Reliable Remodeler Blog » Lighting

Does your home meet miminum energy codes?

woodrow — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:24:55 +0000

Does your new or remodeled home meet the minimum energy codes for construction and design? If you’re like most consumers, Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) believes that you have no idea. Last fall, the nonprofit agency reported that energy bills in an average new home that doesn’t meet the minimums are consistently higher. In fact, they’re [...]

Does your home meet miminum energy codes? is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Daylight harvesting is coming to your town

woodrow — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:32:33 +0000

Daylight harvesting, once deployed only in large commercial and industrial settings, is getting lot of airtime with home builders and renovators. The process is just like it sounds: You install a combined window treatment and lighting system that coordinates the amount of heat and light that comes through your windows into living spaces. It’s not [...]

Daylight harvesting is coming to your town is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

How to choose the perfect light bulb

woodrow — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:22:21 +0000

Are all light bulb products interchangeable? Not so, according to Consumer Reports. The product evaluator and watchdog recommends that you match the replacement bulb to your lighting fixture. Even if you buy a bulb made for energy efficiency, using it in the wrong environment can shorten its life and negatively affect its performance. Selecting your bulb First, [...]

How to choose the perfect light bulb is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Record utility costs may drive us to energy efficiecy

woodrow — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:22:53 +0000

A new study shows that the price of electricity provided to American homeowners has skyrocketed over the last five years. Energy price research conducted by the USA TODAY shows that we’ve endured the longest consistent stretch of utility bill increases since the 1970s. Today’s average bills represent a $300 annual increase in electric bills over [...]

Record utility costs may drive us to energy efficiecy is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Holiday decorating that adds value all-year long

woodrow — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:22:12 +0000

With Christmas just around the corner, why not consider making home improvements that decorate for the holidays and last for the entire year? One of my favorite improvements is to add exterior lighting that you can deck with light strings, vines, wreaths or bows. But this year, put in doorway lamps, entry overhangs, walkway lighting, [...]

Holiday decorating that adds value all-year long is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Remodeling trends: Smaller homes appeal to buyers

woodrow — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:57:58 +0000

New homes will become ever-increasingly smaller, with rooms doubling up on functionality, designers and realtors agree. If you’re thinking of adding a new room, perhaps you should give some thought to combining living spaces rather than adding square footage – that’s if you intend to sell your home in the coming decade. A survey conducted by [...]

Remodeling trends: Smaller homes appeal to buyers is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Building trends 2012-2015: expect smaller, greener homes

woodrow — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:59:31 +0000

The American trend toward buying smaller homes – currently driven by the economy – will likely extend out to the near future. A builders’ survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), found that new homes will average 2,152 square feet in size by 2015, some 10 percent smaller than single-family homes built [...]

Building trends 2012-2015: expect smaller, greener homes is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Preventing home improvement tool injuries

woodrow — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:49:14 +0000

The difference between completing a home improvement project with pride or ending up in an emergency room with a severed hand can be the variance of a single millimeter and a half-second of time. Motorized saws cut extremely well, and most don’t distinguish sheet metal from a forearm. Nail guns shoot right where they’re aimed, [...]

Preventing home improvement tool injuries is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

New Phillips LED bulb excels in energy efficiency

woodrow — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:51:10 +0000

Energy efficiency in household lighting continues to advance in the green commercial marketplace. Royal Philips Electronics has launched sales of the world’s first light-emitting diode (LED) product designed to replace the conventional 75-watt incandescent bulb. The manufacturer claims that, in using only 17 watts of electricity, the Philips AmbientLED 17 produces 1,100 lumens of light. The [...]

New Phillips LED bulb excels in energy efficiency is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Remodeling: Let there be light

woodrow — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 23:28:59 +0000

Another prudent remodeling project to consider these days when cash is tight is a plan to revamp your lighting. Kitchen lighting focuses on energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness today with new -generation light-emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. Add a strategic dimmer or two, a set of spot lighting fixtures and you’re on your [...]

Remodeling: Let there be light is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Don’t let winter stand between you and home improvements

woodrow — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:41:21 +0000

In the heart of winter, it can be easy to let go of your commitment to fix up your home. There are some advantages to doing home improvement projects in the winter; your contractor may have more time for you and may charge less as the company appreciates the work. And if you’re housebound, it’s a [...]

Don’t let winter stand between you and home improvements is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

New Year’s Energy Resolutions

woodrow — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:13:23 +0000

According to the ENERGYSTAR division of the government, the average American family spends about $2,200 a year in heating and cooling their homes. Some of you must be scoffing at this. In a recent interview with SmartMoney, the EPA’s Maria Vargas said Americans cut $17 million on their HVAC bills in 2009, using energy saving [...]

New Year’s Energy Resolutions is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Quick, Efficient Projects for the Weekend

woodrow — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:36:17 +0000

This time of year, most home improvement bloggers weigh in with indoor improvement suggestions as the weather turns stormy around the country. One favorite topic is how to create greater energy efficiency through the cold months without having to lay out a large amount of money. You read a lot about setting thermostats and installing [...]

Quick, Efficient Projects for the Weekend is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Fix That Buzzing Light Bulb or Dimmer Switch

woodrow — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:03:58 +0000

As much as we appreciate dimmer switches, they can make low-quality light bulbs flicker and buzz when you turn down the juice. Often the problem is with the bulb and you just need to swap it out for one with a heavier filament. I’d suggest switching to a newer, energy efficient compact fluorescent bulb. Or [...]

Fix That Buzzing Light Bulb or Dimmer Switch is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Expand Your Home without Using a Hammer

woodrow — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 22:45:39 +0000

If you’re feeling squeezed in your home or simply want to present a larger-looking house to would-be buyers, there are ways to maximize your square footage without knocking out a wall. Professionals who stage homes for sellers know that removing clutter can make rooms feel more spacious than the square footage might indicate. Now you [...]

Expand Your Home without Using a Hammer is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.