How to Reduce Your Cost of Outdoor Lighting, Part 1

We had a two-headed security spotlight above our garage for years. Every day when I pulled out of the garage to go to work, I would see that spotlight still on and it would drive me crazy. But not always crazy enough to stop the car, go back into the house and turn off the light.

In commercial buildings, lighting accounts for up to 30% of the total electricity consumption. For your home, it is much less – probably less than 15% of the electricity you consume is due to lighting. So turning a light off will not make a significant difference. Unless, of course, it’s your two-headed spotlight.

The math is much simpler than you would expect. If you have two 75-watt bulbs, then you are using 150 watts per hour. If those lights are on for 24 hours, then you are using 3600 watts per day. Since a kilowatt is one-thousand watts, you have burned 3.6 kilowatt-hours (kWh). At $0.15 per kWh, the cost of electricity from leaving your spotlights on all day is $0.54 per day.

So that $0.54 per day adds up to $16.20 per month, and $197.10 per year. Even if you remember to turn that light off 4 out of 7 days each week, it still is costing you $84.24 per year to light up one small area.

When I looked at those numbers I cringed – what a waste of electricity! This is one of the reasons that we at Mr. Beams™ wireless off-grid lighting are so passionate about our products. Yes they provide security from intruders and animals. They also help prevent falls in and around the home. And they save you the expense of an electrician because they are battery-powered and mount anywhere in minutes. But all Mr. Beams™ products stay off during the day and only turn on when they detect motion.

Compare that to the Mr. Beams™ LED security Spotlight with motion sensor. The Spotlight has a daylight sensor so it will only turn on at night. And it has a motion sensor so it will only turn on when there is movement. At $39.99, two of these Mr Beams™ Spotlights will pay for themselves in less than a year. You will never pull out of the garage and have to make the decision on how much saving electricity is worth to you.

Mr. Beams: Your Defense Against Blackouts and Power Outages

A recent CNN story announced the startling fact on power outages: "U.S. Electricity Blackouts Skyrocketing". Those of us caught in the blackouts have known this for a long time - the electrical grid is strained more and more every year. Utilities can not keep up with demand. This strain leads to more and longer power outages. The reason they are also called "blackouts" is because the loss of lighting is the major inconvenience.

Mr. Beams lights are your best defense against blackouts. They are indoor / outdoor LED lights that are powered by batteries. You mount them anywhere in just a few minutes - no electrician, no wires. As soon as the space is dark and the light detects motion, it shines brightly, illuminating large areas with bright LED light.

Here is the installation locations we recommend for your home to provide safety and security lighting during a power outage:
1. Stairways - Most important lighting is on the stairways. Good stair lighting during a blackout will help prevent the most dangerous falls. Mount the MB980 Ceiling Light on the ceiling of the stairway. As soon as there is darkness, the Mr. Beams Ceiling Light detects for motion. If you are upstairs during the power outage and need to go downstairs, you will have a lighted path to safely guide you. We also recommend installing two Stair Lights, which will glow lightly as soon as it is dark to show you where the stairs are. Once they detect motion, they light up brightly.

2. Entrances - On your inside entrance we recommend the Mr. Beams Ceiling Light mounted near the entrance. As soon as the light go off, the Ceiling Light turns on its motion detector. If you need to exit your home, the Ceiling Light will detect you and light up the entire entrance way with a bright Nichia LED. Once there is no motion, the Ceiling Light will turn off to conserve its batteries for when it is needed. For outside entrances, we recommend the weatherproof MB360 Spotlight. This is our brightest light with the largest motion sensor diameter. If anyone approaches your home during the blackout - be they wanted or unwanted - the Motion Sensor Spotlight will turn on a bright light to scare them away or let them approach safely. You will be the only home in the neighborhood with lighting during a blackout. this will deter intruders from approaching your home.

3. Basements - If you have ever had a blackout when you are in your basement you know how difficult it can be to exit. Some basements are in total darkness, and there are many obstacles in your way. Imagine your kids yelling for you from upstairs during a power outage and you need to get out of your basement quickly. For the basement ceiling we recommend the Mr. Beams Ceiling Light mounted near the stairs and in the back area. As soon as the light go off and you move ever so slightly, the Ceiling Light turns on its bright light to light up enough of the basement with a bright Nichia LED. Once there is no motion, the Ceiling Light will turn off to conserve its batteries for when it is needed.

4. Hallways - Since many power outages occur at night, it is important to be able to exit your bedroom in safety. We recommend the MB723 Stick Anywhere Night Lights for this reason. The Stick Anywhere Night Lights mount anywhere with the adhesive tape provided. They are perfect to light the path between you and the bathroom, you and the kids room, or you and the exit. They are battery powered so no electrician is required. As soon as you approach these motion sensor lights, a bright LED will go on to light your way and help prevent falls. As soon as you pass, the lights have auto shut-off to conserve battery life.

So be prepared for the next blackout. Install Mr Beams wireless LED lights with motion sensors. They come in Spotlight, Stair Light, Ceiling Light and Stick Anywhere Night Light forms. Install them throughout your home to have emergency lighting for the next blackout. Prevent falls between blackouts. And experience battery-powered lighting that does not rely on your electric company.

The World's Best Closet Light

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 114,825,428 households in the United States. That makes me wonder – how many closets are there in the U.S.? I know that sounds like I have too much time on my hands, but it is important to our business. You see, we at Mr. Beams make the world’s best closet light. I am serious – our MB980 Ceiling Light is the world’s best closet light for anyone who wants a bright wireless light in their closet. And by wireless light I mean battery powered light - because few of us want to invest $250 to call in an electrician to install a light in a closet. So a $40 solution – that installs in minutes – is a breakthrough. Now make that $40 solution a LED motion-sensor light that provide 80 lumens of light and turns on automatically, then turns off automatically and you have my proof – the world’s best closet light. It ain’t bragging if you’ve done it. Look at our Ceiling Light and you will see we have made the world’s best closet light.

Back to my question – how many closets are there in the U.S. Let’s assume that the average household is a 2.5-bedroom, 1.5 bath residence. It has at least one coat closet, a closet in each bedroom, a closet for one of the bathrooms, and a utility or linen closet. That makes 5.5 closets per household. Multiply that by 114,825,428 households and you get 631.5 million closets. Now what percentage of these closets do not have operating lights in them? My informal surveying tells me that 35% is a conservative guess. So I estimate that there are 221 million closets without light in them.

Can we call it an epidemic? I have put on two different shoes in the morning in an attempt to not wake anyone while I get dressed – this is a problem. People pick out clothes that don’t match because they lack light in their closet. Mr. Peabody in the Bullwinkle cartoon was constantly getting maimed when he opened his dark closet loaded with junk. People, we have an epidemic on our hands.

We are selling a lot of closet lights. But there are still nearly 221 million dark closets out there and that drives me crazy. Please spread the word. Go to the Mr. Beams website and learn abo0ut our closet light. Look at what a battery operated closet light can do for you. Tell your friend about our bright LED. Show your neighbor how a motion-sensor activated LED light can help you see better in your closet. Tell you co-worker that the Mr. Beams Ceiling Light can light a 10’ x 10’ closet with 80 lumens of light. Experience for yourself how great it is to open your closet and have a bright light that turns off automatically after you leave. You will be off the grid and not use any additional electricity. The batteries that power the Mr. Beams Ceiling Light will last for 18 months or more (under average use in one of your 5.5 closets). Let’s work together to make at least 0.1% of the dark closets light up with the Mr. Beams bright LED battery-powered motion activated Ceiling Light. Find out what James in Georgetown, Kentucky is talking about when he says, "This ceiling light, which can also be mounted on a wall, is the cream-of-the-crop as far as LED lights go, in my opinion. Installation was easy, it reacts to motion quickly, and puts out a good amount of light."

Another Handyman of America Member-Tested Review

Not everyone in the Handyman of America Member-Tested Program was in love with the Mr Beams Anywhere Ceiling Light that Wireless Environment sponsored for the Members to try. One user expressed disappointment with the level of brightness, but did appreciate the motion sensing technology:

"'For the recommended product description and cost I expected a bit more from the light. The motion sensor and automatic off features worked flawlessly...I placed it at first in our pantry and my wife liked the motion sensor to have the light come on when she walked in, but...the light did not brighten the items on all the shelves enough.'"

Could we make a brighter light? Maybe. Would consumers be willing to pay for it? Maybe. Your feedback is valuable to us in making these types of decisions. At the end of the day, if enough of you want it, we can do it.

Learn more about how you can apply wireless LED lights around your home to improve your everyday living. The convenience of battery operated lights is a cost-effective alternative to other lighting solutions. Visit the Idea Center at www.mrbeams.com.

A Customer Review, Starring the Mr Beams Anywhere Ceiling Light

Wireless Environment recently participated in the Handyman of America Member-Tested Program. In exchange for product, users agree to write reviews and share feedback on their experiences with your products. The Mr Beams Anywhere Ceiling Light was issued to a select group of Members and the feedback has been great. Of course, every manufacturer wants to hear that their products are well-received. But the most important takeaway from this type of project is that Wireless Environment has a real opportunity to capitalize on the exposure by taking user feedback to heart in an effort to strengthen its presence in the market--improve on what needs to be improved and enhance the features that users like.

Reviews have become a helpful tool to prospective customers as well. How many times do you click on "product review" when you are shopping online? Since online retailers don't have the benefit of physically showing customers their goods, product reviews have become increasingly popular among consumers who may be on the fence about moving ahead with a purchase. As a small company, we would like to feature some of the product reviews borne out of the Handyman of America Member-Tested Program with our readers so that you can hear first-hand what users are saying about our products. Most of the reviews are generated by users who are being exposed to our company and our lights for the first time, so comments are fresh and honest. I intend to share the positive reviews but also those that aren't as favorable to demonstrate that Wireless Environment is truly interested in presenting its LED lights in, well, different lights.

Here's the stage: all users have an Anywhere Ceiling Light. They are invited to use and abuse the product to be sure that all claims we make about our products (such as "weatherproof") are accurate. The following review is from a fellow who has some physical constraints but a can-do attitude and doesn't pull any punches. I think his words do a better job selling Mr Beams than any professional marketing or gimmicks:

" 'I have a "closet" under my attic staircase in the garage where all my car care products, floor jacks, jack stands, etc. are kept. I have tried 6 other products such as "touch lights", LED strips and other battery powered products to light this space. They were all returned because of their total inadequacy to provide sufficient light. When I received the "Anywhere Ceiling Light" I was skeptical to say the least. I mounted it right away. The light is powered by 4 C-cell batteries and is motion operated when it is dark and goes out after no motion is detected for approx. 30 seconds. The light has a "water-proof" seal and is supposed to be fully useful outside in the weather. I did test this claim somewhat by spraying it from all angles with a water hose. There was absolutely no moisture inside the unit. It can even be mounted in a shower. The light did a terrific job lighting the "closet" I placed it in. I have no complaints and am very pleased with the product. There are cheaper products on the market but all 6 I tried were no good, even if they were free. I have contacted the company to purchase more lights. (www.mrbeams.com 877.298.9082).'"

This gentleman was even inspired to include a link to our site and our phone number in his review. That is the kind of customer satisfaction we're after.

Stay tuned for more comments. And if you'd like to share your own, please visit the Mr Beams website, www.mrbeams.com, where you can "Share Your Story" and provide your comments.

Spiders In Sheds Are No Match For Mr Beams!

Guest blogger, David Levine:

Growing up we had this really spooky shed in our backyard. It was made of sheet metal and far enough from the house that you could imagine things going on in there without anyone in the house detecting it. We stored our sleds, wheelbarrow, shovels, plastic pool in it. I refused to keep my basketball in it because I hated going inside. This is why my right arm is so much stronger than my left arm (true story)--I had to shoot with a water-logged basketball for much of my youth. Not only was it dark and stale, there were so many varieties of hairy spiders living in there! From the moment I pulled the creaky door open, my stomach churned. I would hold my breath and run in with my arms in front of me cutting a path through the thick webs. If I was successful in getting the proper item through the darkness, it was a celebration for success. I would spend the next two minutes trying to brush all of the spider webs off my hair and neck while doing quick spins to avoid any spider on my back from creeping up to my head.

So--when people ask about the inspiration of our Mr Beams Ceiling Light, I take them back to the dark shed of my childhood. With the Mr Beams Ceiling Light, the shed would be light, bright and spider-free. The Mr Beams Ceiling Light would have turned on its bright LED the second that the motion sensor detected the door opening. It would have stayed on until I found what I needed and then turn off automatically (no fumbling through the spider webs for the light switch!). This battery operated ceiling mounted light would turn on if anything strange was going on, and if a really BIG spider was inside, it would immediately be detected by the motion sensor and a bright light might help drive it to another shed to terrorize some other kid. If you have a similar shed, attic, basement or crawl space (and every house has some creepy area), please save the terror and install the Mr Beams Ceiling Light. Just install batteries, mount it with two screws, and the bright LED light will chase away the unknown once it detect the not-so-scary you.

Bright Wireless Shower Lights--The Best Way to Light A Dark Shower?

We had many inquiries for a bright solution for dark showers - shower lights - this weekend. It's funny because we see uses for our products come in waves. Sometimes there are a rash of inquiries for garage lights, sometimes it's closet lights. In the summer, we have more requests for products that will be used outdoors, and the opposite is true for winter.

When your bathroom's plenty bright, you don't think about extra lighting in the shower. However, buy a house with a bathroom that has a vanity light, add a shower curtain, and take a shower in the early morning or night and you'll see that you can't see! The shower is too dark. The solution has generally been confined to hardwired options--call an electrician for the wiring and installation and a contractor to tear up your tile or drywall and ceiling and redo once the electrician has been finished. That's great but not practical unless you've budgeted for a new bathroom. That is the kind of home improvement that you think you can accomplish "in a weekend for a couple of hundred dollars". There is a better solution to light a dark shower: the Anywhere Ceiling Lights are perfect for this application. You can mount the Mr. Beams wireless LED light on the ceiling or the wall and the motion sensor technology will activate the lights when it's dark and you're in the shower.

The LED lights are plenty bright--at 80 lumens, you'll get enough light to distinguish between the Irish Spring and the Caress (Irish Spring is "the scent that she loves" but not on her and, guys, you probably are not after the "silky fragrance infusion" touted by Caress. Or maybe you are. Who knows...)and the IP44 rating supports all splash-proof applications, like showers, rain, snow, etc so the Mr. Beams LED Ceiling lights are definitely shower-worthy.

The Anywhere Ceiling Light is not limited to uses in the bathroom, of course, it can be used, well, anywhere. Mr Beams offers affordable lighting options where you need light but may not want to spend a fortune to get it. You don't need an electrician, just a dark shower or other area where it'd be nice to have some reliable lighting. Think about lighting dark sheds, dark closets, dark porches and dark attics. All dark areas can have bright LED light without wires by installing the Mr. Beams wireless LED Ceiling Light.

Visit www.mrbeams.com for more information on products, how to buy and learn more about LED technology.

You Light Up My...Storage Space?

Moving is a curse. Even when there is a positive outcome, packing, moving and storing our belongings is a headache. To add insult to injury, many of us need to store our valuables in storage units for months at a time. Moving in and out of the storage unit is, in and of itself, a pain--but try to find something among the boxes and stacks of boxes in a dark storage unit; talk about a needle in a haystack. Luckily, Mr Beams offers products that can minimize the hassles of navigating through your storage unit.

Most storage units are configured in a cube or rectangle--there is generally no lighting or limited lighting inside the space. Consequently, organizing your belongings in the dark can be challenging. Mr Beams offers a reasonable and portable lighting solution that can help you to maximize your efficiency inside the storage zone. Wireless LED lights from Mr Beams are battery operated. You can mount an Anywhere Ceiling Light using an adhesive or don't mount at all--if you're really looking for easy and temporary, you can simply set the light on a box, table--any surface--or lean against a wall. You'll get the same bright effect that will allow you to look for that file, book, kitchen gadget or box of "something". The motion sensors mean that you will only activate the lights when you need them--as long as you're presence is detected, the lights stay on. When you close up and go home, the lights go off and stay off until the lights detect movement again. On a new set of batteries, you can expect a minimum of twelve months' use of your light, or 4800 activations. Talk about a low-maintenance solution!

You don't really appreciate the convenience of light until you don't have it. Don't be caught in the dark while you're trying to be productive. Your time is valuable--don't waste it in a storage space! Grab some portable, battery operated Mr Beams lights the next time you head to your storage unit. You'll be glad you did.

Good Bright Lights by Molly Bloom

Wireless Environment offers great products with their Mr Beams LED lights which are bright and effective and offer a lighting solution for people who don't want to or cannot run wires themselves or call an electrician to install lighting where they need it and where it may not be possible due to space, budgetary or time constraints, such as senior citizens looking for additional lighting in their home as a safety measure (think about going down the stairs in the dark), or students needing supplemental lighting for their dorms (think about a night owl itching to read or write but hesitant about generating light pollution around sleeping roommates) without the expenses or aggravation associated with lights that require wires, cords and plugs which are not always available in older homes, rental properties and institutions such as dormitories, assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

Whew--Joyce can keep his prize for "stream of consciousness"....

Buy Mr Beams lights--they're practical, affordable, and readily available. For more uses and how to buy online, visit www.mrbeams.com.

Your Turn...

Where Do You Need Light?

Mr Beams products promote independent living by providing hands-free lighting

Easy installation allows you to quickly and efficiently illuminate any space, inside our outside

Provide safety to loved ones by installing Mr Beams battery operated LED lights on walkways, paths, driveways, stairways

Softly illuminate light-sensitive areas, such as nurseries and dorm rooms

Safely provide a lighted area on docks and boat decks

Deter nocturnal animals from damaging your property by installing low maintenance battery operated LED lights in your yard

Create ambience by installing Mr Beams indoor/outdoor LED lights in your outdoor living space

Maximize your storage by installing Mr Beams lighting in closets, pantries and attics