someone who you've had a conflict with. Make amends.

Meet and greet people, on the street, in the office, wherever-- and wish them well. Yes, just anyone.

Take a bit of time to contribute yourself to a homeless shelter, a church function, a charity of your choice--wherever you will see the need.

Give to charities of your choice. I wish I had a lot more to give the charities of my choice. Perhaps you feel the same way, too. Well, this year, I wrote very small checks to my charities--but, you know, I still felt like, even though I couldn't give much, I gave something. That was meaningful to me and, I'm sure my little contributions helped their causes along!

Lastly, have a good time with your family. You are all bonded in a special way--sharing the same aggravations and joys of daily living together. I am sixty-six years old. When I remember those Christmases at relatives houses--all warm with food and conversation, the windows steaming-- when outside, in Minneapolis, it was 2 degrees above zero--even as a kid, I felt that we were so bonded...that the house was almost an entity on to itself and that we could be flying around in space in our own little world. That is the power of coming together, this is the power of true light in this dark season!

Need more inspiration? View my online art classes--sources of great inspiration

2008-11-25T16:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, the Poodle boy is in Intermediate Agility. He is so very good on his feet, but he has "the zooms." He gets so excited he just runs and runs around the Agility Area. The rest of the dogs and their owners have to wait and this has just taken too much time.

Our Agility Instructor was kind enough to ask me if we would consider private classes in trade for the regular class. So we have been meeting at other times and addressing the "the zooms."

Basically, when a dog speeds around, uncatchable, it is a glorious game. All the calling and whistles and treats are not going to woo this dog back--he's having too much fun!

The Agility Instructor has shown us another way. First, we encourage "the zooms" by the command "go play." Charley races around and we are not very interested. We wait--then ask if he will do a agility command--like jump, or frame it or teeter. If he is not ready, we remove ourselves--sometimes going out of sight.

All of a sudden, things are not so much fun for Charley. He is out in the yard all by himself and the game is over. When we get back in, we do it all over again. We give the "go play" command, then ask him to do a hurdle or a teeter board.

He now realizes that if he does one of those, he will be rewarded. Racing around for "go play" will not reward him, but the agility commands will.

Presto! In the second class, after tearing around the yard, Charley was ready to work! He was ready for the treats! He still had to vent with another "go play" but then he knew that we would go away and come back after he was done racing around the yard.

Thanks to our very knowledgeable Agility Instructor, Charley is on his way to the beauties of Agility! Will he every compete? Probably not, but he will learn how to jump, scale an A-Frame, do a teeter board, run through tunnels and jump a series of hurdles.

Right on, Charley!

Here's Charley's blog

Got LEDS?

2008-11-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

Perhaps your old Christmas lights are going. Some lights are out, you're thinking of buying new strings. Consider LEDS? LED (light emitting diodes) lights are a good way to go--they will last much longer and will save you money because of their lower wattage.

And, this season, I see that they are coming in a lot of really nice colors--blues and greens, and bright whites! Looking at the product, I can see that the strings are a bit easier to control, compared to the traditional incandescent snarly ones.

Maybe it is time to light up your Christmas season in a new way that will be beautiful, less costly and last for years to come!

Showcase Your Home With Low Voltage Landscape Lighting

2008-08-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

Your home can be as lovely at night as it is during the day!

Here are seven ways to illuminate your home at night, options that go beyond just the lantern by your front door and can be done easily and without spending great amounts of money.

Before you purchase low voltage lighting, these guidelines will help you select the right lighting and avoid common mistakes:

1. Be selective - Decide what you are going to illuminate. If everything is lit up at night, nothing will stand out and the dramatic effects of lighting will be lost.

2. Avoid glare - Shield bright light so that it is not visible. Place and aim lighting so that the beams are not shining out at you, but lighting objects instead.

3. Don't overlight - Plan your lighting scenarios so that the illumination you want is achieved with a minimum of lighting.

4. Plan ahead - Keep in mind that trees and shrubbery grow and make it easy to relocate your lighting in the future.

5. Consider controls - Dimmers, timers and photocells will give you many options for emphasizing certain areas with lighting at night, such as a garden or a pool area, while decreasing illumination in other areas. A timer, set to illuminate your landscape at certain times at night, will provide a welcoming illumination when you return home after dining out or the going to the cinema.

LOW VOLTAGE LANDSCAPE LIGHTING:

All you need is a transformer, wiring and the heads (lights that mount with a stake in the ground). The transformer is outside and plugged into your exterior outlet. It converts your 120 voltage to 12 volts. This makes low voltage landscape lighting shock-free and a good choice if you have children, dogs or both. Low voltage wire can be buried under a few inches of mulch, gravel or grass or hidden behind shrubbery.

Low voltage landscape light comes most conveniently in kits which contain everything you will need: the transformer, the lights, the wiring and wiring contacts.
Low voltage lights come in a variety of styles, including:

Spotlights that can be positioned to shine on your house, trees, fences, shrubbery or light a pathway.

Lanterns that hang on hooked stakes that can be put in the ground. These are good for lighting pathways or as accent lights in gardens, around shrubbery or fences.

Bullet-type or tier-type lights that cast downlight and illuminate the ground beneath in a pool of light. These are ideal for lighting pathways, gardens, and fountains.

You can see that what you want to illuminate at night will determine what type of low voltage lighting you choose. Perhaps, you will want a variety of lights: some for illuminating trees, some for washing your house with light and some for lighting a walkway to the entrance of your house.

Whatever you choose, make sure that the combined wattage of all of the lights is under the wattage of the transformer. Also, keep in mind, that the further the lights will be from the transformer, the more likely they are to dim and weaken.

Now that you know the styles of low voltage lighting available, let's list all the lighting scenarios which can enhance your house at night.

1. Pathlighting - Positioning a series of downlights along one side or both sides of a pathway.

2. Moonlighting - Positioning spotlight-type narrow beam lights to illuminate a tree, fence or shrubbery.

3. Steplighting - Positioning small eyeball or lidded-type lights on the railing or wall adjoining a stairway. This kind of lighting is especially effective for decks and elevated porches.

4. Grazing - Positioning spotlight-type wide beam lights to point up and illuminate the textures of siding (brick, cedar shakes, etc.)or to emphasize the texture of a fence or wall.

5. Silhouetting - Positioning a spotlight-type wide beam light behind a tall tree or shrubbery for backlighting. The tree or shrubbery will be in shadow and produce dramatic shadowy shapes against an illuminated background.

6. Shadowing - Positioning a spotlight-type wide beam light or series of lights to shine on an object, such as a tree, producing a dramatically enlarged shadow on the background, which should be a relatively flat surface, like a wall, side of the house or fence.

7. Crosslighting - Positioning two spotlight-type lights on either side of an object, such as a tree or shrubbery. This softens the illumination of the object and produces a natural-appearing illumination with few shadows.

Landscape lighting works wonders all year around. In the summer, you will be able to enjoy your illuminated deck, pool area or yard long after sunset. In the winter, your landscape lighting will bring a cheerful glow to those long winter nights.

Ten Lighting Tips That Will Help Sell Your House

2008-07-22T18:58:00.000-07:00

As a Lighting Specialist, people frequently ask me how they improve the saleability of their house with good lighting. They often add that they have a budget, don't want to spend alot, because that extra cost in purchasing expensive lighting fixtures or changing electrical service would have to be added to the cost of their house.

With that in mind, I have created guidelines for enhancing the appearance of a home inexpensively:

1) Often people are not aware that their lighting preferences may be offensive to a perspective buyer. A kitchen let solely by a large troffer-type fluorescent fixture may diminish the size of the space, making the kitchen appear smaller than its actual square footage. If it is dirty, it should be cleaned. If the diffusing plastic is discolored or cracked, it should be replaced. Painting the frame of fixture the same color as the ceiling will give it a lower profile and visually reduce its size.

2) If the stove light diffuser is greasy, dirty and discolored, clean it or replace it. Replace the bulb with the highest wattage recommended for that fixture.

3) Installing an under cabinet light improves the lighting for task areas such as counter tops. Under cabinet lights come in units of two and three halogen or xenon lights. There are also inexpensive low profile fluorescents made for under cabinet lighting.

4) Ask people to look critically at their window treatments. Those dark red, fully lined curtains that match the flowers in the dining room wall paper may shroud the room in darkness and shadows, even when they are open. Purchasing cheap, light-colored curtains will brighten a room considerably and make the room appear larger. And yes, clean the windows and discard discolored, torn window shades.

5) Replace any switchplates or outlets that are cracked or discolored. If they are dirty, remove them and clean them by hand or in the dishwasher.

6) If, in any room, the over head central ceiling fixture is discolored or cracked, replace it. Good looking ceiling flush mount and semi-flush mount fixtures need not be expensive and will definitely improve the appearance of the bedroom, hallway, foyer or livingroom. If the fixture is in good condition, but is full of bugs or cobwebs, cleaning the glass shade and making sure the highest recommended wattage bulbs are in place.

7) I have heard realtors complain about bringing prospective buyers to a house at night and, because the front exterior lights didn't functiion, the buyers entered with a negative impression. It is a sign of neglect if the exterior fixtures don't work, are corroded, have broken parts or glass, or need replacement bulbs. Don't overlook the importance of any exterior fixtures. Make sure all of them work and have the highest recommended wattage bulbs in them. If they need to be replaced, inexpensive exterior fixtures, available at home improvement stores, will make a good first impression.

8) All the best lighting will not be effective if the walls are paneled with dark wood or painted a dark color. Covering those dark walls with a light, neutral color like off white or light beige, will increase the effectiveness of lighting and make the room appear larger.

9) Some inexpensive decorative tips that will help sell your house are: Replace all discolored, darkened or dirty lampshades. Most large chain and home improvement stores have inexpensive lampshades. Take your old lampshades with you when you shop, so that you can get the right size.

10) Little solar lights along the walk way to your front door add a welcoming touch. Packs of six or eight in amber or white lights are inexpensive and easy to install.

With not much expenditure and a little "elbow grease," your home will shine!

2008-07-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

To CFL Or Not To CFL? Update...

I have replaced all of my incandescent bulbs with the new compact fluorescents and encourage customers at The Home Depot, where I work, to do so, as well.

What are the advantages? CFL's appear pricey at first, compared to regular incandescent light bulbs. They can cost upwards of $2.98 each, compared to a six pack of incandescent bulbs at$1.50. However, CFL's last for seven years instead of 1000 or 2000 hours of the standard light bulb.

Also, CFL with comparable illumination of 60 watts, use only 14 watts, while a 60 watt incandescent uses 60 watts. CFL's come in a variety of colors--soft white, bright white and daylight. These colors range from a warm spectrum (yellow light) to a cool spectrum (blue light). One can match the colors to their lighting needs. For example, warm light for the living room and dining, cooler light for reading lamps and hallways and the coolest light for closets, basement and work shop.

What are the disadvantages? Just a few CFL type bulbs can be dimmed. This is a handicap for many lighting applications, including bathrooms and dining, where a lower light might be desired for "mood" lighting or serving as a night light.

Also, CFL's do not work well in touch lamps or dawn to dusk or motion sensored regulated exterior fixtures. Fluorescent ballasts (the little "jump start mechanism that all fluorescents must have to turn on) don't hold up well in lighting applications where the light is turned on and off frequently. The long life of a CFL's is shortened considerably when used in this type of fixture.

Probably the biggest concern about CFL's these days is their mercury content and disposability. Although the amount of mercury in a CFL is relatively small, as much as could fit on the head of a pin, down the road, when large quantities of CFL's will be disposed as their bulb life comes to an end, regulations for their safe disposal must be in place.

Lastly, cautions concerning breaking a compact fluorescent, inhaling air borne mercury, make CFL's problematic where incandescents are not.

Reductions in the electric bill alone have won over many consumers who are aware of the hazards of CFL's and fluorescents in general. Handling fluorescents carefully, keeping updated on methods and regulations for disposal and being aware of new dimmable or sensor-operative CFL's can counter the disadvantages for the consumer.

My overview regarding CFL's is that their impact on energy-generation reduction at present compensates for their disadvantages, which will, in the near future, be addressed and, hopefully, resolved.

My Free Online Art Classes

2008-03-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

I confess, I have been working on a website. I've been teaching art classes in my studio, (along with being a lighting consultant, writing a cookbook and working as an artist) for over thirty years. Several months ago, I received an e-mail from one of my students, reminiscing about the art classes she attended in my studio several years ago. "Why don't you go online with your classes?" she asked, "They'd be really a good learning experience and enjoyable to a whole lot of people!"

I thought it was a great idea. Why not take my little private art classes out into the world? So, I am working on this website. It will take a while to put in all of the classes I have taught over the years (Painting, Printmaking, Drawing, Pastels, Collage, Ceramics) But I'm doing it! Also, I thought it would be great idea to make the classes free and provide my help and expertise as an art instructor for over thirty year free as well! So here is my website in the making with more to come.

Go to my website

Cold weather getting you down?

2008-02-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

Here's my post at a lovely website all about beaches. My favorite is only a few miles from my house and Charley and I walk along the shore two or three mornings a week....

http://www.anguilla-beaches.com/carolina-beach-fort-fisher.html

Lighting of the Future

2008-01-29T18:18:00.001-08:00

Here's My Latest Ezine Article On Energy Saving For Winter! Keep Warm!

2008-01-22T16:53:00.001-08:00

Six Great Energy-Saving Tips For Winter

2008-01-20T17:12:00.000-08:00

1. Replace your regular bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFL's). This means your lamps, overhead fixtures, hall lights, lights in the bathroom, foyer and don't forget porch lights! CFL's are very efficient and will save you money. They use 75% less energy and give off the same amount of light. Most types of CFL's are warranteed to last for 5 to 9 years!

2. During the winter heating months, set your thermostat at 68 degrees during the day when you are home and 60 degrees at night--put more blankets on the bed and you will be snug as a bug in a rug! Keep this same setting of 60 when you are not at home. These settings will make a definite difference in your monthly electric bill.

3. Change the filters in your heating system every month. Check out the new HEPA filters. They cost more, but keep your circulated air cleaner over a longer period (3 months) than a standard filter.

4. If you have a fireplace, install a glass screen. When you close the flue, close the screen and you will keep the warm air in your fireplace instead of having it go up the chimmney.

5. Are your drapes or furniture blocking heat vents? Make sure that all of your heat vents are not obstructed.

6. The first six feet of cold and hot water pipes connected to your water heater should be insulated. Foam tubing is readily available at hardware and home improvement stores and easily installed.

5. Believe it or not, if you wash your clothes in cold water, they will be just as clean. Use spot treatment and bleaches to brighten. You will save as much as $.40 per washload.

6. Check your water heater and set it at 120 degrees. The preset temperature for many water heaters is higher and will cost you more.

What is a warm fuzzy?

2008-01-18T16:04:00.000-08:00

Soft light from a lamp or a candle can be a warm fuzzy by making us feel satisfied and comfortable. Gazing into the flames of a fireplace, we may remember a time in our childhood when a certain fireplace gave us warmth and happiness. I have created a website just for warm fuzzies--a forum where folks can share their warm fuzzy experiences. It is a special place dedicated to the proliferation of global good feeling. I hope you'll visit and write about your WF experience!

http://warmfuzzyforum.com/

Five Basic Lighting Solutions

2008-01-10T17:04:00.000-08:00

As a lighting consultant, I answer many client questions about how they can enhance their home environment with lighting. Here are five general questions with my solutions. Perhaps these will help you improve the lighting in your home.

Q. How can I improve the lighting in my kitchen?

A. A central ceiling fixture in the kitchen will not provide all the light needed to cook, dine and clean up. Preparing a meal under this kind of ambient overhead light, one always works in their shadow. Undercabinet lighting is a great solution for food preparation on counters because it directly illuminates the work surface. There are many plug in varieties of two, three and four lights in xenon and halogen units that work well for task illumination. For island counters, pendants can illuminate the entire work surface. Pendants are hanging lights, either on little downrods (stems), cords or chain. Some pendants come in brightly colored glass shades for a contemporary look, or more traditional with faux alabaster glass shades and wrought iron, pewter or bronze finishes.

Q. Our family room is lit by two table lamps and an overhead fixture in the center. This lighting is not enough for the kids doing their homework at the table or me, reading or knitting on the sofa.

A. Check to see if you are using the correct wattage in your lamps and update your lampshades if they are darkened and clouded with age ( over the years this can happen so slowly you don’t notice that the shade is emitting less light because of deterioration). An overhead fixture is limited in the light it can provide for tasking. A track light will provide good directional downlight to specific areas in the room. There are many floor lamp models with adjustable multiple lights that can be directed towards many working areas. Wall sconces placed in work areas provide a pleasant, semi-direct light and enhance ambient lighting.

Q. I need better light around my house when I come home at night.

A. Low voltage light kits provide good light along driveways and walkways. They have a number of lamps and a transformer. It’s easy to install low voltage lighting–these kits usually consist of a several lights on spikes that can be set in the ground and linked with wire which can be placed above ground, covered with mulch or behind shrubbery. Low voltage (12 volts of current) does not present a shock hazard if touched or damaged. The transformer, which converts the standard 120 household voltage to 12, is plugged into a regular house exterior or interior outlet.
Higher voltage (120 volts) provides the most powerful light for your driveway, walkway and landscape lighting. There is no transformer, but wires for the light sources have to be buried at a safe depth because of safety standards. This kind of lighting is great for showcasing trees, the house, and landscape lighting. Placed well, the effects are dramatic and provide all the illumination you require.

Q. My electric bill is getting higher and higher!

A. Replacing all of your present incandescent bulbs inside and outside your house with compact flourescent bulbs will definitely lower your electric bill. CFL’s (compact flourescent lights) come in a variety of wattages and styles, including globe-type bulbs (round bulbs usually used for vanity bars), spotlights and floodlights, 3-ways for lamps, bug lights in yellow, little dimmable 15 watt chandelier bulbs and the basic spirals in 40, 60 watts and in a variety of spectrums from warm white( yellower color) to bright white( bluer color).

Q. My husband and I have a bathroom with double sinks. I like alot of light for putting on make up in the morning. My husband likes to shave in the dark. He says bright light is only good after a cup of coffee. Our present vanity fixture with six bulbs is too dim for me an too bright for him.

A. A dimmer will accomodate your individual lighting needs if you use the bathroom separately. If you are at the double sinks at the same time, you might want to consider separate lighting above each sink (that would require installing separate receptacles and wiring). That way, you could have the correct wattage for applying make-up, etc. and your husband could have his preferred lighting for shaving, etc.

Confessions of a Lighting Specialist

2007-12-04T16:36:00.000-08:00

Wow! I'm Amazed! Look at the new CFL's!

2007-11-29T19:23:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that CFL's (Compact Flourescent Lights) are really great. Go get some right away! I'm ashamed that I didn't purchase them sooner. After all, I recommend them online in my blog and to customers at The Home Depot here in Wilmington, NC where I work. I guess I was hesitant only because I remember CFL's two years ago, when I worked in a lighting showroom in western Massachusetts. They were very yellow in color and seemed dim according to their wattage.
Well, things have changed! In replacing the bulbs in my living room and bedrooms with the NVision Soft White CFL's (compact flourescent lights), the lighting quality actually improved. The illumination is soft and welcoming and is just as bright as my previous incandescents with good contrasts in shadow/illumination quality. There are three colors to choose from in the NVision series at Home Depot. I chose the Soft White for my living room and bedroom lamps for a warmer color rendering. The other choices are the Daylight and Bright White. Daylight is whiter and a cooler spectrum and Bright White is very white and a very cool spectrum (bluer). These bulbs are particularly good for high contrast lightiing, reading and task work, especially if you detailed work, are older or have visual challenges like macular degeneration or glaucoma.Check out CFL's. They are everywhere these days, your hardware store, your grocery store and of course, The Home Depot. See what CFL would be best for you. You will notice a drop in your electric bill for each bulb you replace. Consider CFL's for your overhead flush or semi-flush fixtures and also your exterior porch lights. At a much lower operating wattage, they will save you money and these bulbs will last for 3 or 4 years!

To CFL Or Not To CFL

2007-11-07T14:55:00.000-08:00

Check out my EzineA Article on Compact Flourescent Bulbs at
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lois_Dewitt

How To Lighten Up

2007-10-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

Days are shorter and, as Emily Dickinson wrote, "The morns are meeker than before."

It's dark when we get home from work and for many, that is the signal to hunker down in front of the TV. Gone are the golden late afternoons, when we got in afew games of tennis, weeded the garden or mowed the lawn before supper. As winter approaches, what is the remedy for the darkness that shrouds are life and makes us want to go to bed early, or maybe even hibernate until Spring?

Light! And not just any light, but bright, cheerful full spectrum light that duplicates the rays of the sun!!!

The kind of light we are exposed to affects us all. As a certified lighting specialist and consultant, I am required to know alot about the products and industry. However, I believe that the quality of light we are exposed to affects our dispositions, our perceptions and moods.

Let me put it this way. Have you ever gone to a new restaurant, had a great meal with good service, but felt that something wasn't right? It could have been the lighting. If it was too bright, that intimacy that we all look for in a quality dining experience just isn't happening. Or, maybe it was too dark. Did you really know what it was that you were eating? Could you find your way to the rest room? The next time you dine out, notice the lighting and ask yourself, if it were changed, would it make a difference? Of course, this would be a more quality dining experience than, say, Burger King or Dominos Pizza. Someplace where ambiance is key.

Let's consider the office. Is the lighting in your office all flourescent? I'm asking because for many this kind of lighting is mildly depressing or giving them headaches. For all of the great improvements in the past decade, flourescent lighting creates a very cool, low contrast light that is not the ideal task lighting in any setting. The ideal task light directs a light on the work that you are doing and is positioned to be in front or at the side of your work area, rather than overhead with you literally working in your shadow. Here is a test. Say your office has nothing but flourescent lighting overhead and you suspect that it may be getting you down. Bring in an incandescent lamp (this would be a lamp with just a regular 60, 75 or 100 watt bulb) or a halogen lamp (which is also incandescent). Use the lamp as a task light for a week and see how you feel about your office environment. If it makes no difference, it could be that you are not sensitive to flourescent light or you need, perhaps, to get another more interesting job.

That said, here's a good word about flourescents. The new compact flourescent bulbs (CFL's), those little spiral buggers, are much improved in light quality for lamps and fixtures. They are usually available in soft white (a yellower or warmer spectrum), day light (a slightly bluer or cooler spectrum), and bright white (a very blue and cooler spectrum). Now that you have your choice of colors, you can put them in every lamp and fixture in your house and see a lowering in your electric bill because of their low wattages. Also, they will last for years and years. And, if everyone in America would replace two or three incandescent bulbs with flourescents, the demand for electrical power nationwide would be significantly lower. The downside of CFL's is that they, like all flourescents, contain mercury, which is one nasty land fill ingredient. And, we have not yet quite figured out nationally how to deal with that. The other downside is that they are not dimmable (a dimmer is an excellent way to save on wattage use and to manage many lighting options from one source). And they do not come in 3-ways, like the standard bulbs many people use in their lamps. I recommend to anyone looking for replacement that they choose a CFL comparable to the wattage they most commonly use. I think it is only a matter of time before CFL's are made dimmable and that they will come in three-ways.
I hope this information, so far, is helpful to you and that you will respond to my blog with your comments. Light your life!