Remodeling is Good Time To Update Energy Efficiency Features
Was
one of your New Year’s resolutions to redecorate your home? When it comes to
redecorating your home, perfection, it is said, lies in the details. As you
select your designer paints, custom fabrics and draperies, and prepare to
splurge on high-end furnishings and artwork take a moment to look around you.
There’s a good chance you may have overlooked some significant details
throughout your home.
Because
they serve such an ordinary function, switches, outlets and dimmers are often
overlooked details in home remodeling projects. With the increased attention
given to home lighting, a greater number of architects, builders and design
consultants are adding popular designer-styled wiring devices to the
redecorating equation. These comparatively inexpensive products offer the
perfect finishing touch to a newly redecorated room, adding benefits like
convenience and energy-savings while enriching the home’s decor.
A rocker-style switch offers a contemporary, distinctive appearance, complementing any room in your home. Some versions emit a soft luminescent glow that helps you find your way to them in darkened areas.
Tired
of looking at old cracked outlets? Replace them with designer-style receptacles,
finished off with a screwless snap-on wall plate. These are available in a
variety of colors and textures that blend with your wall coverings.
With
today's rising energy costs on everyone's mind, upgrading your switches and
outlets may well seem frivolous but some of these devices are apt to pay for
themselves in the energy they save. A dimmer, for instance, lets you adjust
lighting for the mood and ambiance you want, while letting you reduce lighting
usage by up to 30%.
Why
not replace your old toggle switch with a distinctive touch dimmer or
fashionable slide dimmer? Many models come with a preset switch that remembers
the last selected brightness level.
Dimmers
are simple to install as a switch replacement in bedrooms, dining rooms, living
rooms, dens, home theaters and elsewhere. And while you're shopping for your new
dimmers, why not pick up a convenient fan speed control for your ceiling fan?
It’s more convenient than trying to figure out which cord on your ceiling fan
controls the lights and which cord controls the fan.
Distinctively
styled programmable electronic timers are an excellent way to give your home a
“lived in” look when you're away from home. Timers can also cut down on
energy usage by automatically shutting off lighting, heat lamps, spas and other
electrical equipment after a specified time interval. And they're an ideal
alternative to bulky, noisy rotary timers.
Then there’s the problem of leaving the lights on, even when no one is in the room! A wall switch occupancy sensor can easily replace a standard light switch and automatically turn lighting on when you enter a room and off when you leave.
Wall
switch occupancy sensors feature designer styling instead of a clunky
"scanning device" look. These sensors let you enjoy the magic of hands
free light switching when you enter the kitchen with an arm full of packages.
Whether
you’re looking to accent suede, stripes or paisley wallpaper, white, blue or
green walls, a new bathroom or your luxurious high-end kitchen, designer-style
wiring devices and wall plates are available in a wide choice of styles and
colors to beautify your home’s décor.