ATG Stores Blog

As the days are getting shorter, consider throwing some pathway lights to your yard.

You don’t have to be an expert in the field to figure out when people like to buy ceiling fans.  When it’s hot out, people want the breeze (shocking, I know).  Then it starts to cool down, and people stop using their ceiling fans and crank up their heaters.  But wait!  What if you could still use your ceiling fan to help the room stay warm?  It’s true!  How, you ask?  Well, let’s start by looking at why ceiling fans help keep a room cool:

Let’s take a trip in the way-back machine and try to remember high school science class: Warm air rises, and cold air sinks.  This basic principal causes high and low pressure systems in the atmosphere that change wind currents, and cause thunderstorms.  It’s also how ceiling fans move air through a room.  Emerson Electric has a great post with the following images:

Courtesy: Emerson Fans

In normal cases, a ceiling fan pushes the warm air down to the ground, displacing the cool air throughout the room. This is how most fans are setup because most people use them in the summer.  However, if you reverse the motor, you also reverse the process.  This means that the warm air at the top of the room will be pushed upwards and spread throughout the room, and distribute the warmer air more evenly.

Courtesy: Emerson Fans

Now, for this whole concept to work you kinda need to have a ceiling fan.  If you don’t have one, check out the awesome selection of Energy Star compliant ceiling fans by Emerson.

Now these guys get creative with LED lighting!

Regardless of whether your motivation is environmental or economical, there are some huge advantages to lowering your energy use around your home.  Cheap solar power is in the works for as little as $1/watt that may help get houses off the grid in the future.  In the meantime, you can add dimmers, change light bulbs, and use LED or solar lights.

Changing Light Bulbs: Instead of incandescent lights, switch to the flurorescent bulbs.  These last up to 5 years with a lot less power.  Many now come in softer and warmer colors, so it’s not the glaring lights that so many of us are used to in office buildings.  I’ve heard some people say that they don’t know if the small savings in energy each month wouldn’t offset the extra cost of the bulb, but this is incorrect.  Check out this handy chart made by our own energy diva Kathryn:

I did the math, and found out that I can save $5/bulb/year in my home by switching out my recessed flood bulbs with equivalent fluorescents.  With 27 recessed cans in my home, that comes out to $135/year in savings, or $675 over 5 years of the life of the bulbs.  That’s not exactly chump change!

Adding Dimmers: This small step is easy to do and can save you tons in both energy consumed and by making your bulbs last longer.  There are even fluorescent light bulbs that are dimmer-capable for even longer savings.

LED Lighting: While these are a little more expensive, it’s a great way to add some style while using less power.  This image is of our lobby’s new LED track lighting system.  the colors can be changed out at anytime, which can add a new look to any room at practically anytime.

There is also a ton you can do with lamps, wall sconces, and any other type of lighting you may be interested in.

Solar Lighting:  There are a great many options for various outdoor lights that are solar powered that need virtually no maintanence.

Finally, you can also look for lighting and appliances that are Energy Star compliant.  These products produce 75% less heat and often times qualify for government rebates.  Check the product details for additional information wherever you see the famous energy star logo.