The light bulb goes digital
Posted by Michael V. Copeland, Senior Writer
January 26, 2010 8:30 AM


Companies for years have toyed with light-emitting diodes, which use the same technology as computer chips. Now LEDs are having their day in the sun.

The $100 billion global lighting industry is undergoing radical change: New office buildings and retail outlets are abandoning fluorescent lighting in favor of LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, those tiny, energy-efficient, long-lasting, and blindingly bright points of light. Giants such as GE (GE) and Philips are shifting production from incandescent bulbs to LEDs. Even the local Home Depot (HD) — which today probably stocks only a couple of LED lighting products — will soon carry a bouquet of LED bulbs, ultimately edging out fluorescents and halogen lamps. By the end of the decade, analysts predict, LEDs will be the dominant source for commercial and residential lighting.
LEDs, which are based on a technology similar to that of computer chips, have more in common in their design and manufacture with your laptop than with the incandescent bulb that Thomas Edison patented almost 130 years ago. As lighting goes digital, the industry is likely to encounter some of the same upheaval that took place when television, music, and other businesses shifted away from analog technologies.

To read the rest of the story at BrainStormTech

One of the best ways to update your bathroom is by changing the bathroom cabinets. Faux finishing techniques can transform a cabinet without requiring the removal of the cabinet itself. Faux finishing is creating a type of surface that resembles the real thing like wood, denim or suede. You can create most finishes with simple household items and paint. The items used to create the finishes could include combs, feathers and sponges. Here are some easy steps to help create interesting and beautiful faux finished cabinets:

Materials needed:

Sandpaper
Latex semi-gloss paint in your choice of color
Paint brushes
Sponges
Paint tray
Paint roller
Top coat or glaze
Drop cloths or old newspapers
Old clothing
Old rags
Tools for making textures: combs, dusters, scrub brush, string, linen, old fabric swatches, forks, spoons, gauze strips; or any typical household items.
Step #1: Prepping


Begin by sanding down old paint on the cabinets. Clean them off after the removal process and fill any chips or cracks with wall plaster. Be sure to use the appropriate type of plaster for your type of material.

Prepare and mix paint in the paint tray and put down drop cloths or newspapers to protect flooring. Also, put on old clothing to protect yourself.

To read the rest of the story at Doityourself.com

Brayden's Rainforest
3-D elements propel mural walls “over the top”
Alma Gaul

He may not fully appreciate it yet, but young Brayden Schaeffer has an amazing mural on his bedroom walls.
His dad, Dave, an art teacher at Davenport North High School, not only painted every square inch in a brilliant rainforest theme, but he also built several three-dimensional, tactile elements that send it “over the top.”
The piece de resistance is a tree made out of 2-by-4 pieces of lumber and metal heat duct flex line that he covered with chicken wire mesh and five buckets of drywall compound before finger-finishing it to resemble tree bark.
The tree is secured into the wall and ceiling so that when Brayden gets a little older — he turned 1 this month — he will be able to climb it, perhaps reaching some of the stuffed animals stored in the branches.
Another special effect is the faux fur glued atop a gorilla arm.
The Schaeffers, who live in a rural subdivision south of Blue Grass, Iowa, are home improvement pros. With the help of family and friends, they built their entire house five years ago.
“We’re project people,” Dave, 30, says.
The idea for the rainforest theme came from Brayden’s mother, Bonnie, a teacher at Wilson Elementary School in Davenport.
More than a dozen animals are featured in the 12-by-9-foot room and hidden in the design — a la “Where’s Waldo?” — are the names of 36 family members, an addition Dave thought would add interactive interest to the room. (The couple has developed a key to help visitors find their names.)
Other custom touches were the construction of a window storage bench and, atop the window, a cornice board treatment that doubles as a display shelf.

To read the rest of the story at QuadCity Times

January 25, 2010
by Richard M.

Your choice of window treatment can greatly affect the energy efficiency of your home. Here are some tips on choosing the most energy efficient treatments.

So, its time to re-decorate and you want to do it in the most eco-friendly way possible. Luckily, many manufacturers of interior decorating products have realized that there are lots of people who want their homes to be as “green” as possible, especially when it comes to window treatments. There are a few things you can look for when selecting window treatments that will help you choose the most eco-friendly option possible.

First, you want a treatment that will maximize your energy efficiency. This will not only be good for the environment, it will also save you money by reducing your energy bills. Which treatment is best depends mainly on your insulation needs. If you live in a warmer climate and your primary concern is heat gain, reflective blinds may be the best way to go as they can reduce heat gain by 45%. For preventing heat loss, window shades that are installed as close to the glass as possible with the sides of the shade close to the walls are best. This creates a sealed air space and makes it difficult for the heat to escape. And of course, buying locally maximizes your window treatment’s energy efficiency by cutting the amount of energy it takes to get them to you.

To read the rest of the story at Sustain Lane