When you are remodeling your kitchen, one of the focal points of the project is lighting. This is because a great deal of time is spent in this particular area of the home. Modern home kitchens nowadays aren’t just for cooking, washing cookware, and storing pantry items. It is no longer just a room where you family members eat breakfast.
The kitchen has become a multi-purpose area. Apart from cooking and dining, some family members converge to this place when there are guests coming over.
For this reason, one of the top kitchen remodeling must-haves of most homeowners is the installation of proper lighting. Appropriate lighting isn’t confined to aesthetics but is supposed to bring about safety, comfort and efficient use of energy.
Contractors and builders are a great source of ideas when it comes to remodeling kitchens when you want to traverse the greener route. Here’s what they advise.
Plan the layout
Ready your kitchen layout and indicate the fixtures you want to be installed. The layout should maximize the use of lighting. Safety should be a major consideration. The type of lighting should match the tasks you are to do in each area. Appropriate lighting for showcasing your favorite decors must also be considered.
Choose fluorescent lights
As much as possible choose lighting products that are known for their energy-saving features. Avoid the use of old incandescent- type lighting products. Choose lamps bearing the Color Rendering Index of about 70 or 80. At this CRI level, the product gives off light with a more natural glow.
When using recessed lighting, make sure the bulbs are either CFLs or LED lamps. Using these bulb types will bring about energy savings. CFLs or compact fluorescent lights are more expensive versus regular bulbs. However, when you think of long-term savings, this bulb is a great pick. Because CFL will remain functional for up to times more than incandescent bulbs, you save more in the long run.
On the other hand, LEDs or light emitting diodes come in small sizes. But small as it is, the savings are big. You’ll probably consume less electricity, around 90 percent, versus incandescent bulbs.
Beware however of the proper use of recessed lights because when installing improperly, it can be a source of air leakages. When this goes undetected your energy bills may go up because air can go in or out of the house through these small pathways. Caulking at the rims, when done properly, can prevent air from seeping in or out.
Install dimming controls
Dimmer switches allow you flexibility. When doing tasks requiring attention to details or those that require careful execution, switching lights at full is appropriate. However, when using dimmer switches for purely decorative purposes as it is when showcasing your favorite décor or bric-a-brac, a lower lighting is sufficient. Of course, when your lamp is generally switched to low lighting mode, you save more energy and costs in terms of bulb replacements.
But there are other areas your home that may also be “green” zoned and yes your bathroom is one of them. Have you tried replacing your bathroom vent fan with a more energy efficient model? While it is true that vent fans are used only for a few minutes, replacing it with an energy-efficient model could save you up to 50%.