Here’s a way to dress up a room and reduce your electric energy consumption — install attractive, energy-efficient light fixtures.

More efficient lighting is actually required in residential and commercial construction as a result of Title 24 of the California’s State Building Code, adopted in October, 2005. The code applies to new construction as well as remodels.

When shopping for light fixtures at suppliers like Johnson Art Studio, you’ll now find “green lighting.” Each of Johnson Art Studio’s light fixture designs complies with Title 24. They use the highest quality electronic ballasts for their fluorescent fixtures and have several wattage levels available. They carry 12 Volt florescent bulbs that run in all fixtures with medium base sockets.

As residential designers and builders, we have found the biggest change required by Title 24 is the requirement for lighting in kitchens. Now, 50% of the wattage in kitchens must be “high efficacy, ”which means that mostly fluorescent fixtures be used. The beauty of fluorescent bulbs is that they use 1/4 the wattage to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent light bulb, and they last up to 10 times longer. The color of their light is much better than it used to be, and they produce far less heat. Mandatory electronic ballasts eliminate flicker and hum while providing “instant on” illumination.

To stay up to speed with the changes in lighting for our clients, we turn to a Title 24 expert — Lynette Sergius of Archigraphics. Lynn is current with all the latest information from the government and manufacturers, and advises us on how to optimize the different lighting parameters. If you are installing fixtures, you will get the help you need at evironmentally-conscious suppliers like Johnson’s Art Studio.

Lighting is no longer a matter of getting some cool light fixtures to dress up a home. A well-designed, sensible lighting plan that takes conservation into consideration is the way to go.