Besides just having light, light layering (having multiple light sources for different purposes) is the most important, all-encompassing rule in home lighting design.

I recently ran across a post on Image via Freshome.com

That’s not just one, not two, but five different light sources, not counting the ample ambient light coming in from the windows. You have under cabinet lights on the left, recessed accent lights on the back wall, a pendant light, a table lamp, and linear accent lights atop the window.

On the other side of the room, there are just as many layers:

So there you have it. The most universal rule in residential lighting design, and a few ways to make it your own. What’s your favorite light layer in this space?

Museums have a hard line to walk, exhibiting items for public education and enjoyment while protecting those same collections from damage. Today’s museum also carry the additional weight of safeguarding the future of the environment – as well as their financial future – against the dangers of unnecessary energy consumption. What advancements have been made in preservation lighting technology to help accomplish these goals?

Light, including all three types: ultraviolet (UV), infrared, and visible light, causes permanent and irreversible damage to museum pieces. Cumulative and dependent on the intensity and duration of exposure, light affects chemical composition, physical structure, and, the appearance of a collection. There is no conservation treatment that can repair it. Light damage is forever.

Only complete darkness ensures conservation, since exposure to light in any form naturally breaks down items. However, keeping pieces locked away in the dark defeats the mission of the museum – sharing those works with the public. It is thus a museum’s dilemma to find a suitable solution that balances the best of both worlds, in addition to considering energy costs and the environmental impact of its lighting selection.  

In your search for preservation lighting, you will find that a great deal of lighting solutions involve UV (ultraviolet light), the most energetic and destructive form of light. These include natural light, fluorescents, HID, and tungsten halogen lighting. Fortunately, the effects of UV can be controlled with simple filters, offering a greater variety of lighting options. UV filters are hard plastic tubes or soft sleeves wrapped around bulbs/light sources, which filter and block up to 98 percent of UV light, preventing its damaging effects. NOTE: UV filters lose efficiency over time and must be replaced every eight-10 years.

Specific, detailed recommendations for preservation lighting levels based on your collection type can be found from various sources, including the Library of Congress, National Park Service, UNESCO, and more.

There are several more reasons why you want to hire skilled electricians in West Chester PA. Some of these include:

1. Expert Installation: Purchase of sophisticated electronic or alarm systems. If you’ve recently spent a pretty penny on such items, you don’t want to risk them being ruined by allowing an untrained handyman to install them.

2. Electrical Troubleshooting: Perhaps the alarm system you’ve had for a while is starting to act up. Or, maybe you are having trouble with your hot water heater. From home theaters to electric stoves, and everything in-between, you need the services of trained electricians West Chester PA.

3. Ensure safety: Hiring a person who isn’t qualified just isn’t a safe decision. Such an individual can cause damage to wiring and electronic devices, both of which can cause overheating or even fire. Home owner’s insurance might not cover damage caused because you hired an unqualified electrician who is not certified.

4. Save Time & Money: A skilled and certified electrician has a wide range of experience in many different kinds of electrical work. They are able to decide quickly what a job needs and can complete the work in a timely manner. If they do need extra parts or equipment, they have contacts with professional vendors who can deliver what’s needed much quicker than a regular big box or department store thus saving you time and money with your specific electrical repair or installation needs.

As homeowners in the Tampa area, we’re always looking for ways to improve our overall home comfort and reduce energy use. This can present a particular challenge for Florida residents, as our summers are hot in ways other states only dream of! So is there a way to meet both of these needs—improving comfort while overall reducing energy costs? Yes there is!