Go Green with Simple Outdoor Lighting Solutions: Solar Lights (Part Two)

Posted on 5th March 2011 in Solar Lights
Solar Lights
by Jasonparreira

Go Green with Simple Outdoor Lighting Solutions: Solar Lights (Part Two)

As we move towards a greener environment, the use of natural resources is a simple solution to becoming more energy efficient. One of these natural resources is the sun. Solar energy is a valuable resource and an energy alternative to electricity. More and more homeowners are looking to solar energy to power their appliances and lights in their houses. For the outdoors, the use of solar energy should also be taken into consideration. This article is part two in a three-part article series about outdoor lighting and the use of solar lights.

Outdoor solar lighting is an option when entertaining in your backyard. Why worry about dragging a lamp with an electrical cord outside, plugging it in and then bringing it back inside after you are done using it? Solar Lighting illuminates the exterior landscape, is environmentally friendly, and uses energy from the sun to power the lights for the entire evening. Last but not least, solar lights are easy to install because no wiring is necessary! It is convenient and there is no need to worry or mess around with wires and outlets. Here are a few options worth considering when it comes to outdoor solar lighting.

Aurora Glow Solar String Lights

Create a beautiful summer setting with festive hand-blown glass string lights, Aurora Glow Solar String Lights. The six hanging lights are crafted from colored and clear hand-blown glass and luminescent details adorn a clear wire. It comes with high powered LED lights and copper hanging hooks for easy decorating. These lights are powered by the sun and have a solar panel located nearly 15 feet away from the first glass globe. You can plant or mount the solar energy collector away from the lights and enjoy the glow at night. During the day, they collect the maximum amount of sunlight, and are ready to go if you plan on entertaining that evening. There are many different areas in your yard where you can place the string of lights such as an arbor, archway, around the trunk of a tree, or the railing of a deck. It is also ideal beneath an umbrella. Equipped with a photo light sensor, the lights will turn themselves on as the sun goes down, and will turn off at dawn. Due to the artisan nature of hand-blown glass, each piece will vary slightly in color and in size. This makes each one unique!

Solar Garden Lights

Adding solar garden lights provides a pathway to your garden! Environmentally sound, they charge during the day to reserve a life of about eight hours. Constructed of polished stainless steel, these lights add a touch of class, at the same time providing cost efficiency. They are a wonderful accent to any outdoor landscape. These lights can easily be staked into the ground and are good for pathways, gardens, porches, and pool sides.

Solar Stepping Stone and Rock Light

Enhance the look of your flower bed by placing a solar stepping stone amongst the vibrant and rich colors of the petals. During the day, the stepping stone acts as a decorative item amongst the flowers. But at night, adds depth to the garden as it creates shadows with the light it emits. The solar module in the center converts sunlight into electricity, which is then stored in the integrated rechargeable battery pack. In the evening, the dual LEDs automatically switch on. There is no installation or wiring required. Simply install the stepping stone into the ground where it will get plenty of sun.

The solar rock light has the same concept as the stepping stone. The rock light keeps pathways safely lit for friends and family as they enjoy the outdoors, and creates an inviting and warm glow. Aim it at pathways, walls, or plants. Fully charged, it has a 20 hour of reserve life, and can be charged in direct or shadowed, sunlight.

Solar Powered Tube Lights

These tube lights are ideal for lining outdoor buildings, windows, trees, gazebos, architectural details, stairs, deck railings, and any other outdoor object you can think of. Using sunlight for power, tube lights help reduce expensive electric bills and can be placed anywhere without the hassle of wires or the need for electrical outlets. They stay lit for about eight to twelve hours depending on lighting conditions, and turn on or off automatically due to the built in sensor. It has 120 extremely bright LED lights available in white, red, green, and blue. It is water and weather resistant with over 100,000 plus hours of life. Each set includes rechargeable batteries, solar cell/electronics box, tube and wall mounting brackets, drywall anchors, screws, and instruction manual.

Be energy efficient! Garden Winds has many different outdoor lighting and decorating items that only require the energy from the sun to power them. Get inspired and make your outdoor landscape the first yard in your neighborhood to GO GREEN!

Charmaine Ferrer is an associate writer for Garden Winds and The Lucky Clover Trading Co. For questions or comments, she can be reached toll free 877.479.4637.


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Simple Hints To Make Your Canvas Bag Waterproof

Posted on 1st January 2011 in Canvas Bags
canvas bags
by Kimberly Mahr

Simple Hints To Make Your Canvas Bag Waterproof

Canvas bag is one of the most favorite bags in the market related with its simple design and durable material. Therefore, people could use it longer than other bags made from other materials. Basically, canvas is a heavy material that resists water and stains excellently. However, it will be better for you make it waterproof to bring total protection to any items kept inside your bag. Besides, it is quite easy to make your bag waterproof since basically canvas is water repellent material.

First, you can start to clean both outside and inside your bag thoroughly. Make sure that there is no stain left since most waterproofing agents make it very difficult or even impossible to remove. Besides, you have to pay attention to the seams. A bag with overlapping seams might not need additional treatment or help. Meanwhile, a product with hidden seams needs more attentions. You can use some amount of rubber sealant along the entire seams by using the applicator.

Second, get a silicone-based waterproofer and spray it over the whole outside part. Give more attention to the seams and the bottom. Make sure that the entire outside part are sprayed well so it will form a layer to make it waterproof. However, you have to keep in mind that this layer will rub of slowly as you use the bag. Therefore, you have to redo this process occasionally to keep the layer perfect in protecting your bag and its contents from water.

Third, you have to consider the zipper, as well. Some zippers are great in keeping out water from entering your bag. Check your zipper first. If you find that the water is easily coming on through the zipper, you can take advantage of acid-free packing tape. Tape the zipper down and you can reapply the tape every time you use the zipper to get better result.

By making your canvas bag waterproof, you can totally protect every single item kept on your bag from water. Therefore, you should not worry too much about your belongings when you have to going through the rain. Just try it.

Since canvas bag are available in many different attractive styles and models, you will always find the best bag to enhance your appearance. Canvas mail bags could be one of your great options. Since they are initially designed to be a kind of mailing equipment, these canvas bags come in wider space.


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Directed by Stephen Leslie, this be the unedited version of Tim Minchin’s Environmental Anthem film clip recorded for BBC3′s Comedy Shuffle.

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LED Lighting vs. Fluorescent Tubes : A Simple Question of Health and Energy Savings

Posted on 16th December 2010 in LED Lights
LED Lights
by RightBrainPhotography

LED Lighting vs. Fluorescent Tubes : A Simple Question of Health and Energy Savings

LED lighting is truly the next generation technology which features numerous benefits to not only consumers for Home LED Lighting, but businesses alike, with LED Downlighting products and LED Tubes which can replace out-dated, buzzing fluorescent lighting. LED lighting offers such benefits as a higher energy efficiency than CFLs and fluorescents, lower power consumption, lower maintenance costs, longer lifetime (50,000 hours compared to less than 10,000), durability and brighter light output than conventional fluorescent lighting. LED lighting is slowly filling the Home Lighting and Business Lighting market place with such innovative products as LED T5 and LED T8 Tubes, Flexible LED Lighting, and LED Down Lighting.

Fluorescent lighting contains toxic materials such as mercury which is harmful to environment and human body. Did you know that if you drop or break a fluorescent bulb you must leave the room for 4 hours, due to the toxic materials floating in the air, which could cause respiratory damage, or Asthma in the long run for workers who have to deal with these fixtures daily. For workers and personnel who replace fluorescent tubes at work such as electricians are the most impressed by LED tubes, since they are not only easier to install, requiring no ballast, but they are worry-free, as they can last upwards of 10 years, on for 24 hours a day, and do not contain any toxic materials like mercury dust that fluorescents do. For quick installation, LED tube lighting can be placed and installed directly into existing fluorescent T5 and T8 sized sockets, you only need to remove the ballast, plug the LED bulbs in, and you’re done! Contrary to popular belief, LEDs are very easy to install in this day and age, and the bulk of LED products are now “plug-and-play” while still offering a slick look with unmatched energy savings.

Although fluorescent lighting is more energy efficient than incandescent lighting, it is still an energy wasting monster when compared with LED lighting. For businesses who have a large electric bill, switching to LEDs could cut your energy bill in half, while still keeping all of the brightness, and no fluorescent flickering! Even with the most advanced state of the art CFLs, fluorescent lighting accounts for a high percentage in existing lighting all over the world, switching from fluorescent lighting into LED lighting can greatly reduce the global lighting power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Now let’s do some detailed analysis to compare LED lighting and fluorescent lighting, and there is no doubt that LED lighting will defeat fluorescent lighting.

First of all, LED lighting is more energy efficient than fluorescent lighting due to the high efficacy of LEDs. LEDs for interior lighting have already broken the efficacy record of 100 lumen per watt, while fluorescent lighting only has an efficacy of around 60 lumen per watt. LED has a power factor of 0.9, which means most of the power is converted into light, but when fluorescent lighting works, a huge amount of power is converted into heat which will be dispersed finally. LED lighting consumes only 30% energy as fluorescent lighting to deliver the same lumen output.

Secondly, Flexible LED lighting has a much longer lifetime than fluorescent lighting since LED lighting is solid state lighting which more stable and reliable. LEDs can last over 50,000 hours which means 17 years under normal use. Whereas fluorescent lighting only has a lifetime of around 5,000 hours, which means you have to replace them as often. Using LED lighting can greatly save your expenses which are used to buy new light bulbs and pay for the labor.

In addition, the light quality of LED down lighting is much better than that of fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting is always flickering when start up, while LED lighting is quick to start up without any flickering. We all know and have seen or live with flickering fluorescent tubes on a daily basis. They’ve actually been proven to cause headaches, due to the micro-pulse wavelength they emit. Using LEDs can reduce workplace strain, headaches, and increase efficiency, with workers at top performance, minus the migraines from CFLs!

When on for hours a day, for a long period of time, fluorescent lighting may have some hot spots due to heat it generates, which does not happen to LED lighting. These hotspots cause the rest of the light to become dimmer, and quickly results in a dead CFL tube, a perfect reason to switch to LED T8 Tubes or T5 tubes, depending on the socket size. Fluorescent lighting / CFL pigtails can cause eyestrain, but LED lighting does not as a result of its uniform and unparalleled balanced light output, and does not flicker or emit a low pitched humming like the earlier fluorescent technology. Today, Flexible LED Lighting, Home LEDs, and Downlighs / LED Tubes are more eco-friendly than ever, beating fluorescent lighting by upwards of 500% – Translation: Savings on your energy bill for both your home and office lighting fixtures. And of course, Fluorescent lighting contains toxic materials such as mercury which can cause air pollution if broken, and when thrown out and can cause permanent damage to the lungs and throat / skin if contact is frequent, or daily.

In contrast, LED lighting is solid state lighting which does not contain any filaments that could break (like incandescent) or hazardous materials like CFLs. Someone may say that the upfront costs of LED lighting is too high, due to the technology used to achieve such a high lumens per watt (efficacy) rating, it is true. However, think about the long term energy savings, and savings you will get from not needing to replace the lights, for up to 5 or 10 times as long, depending if the light replaced was incandescent or fluorescent. Either way, the more high energy halogen, incandescent, or fluorescent lights you replace, the more money you will save every month. Some towns and states even have a tax-rebate / government program that pays you / reimburses you for energy saving LED bulbs. Check with your local town, half the bill could be on them due to recent energy grants and programs setup by President Obama in early 2010. Over the full life of the LED fixture / tube or bulb, the money saved by using LED lighting will be enormous? Why’s that? When factoring in the true price of lighting, you must include all 3 variables: Upfront costs, maintenance costs, and a maintenance main to routinely replace your lights.. that is of course, if you aren’t using LEDs!

In my opinion, LED lighting will replace fluorescent lighting since it meets the requirements of sustainable development, incandescent lighting, due to energy savings and durability, and halogen lighting due to the heat, safety factor, and of course energy usage! Replace your money hungry lights at the home, office, hotel, casino, college, dorm, or even your RV to save battery power! Go green and truly be eco-friendly with LED lighting, and don’t forget to PROPERLY dispose of CFL lights in a sealed garbage bag (or two, or your garbage mans health).

Fobsun is a global leading provider of LED lights, LED lighting solutions with high efficiency and eco-friendly technology and a professional supplier of Flexible LED Strips, LED Downlighting, LED Down Lighting products containing no toxic mercury with more efficiency and longer lasting life than both incandescents and CFLs.


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Casey gives step by step instruction on how to build your own light fixture of light emitting diodes. Check out the site at www.allenergies.net And also: OffGridinTexas.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Simple Rattan Outdoor Furniture Guide

Posted on 30th September 2010 in Outdoor Furniture
Outdoor Furniture
by Winston Furniture – www.winstonfurniture.com

Simple Rattan Outdoor Furniture Guide

If you are purchasing rattan outdoor furniture for the first time you might have quite a bit of questions. For instance, you may wonder what rattan material is in the first place.

This is a class of wood material that is harvested from palm trees set in distinct parts of Africa, Asia, and Australasia. Quite a large percentage of this material used for the production of some of the finest wicker comes from Indonesia. 

When on the quest for the finest picks of rattan outdoor furniture you have quite a bit to take into consideration. For example, you should make it a priority to the grade of materials used in the production of this type of furniture is of the strongest available.

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Common items that are a great deal of the time sold in a set include the following items: sofas, footstools, dining tables, and arm chairs. Certain sets are made for outdoor use and are more often than not treated for placement outside all year. 

Various models of outdoor rattan furniture are also perfect for arrangement in a sun room or conservatory. Furthermore, virtually all models are designed with supreme comfort in mind. For instance, most models are made with soft, thick, padded cushions. 

Two recommended models today include the popular cubed varieties as well as that representative of southwestern cultures (particularly U.S. Arizonian-themed models). Both of these are noted for their fine lines, futuristic shapes, and/or bold contrasting colors.

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It is advised that when buying your outside furnishings while shopping at a dealer you might want to find out if a waterproof cover is provided. This will further help preserve your investment and guard it from water damage when not in use. 

Even if you purchase a furniture set that also includes a protective cover, you are recommended to buy pieces that are treated. It is suggested that you make sure the items you buy are UV shielded so they can be left outside all the time. 

If they are preserved in this way the surfaces will not fade, split or crack. Furthermore, if you buy any items that include glass materials make sure it is of the unbreakable grade. At least 12mm thick is recommended. 

Furthermore, if convenient and fast storage is important to you, table and chair sets that fold up very small might be your best bet. However, most current models of well-made rattan outdoor furniture can be left outside year round.

Popular Rattan Outdoor Furniture

Wooden outdoor furniture can be revived by wiping it clean, sanding it smooth with various grades of sand paper and adding a coat of sealant, followed by a coat of varnish; this procedure should be done once a year. Bring new life to old wood outdoor furniture by following the refinishing tips in thisfree video on lawn care from a landscaping professional. Expert: Bill Elzey Contact: www.showplacelawns.com Bio: Bill Elzey is the owner and manager of Showplace Lawns in Austin, Texas. Filmmaker: Todd Green
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Simple Ways To Use Eyelet Curtains Create An Inviting Room

Posted on 28th August 2010 in Eyelet Curtains

Simple Ways To Use Eyelet Curtains Create An Inviting Room

Curtains have become more of a statement than a window covering. Not only do they need to be functional, modern home owners demand that they make a style statement. The right window treatment shows everyone that you have good taste and are able to hold your own with modern home decoration.

Not only does the style of curtain make a statement, but the choice of the way the curtains are hung and the type of hardware you use to hang them. There are so many choices when it comes to curtains types, styles, and hardware that the biggest problem you may have is trying to pick the style you like best.

Eyelet curtains have been a favorite for many years. The newest designs of eyelet curtains have become quite popular as a window treatment. Eyelet curtains are airy and make a wonderful statement in decorating your home. The look is cool and inviting, especially for a kitchen, bedroom or bath. Also, consider using them in the den to complement the more casual feeling of the room.

These curtains are available in many natural colors and styles, and are made of lightweight fabric that will change the look of any room. The texture of this curtain style is among the best in the business. While they are available in many new styles, the contemporary style is still available for those who prefer to hang them. These curtains are perfect for everyone.

One way to hang curtains with an eyelet design is to use several panels on one rod. This adds volume and is a wonderful look in any room. Using your imagination when choosing and hanging curtains will make all the difference in the way your personality shines through.

You can choose from curtains that are readymade, or you can have them made to order. Curtains made of eyelet material are available in retail shops, both on and off the internet. The internet can offer you a way to compare the curtains visually and find the best curtains for the best deal. That way you are able to make a comparison immediately, and many times, are able to see how a certain style will look on your windows.

Now more than ever, we have turned away from more traditional window treatments, to a more creative way of dressing your windows. Eyelet curtains are one of the best ways to explore your options and use your creativity to give your home a new look. These types of curtains give you a wide range of hardware options. Since the hardware will be visible when the curtain is hung, care must be taken to select hardware that complements the curtain colors, styles and the style of the room.

Eyelet curtains are very popular with decorators at this time. When you go about choosing the right style of curtain for your windows, why not check out this option?

Fortunately, we are living in the times when transforming our dream home from a traditional one to a judicious blend of contemporary and modern outlook is an easier process. And eyelet curtains are one of the best options to explore the window dressing furnishings.

robert(at)shoppingforwindowtreatments.com

Get more decorating tips using wooden window blinds by visiting www.shoppingforwindowtreatments.com a window treatment site.

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