What's With All These Light Bulbs?

The light bulb aisle is not what it used to be. That is a fact of life. It isn't just, "Oh, I'm going to pop in for a replacement bulb for my mother's old table lamp," anymore. There are so many choices. One could be stuck in that light bulb aisle, face filled with confusion and frustration, trying to decipher what all those weird new shapes are; typically waiting on a sales associate that will never show up. One might ask, "Why does this swirly light bulb cost $29?!" Do not fret, readers, because with this blog I will attempt to clear the air. 

First of all! We are not limited to Lowe's and Home Depot. Many fine retailers, such as Crate and Barrel, carry bulbs. Now, if they carry light fixtures, chances are they also carry bulbs to properly fit.

These bad boys are the Plumen 001 Original 11W CFL Light Bulb at $29.95 a piece. An 11 Watt CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) puts out around 550 Lumens (measurement of light as opposed to the Watt, which measures energy) and lasts for 8,000 hours. A typical incandescent bulb would take 40 Watts to distribute the same amount of Lumens and only last 1,000 hours.    

There are also Halogen bulbs, which are more efficient versions of the typical incandescent bulb. They can save up to 25% more energy than their predecessors by putting off less heat. A Philips EcoVantage 72-Watt Halogen A19 Soft White Dimmable Light Bulb (4-Pack) will only run $5.97 at Home Depot. Each bulb will have about 1,000 hours of life. 

LEDs (light emitting diodes) are the most energy saving lighting option. These use around 75% less energy than our favorite old school incandescent friends. This Ledare LED Bulb from IKEA costs $9.99 per bulb, gives out 600 Lumens (equivalent to a 60 Watt incandescent), and lasts for about 25,000 hours. 

There is an attempt to phase out incandescent bulbs all together, however it is not that simple. Currently, there are no more 40 Watt or 60 Watt incandescent bulbs in production. It is not illegal to stock or to purchase these, but they will only last for as long as we have a supply of previously manufactured product. For more information on this legislature and other ways to save on energy in your home, visit Energy.gov.

The Perfect Door Hardware

What is the first thing you do when you enter a building? Open the door, of course! First impressions are important and choosing the right door hardware is the perfect opportunity to make a statement. Rocky Mountain Hardware is one of our favorite vendors. Here are a few different styles that we love.

Entry Set

We like the elongated back plate and modern look on this residential entry piece. A thumblatch with mortise lock makes for a safe and secure front door.



Rectangular Push/Pull Set

Push/Pull sets are great for high traffic areas. They may be accompanied by a deadbolt lock, as shown here for a retail space, or for interior spaces with no lock.



Interior Door Set

A passage set is ideal for interior doors that do not require privacy. Door hardware isn't simply for looks, spaces can be differentiated from each other by using a variety of finishes, sizes, or style.



Screen Door Set

A lever handle with no lock is great and they are scaled for the smaller confines your screen doors.



Sliding Door Set

These modern sliding door sets may be customized to lock with any locking mechanism for secure exterior use.



All products shown here are available in a variety of finishes and almost every product Rocky Mountain Hardware offers is up for customization.