National Property Inspections of Rochester, NY Blog

(ARA) – With more and more people

concerned about the environment, building and

decorating green has never been more popular. One

of the easiest ways for homeowners to limit

environmental impact is to consider replacing the

lighting inside their home.

Incandescent bulbs waste energy and burn out quickly,

and when the more energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs

outlive their usefulness, they pollute the earth with the

toxic mercury they contain. A new lighting revolution is

giving homeowners an innovative option.

The LED Difference
Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology provides homes

with beautiful illumination while reducing the negative

environmental impact of traditional bulbs. Here’s why

it is fast becoming the leading eco-friendly choice:

* LED lights are long lasting: 20 times longer.
LED provides uncompromising light that will last 20

times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb and

five times longer than a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL).

You may never have to change your bulb again because

each light is estimated to last 50,000 hours.

* LED lights use less energy: 85 percent less.
Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs consume

substantially more energy than LED’s. You can easily

observe this based on the amount of heat they give off.

LED options generate almost no heat and consume a

whopping 85 percent less energy than incandescents

and 50 percent less than flourescents. For example,

eight LED retrofit replacement bulbs consume only 96

watts and provide enough light for an entire room.

If every U.S. homeowner replaced one incandescent

bulb with an LED, it would have the same effect as

having 4 million fewer cars on the road.

* LED lights produce less waste: No hazardous toxins

in your home.
Because the LED lights last so long, there is less waste

going into landfills. Unlike compact fluorescent bulbs,

these lights do not contain dangerous mercury. You

won’t have to worry about disposing of the bulbs

properly or having toxins in your home.

Adding LEDs to Your Home
Homeowners are using LED lights anywhere they have

6-inch recessed cans installed. Check

GreenHomeExperts.com for options that will seamlessly

fit into the architecture and lighting needs of any home.

LED retrofit replacements are easy to install and can be

screwed into existing recessed lighting fixtures. Some

existing fixtures or housings may require minor

modification. Although you may want to hire a

handyman to help with installation, many

homeowners are able to complete the task

themselves. An expensive electrician should

not be required.

Visit www.GreenHomeExperts.com to help green your

home and save money with high quality, energy-

efficient LED lights.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

An electric heat pump is a unique

device. It doesn’t burn fuel; it transfers

heat from the outside to the inside for

heating purposes then does just the

reverse for cooling purposes (also

known as the air-conditioning mode).

There are two units to check an indoor unit that’s

coupled with a forced-air system and an outdoor

unit. A National Property Inspections professional

will provide you with a visual inspection of the air-

conditioning unit.

The outdoor unit is the most vulnerable because it has

to operate in all kinds of weather. The first thing an

inspector will note is where the unit is located. It should

not be directly in the sun for most of the day or directly

under the drip edge of a house in freezing climates. They

will also make sure that there are no bushes blocking the

unit’s side air intake for at least 1 foot and that there are

no trees overhanging the unit for at least 5 feet.

The inspector will check the two copper pipes that run

from the outside unit to the inside, and the electrical

hookup. They will identify any problems and

recommend any needed repairs.