What Does Off-Grid Lighting Mean?
Wireless Environment has observed and classified three major reasons for taking lighting off-grid. Our vision is to become the leader in shifting lighting off-grid for maximum efficiency, utility and value.
The three reasons to go off the grid with you lighting are:
1. No Access to Electricity
2. Power Outage / Rolling Blackout
3. Economic Gain
Here is how we define the three categories of off-grid lighting:
1. No Access to Electricity
The majority of locations in the world are off-grid. In remote locations there are often no electrical wires. But even in your own home, there is are many areas where you want light and have no wires. Think about your driveway, your backyard, the corner of your house and many of your closets. For all of these areas that need light, battery-powered or solar-powered lighting is the best option. Battery-powered lights can provide brighter light without wires.
Products like the Mr. Beams Spotlight can attach to a tree anywhere. When it detects movement through its motion sensor, a powerful LED lights up a driveway, walkway, backyard, porch. There is also a remote control Spotlight that can be activated by the remote control or turn on with its motion sensor. For detached sheds and detached garages, the Mr. Beams Ceiling Light can provide bright light. It is weatherproof, like all Mr. Beams wireless lights, and has a sensitive motion detector. Once someone enters the garage, shed, gazebo or closet, the Mr. Beams Ceiling Light emits a bright white light until the auto shut-off turns it off. Other Mr. Beams lights include the Stick Anywhere Night Light and the Stair Light. Both lights have daylight sensors to keep the lights off during the day and conserve battery life. They also are weatherproof and have motion sensors. They provide lighting where there is no electricity, and can significantly help reduce the number of falls.
2. Power Outage / Rolling Blackout
I recently blogged about the increase in the number of blackouts in the U.S. As the grid becomes more strained, we will experience more power outages. For this reason Mr. Beams is developing a line of batteries that can be installed inside light fixtures. These batteries will detect a power outage and then provide enough back-up power to allow for safe exit. Technology will also help extend the battery life and thus the useful light for exit or other operation.
3. Economic Gain
In the future world of increased demand on the electrical grid, there will be a strong incentive to reduce electricity use during certain times. Currently the peak demand times are between 2pm and 5pm during the business week – especially during hot days. Electric companies are paying facilities to go off the grid at these times. With the Wireless Environment battery technology, a facility can transfer its lighting to battery power during these peak times. The facility can collect a fee for going off the electrical grid, and take advantage of lower electricity costs by re-charging the back-up batteries for the lighting during an off-peak time. In some areas of the country, the spread in the cost between peak-demand electricity and off-peak electricity can be significant. With LED light fixtures and the Wireless Environment battery technology, lights can shift off-grid and still operate at the same lumen level.
In our future, we will all face the need to go off-grid more often. Products are being developed to help manage lighting off of the grid. We will continue to update the progress of developing off-grid lighting products and components.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Top LED Lighting Applications Ready for Your Home
When was the first time you knew that the term LED referred to lighting? For most of us it was within the past three years. Today the term is widely recognized as a new type of energy efficient-lighting. That is fast recognition of the term. Adoption of LEDs in residential lighting has taken much longer.
I have been working with LEDs for five years and have a basic grasp of how they work and where they make sense. When I first started working with LEDs, it was predicted that by the year 2012, the majority of lighting would be LED-based. While LEDs are the most efficient lights in the laboratory, they are not the smartest lighting in many actual applications. The predictions failed to take into account a few factors:
1. It is difficult to control certain LED characteristics - such as heat and the color changes over time of LEDs - once they are installed in light fixtures
2. Many fluorescent lights are very efficient already
3. A global economic downturn makes an up-front investment in energy efficiency more challenging
So where does that put the LED industry right now? Gains in efficiency continue to be realized in the lab; more work has been put into a complete lighting solution for LEDs; and better products are launching every month.
I am often asked “Where do LEDs make sense in my home?” When my wife and I gutted our house two years ago, I was eager to install the latest in LED technology. Instead we installed traditional recessed cans and halogen fixtures for more decorative looks. LED-driven fixtures did not make economic sense – they were $100 and in their first generation. With lighting responsible for only 12% of my total energy bill, it appeared that it would take us more than 8 years to pay for the fixtures. By that time LED technology will be significantly more efficient, and might even be replaced by another technology.
Yet there are some applications in your home where LEDs make a lot of sense today. Below is my annual list of the LED fixtures that are ready for your investment. The market is changing so fast so I apologize to those manufacturers that I am unaware of – please post your list on the comment board.
Ready for Buying:
1. Under Cabinet Lighting – Under-cabinet lighting is one of the most requested applications in lighting showrooms. However it is disruptive and expensive to install due to the bulky nature of traditional lighting. It also tends to provide spotty light – too bright under the bulb but not bright enough at the perimeters. LED light strips provide a well-distributed even light throughout a surface. They have a low profile and last up to 50,000 hours.
2. Off-Grid Lighting – Outdoor Solar Lights have been a big disappointment, but they introduced the world to off-grid lighting. New products from Mr. Beams and others replace the solar cells with alkaline batteries and motion sensors for very effective off-grid outdoor lighting. Mr. Beams is the leader in this category by offering four different form factors: Ceiling Mount (MB980); Spotlight (MB360); Stair and Path Light (MB530); and Night Light (MB720). All of the Mr. Beams lights are battery powered and have auto shut-off to conserve battery life. Flashlights are also considered off-grid lighting, and LEDs are perfectly matched for use in flashlights.
Almost Ready:
1. MR16 Replacements – Good application for LEDs. Casinos and Cruise Lines have switched to LEDs for these lights that are on constantly. Use in track fixtures that are on more than 4 hours a day.
2. PAR 30 spotlights for outdoor lighting – Still expensive (minimum of $40 for the equivalent of a 60W bulb – don’t let them tell you otherwise) but the ROI will be quick if you leave your lights on all night. Also good for the inside garage light that you forget to turn off.
3. Recessed Cans – I was tempted to put this in the “Ready” category, but they are still too expensive for the average home-owner who looks at a 2-3 year ROI. Recessed cans from Cree provide beautiful, even white light at an $80 cost.
4. Outdoor Light Fixtures – Less of a heat issue for outdoor fixtures and the small size of LEDs provide many interesting design options. LEDs are much more durable than incandescent and CFL light sources, and there will be no trips up the ladder to replace.
Long Way to Go:
Bulb Replacements – LEDs are directional light sources. They are well suited for spotlights and poorly suited for bulbs. If the LED industry wants to disappoint customers, manufacturers will continue to try to sell LED bulbs that give off the equivalent of a 20W incandescent bulb for $20. A lot of work needs to be put into optics and LED efficiency before this category makes sense for your home.
I have been working with LEDs for five years and have a basic grasp of how they work and where they make sense. When I first started working with LEDs, it was predicted that by the year 2012, the majority of lighting would be LED-based. While LEDs are the most efficient lights in the laboratory, they are not the smartest lighting in many actual applications. The predictions failed to take into account a few factors:
1. It is difficult to control certain LED characteristics - such as heat and the color changes over time of LEDs - once they are installed in light fixtures
2. Many fluorescent lights are very efficient already
3. A global economic downturn makes an up-front investment in energy efficiency more challenging
So where does that put the LED industry right now? Gains in efficiency continue to be realized in the lab; more work has been put into a complete lighting solution for LEDs; and better products are launching every month.
I am often asked “Where do LEDs make sense in my home?” When my wife and I gutted our house two years ago, I was eager to install the latest in LED technology. Instead we installed traditional recessed cans and halogen fixtures for more decorative looks. LED-driven fixtures did not make economic sense – they were $100 and in their first generation. With lighting responsible for only 12% of my total energy bill, it appeared that it would take us more than 8 years to pay for the fixtures. By that time LED technology will be significantly more efficient, and might even be replaced by another technology.
Yet there are some applications in your home where LEDs make a lot of sense today. Below is my annual list of the LED fixtures that are ready for your investment. The market is changing so fast so I apologize to those manufacturers that I am unaware of – please post your list on the comment board.
Ready for Buying:
1. Under Cabinet Lighting – Under-cabinet lighting is one of the most requested applications in lighting showrooms. However it is disruptive and expensive to install due to the bulky nature of traditional lighting. It also tends to provide spotty light – too bright under the bulb but not bright enough at the perimeters. LED light strips provide a well-distributed even light throughout a surface. They have a low profile and last up to 50,000 hours.
2. Off-Grid Lighting – Outdoor Solar Lights have been a big disappointment, but they introduced the world to off-grid lighting. New products from Mr. Beams and others replace the solar cells with alkaline batteries and motion sensors for very effective off-grid outdoor lighting. Mr. Beams is the leader in this category by offering four different form factors: Ceiling Mount (MB980); Spotlight (MB360); Stair and Path Light (MB530); and Night Light (MB720). All of the Mr. Beams lights are battery powered and have auto shut-off to conserve battery life. Flashlights are also considered off-grid lighting, and LEDs are perfectly matched for use in flashlights.
Almost Ready:
1. MR16 Replacements – Good application for LEDs. Casinos and Cruise Lines have switched to LEDs for these lights that are on constantly. Use in track fixtures that are on more than 4 hours a day.
2. PAR 30 spotlights for outdoor lighting – Still expensive (minimum of $40 for the equivalent of a 60W bulb – don’t let them tell you otherwise) but the ROI will be quick if you leave your lights on all night. Also good for the inside garage light that you forget to turn off.
3. Recessed Cans – I was tempted to put this in the “Ready” category, but they are still too expensive for the average home-owner who looks at a 2-3 year ROI. Recessed cans from Cree provide beautiful, even white light at an $80 cost.
4. Outdoor Light Fixtures – Less of a heat issue for outdoor fixtures and the small size of LEDs provide many interesting design options. LEDs are much more durable than incandescent and CFL light sources, and there will be no trips up the ladder to replace.
Long Way to Go:
Bulb Replacements – LEDs are directional light sources. They are well suited for spotlights and poorly suited for bulbs. If the LED industry wants to disappoint customers, manufacturers will continue to try to sell LED bulbs that give off the equivalent of a 20W incandescent bulb for $20. A lot of work needs to be put into optics and LED efficiency before this category makes sense for your home.
Friday, September 10, 2010
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.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Lights to Help Louisiana and Mississippi
I’m watching the opening NFL game – Vikings at Saints in New Orleans. With the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, there have been many videos replayed showing the unbelievable damage and destruction to the infrastructure. Electricity was out for months.
The Mr. Beams™ line of battery-powered LED lights was not yet invented. Lighting is the function that people miss most when electricity is out. We wish we could have provided our LED motion sensor lights to the people affected by Katrina. We recognize that people are still recovering from the impact and are offering two for one Mr. Beams lights to any residents of Louisiana and Mississippi. We will automatically double your order if placed at www.mrbeams.com
We recommend the following products: the MB980 Ceiling Light to light closets, pantries, attics and sheds. It has a motion sensor and a bright 80-lumen Nichia LED. It is a weatherproof light that can also light up a porch or gazebo.
The MB360 Spotlight can provide safety and security lighting for the perimeter of your home. With the motion sensor the Spotlight turns on and lights up intruders or animals. It can provide safety lighting – it can attach to a tree and light up your driveway, walkway and back door.
The MB530 Stair Light lights up stairs. This is particularly important to prevent falls inside and outside your home. With a motion sensor and a bright LED, the Mr. Beams Stair Light will light up stairs and hallways. When you wake up at night to go to the bathroom, the Stair Light will detect you and light up the hallway or stairs. It even glows all night to show you where it is.
Prepare for power outages with the battery-powered lights from Mr. Beams. And if you live in Louisiana or Mississippi, we will automatically double your order on www.mrbeams.com
The Mr. Beams™ line of battery-powered LED lights was not yet invented. Lighting is the function that people miss most when electricity is out. We wish we could have provided our LED motion sensor lights to the people affected by Katrina. We recognize that people are still recovering from the impact and are offering two for one Mr. Beams lights to any residents of Louisiana and Mississippi. We will automatically double your order if placed at www.mrbeams.com
We recommend the following products: the MB980 Ceiling Light to light closets, pantries, attics and sheds. It has a motion sensor and a bright 80-lumen Nichia LED. It is a weatherproof light that can also light up a porch or gazebo.
The MB360 Spotlight can provide safety and security lighting for the perimeter of your home. With the motion sensor the Spotlight turns on and lights up intruders or animals. It can provide safety lighting – it can attach to a tree and light up your driveway, walkway and back door.
The MB530 Stair Light lights up stairs. This is particularly important to prevent falls inside and outside your home. With a motion sensor and a bright LED, the Mr. Beams Stair Light will light up stairs and hallways. When you wake up at night to go to the bathroom, the Stair Light will detect you and light up the hallway or stairs. It even glows all night to show you where it is.
Prepare for power outages with the battery-powered lights from Mr. Beams. And if you live in Louisiana or Mississippi, we will automatically double your order on www.mrbeams.com
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Celebrate Innovation on Labor Day
An advisor to Mr. Beams recently said he wanted to brainstorm about new products. This guy is a brilliant product developer who has created big product lines that have revolutionized lighting controls. His prerequisite for helping us was that we create breakthrough products, and not just slight improvements. His statement first created an energy and excitement for me that I get when allowed to dream big dreams. It was then followed by the part of my brain that remembers how intense and grinding it is to truly innovate. In my early days as a product manager I could not wait to launch my first product line. It was with Black & Decker in their power tool division and I owned every element of the product line – the feel, the color, the motor, the box, the accessories, the user manual. I was not yet married and that allowed me to spend late nights at the office - it consumed me. But it needed to consume me in order to innovate in a field where everything had been done already.
Innovation in many consumer products has slowed down. Part of it is because of the recession, but I believe there is a more nefarious reason. The power wielded by so few retailers has created greater barriers for entry to smaller companies. Often it is the smaller companies that innovate, but the possible reward of a successful product is now lower because the largest retailers do not want to work with smaller companies. Large Retail knows it limits the innovation that they can offer their shoppers, but it makes logistics so much easier for them. If they are buying 30 items from Category Manager A, and they like 2 products better from a smaller company, they are not going to set up a new vendor of questionable shipping abilities to provide those 2 products. Instead they buy the unimaginative version from the incumbent.
At first this did not limit innovation so much – the larger companies were still investing in new ideas and generating innovative products. But soon the consolidation of retailers meant that 3-5 companies made up 90% of their revenue. They now need these companies to like their products. So here is how new products are now developed: the VP of Sales for a company calls on Big Box Buyer and brings sketches of 5 product ideas. They have learned that getting buy-in from Big Box Buyer is the key to get new products placed. So they ask Big Box Buyer her opinion and she prefers one concept. VP of Sales leaves the meeting and immediately calls the product manager and tells him what the next product will be. Suddenly that new product is the darling of the product management team and gets priority resources.
Is this innovation? I would argue that Big Box Buyer knows her customer best. But the customer only knows what they have already seen, experienced and used. There is a possibility for incremental improvement in the product. But the chance of Big Box Buyer picking out a breakthrough product is slim.
Small companies do not have access to Big Box Buyer. We innovate by observing how people live, what they struggle with and what they enjoy. We know that an incremental improvement won’t cut it, so we work harder and risk more for that product that makes people fall in love with them. As I write this I am listening to a product that does that – it is a Sonos Digital Music System. I can pull up any song anywhere through one hand-held device. Every few months the smart people at Sonos add another great feature. I access Rhapsody, XM Radio, iheartradio through this system and can play different songs or radio stations in different rooms. These team at Sonos observed how people want to access and interact with music and are constantly working on improving the joy that the product provides.
Why am I wasting precious blog space on innovation rather than promoting my products? Probably because it is Labor Day today and days like this separate the innovators from the entrenched. Innovators hate these one-day holidays because no innovation gets done. People at large companies love these days because they get paid for doing their own thing. Have we innovated at Mr. Beams? I think so. We make the world’s best wireless LED lights. We are creating a system of emergency lighting for homes that will automatically provide light in the event of a power outage. We make the best Closet Light you ever installed on your own. We have used motion sensors and bright battery powered LED lights to eliminate darkness in so many places in a home. We have prevented countless falls due to dark hallways and stairs. When my 90-year-old Aunt Mille calls me the first thing she says in her Brooklyn accent is “Oh David that light you sent me is my favorite possession. I get up to go to the bathroom twice a night and that light goes on every time so I can find my way.” To me that is more rewarding than anything Big Box Buyer can say. So support your small company and please recognize that there is tremendous innovation in alternative distribution channels - like www.mrbeams.com
Innovation in many consumer products has slowed down. Part of it is because of the recession, but I believe there is a more nefarious reason. The power wielded by so few retailers has created greater barriers for entry to smaller companies. Often it is the smaller companies that innovate, but the possible reward of a successful product is now lower because the largest retailers do not want to work with smaller companies. Large Retail knows it limits the innovation that they can offer their shoppers, but it makes logistics so much easier for them. If they are buying 30 items from Category Manager A, and they like 2 products better from a smaller company, they are not going to set up a new vendor of questionable shipping abilities to provide those 2 products. Instead they buy the unimaginative version from the incumbent.
At first this did not limit innovation so much – the larger companies were still investing in new ideas and generating innovative products. But soon the consolidation of retailers meant that 3-5 companies made up 90% of their revenue. They now need these companies to like their products. So here is how new products are now developed: the VP of Sales for a company calls on Big Box Buyer and brings sketches of 5 product ideas. They have learned that getting buy-in from Big Box Buyer is the key to get new products placed. So they ask Big Box Buyer her opinion and she prefers one concept. VP of Sales leaves the meeting and immediately calls the product manager and tells him what the next product will be. Suddenly that new product is the darling of the product management team and gets priority resources.
Is this innovation? I would argue that Big Box Buyer knows her customer best. But the customer only knows what they have already seen, experienced and used. There is a possibility for incremental improvement in the product. But the chance of Big Box Buyer picking out a breakthrough product is slim.
Small companies do not have access to Big Box Buyer. We innovate by observing how people live, what they struggle with and what they enjoy. We know that an incremental improvement won’t cut it, so we work harder and risk more for that product that makes people fall in love with them. As I write this I am listening to a product that does that – it is a Sonos Digital Music System. I can pull up any song anywhere through one hand-held device. Every few months the smart people at Sonos add another great feature. I access Rhapsody, XM Radio, iheartradio through this system and can play different songs or radio stations in different rooms. These team at Sonos observed how people want to access and interact with music and are constantly working on improving the joy that the product provides.
Why am I wasting precious blog space on innovation rather than promoting my products? Probably because it is Labor Day today and days like this separate the innovators from the entrenched. Innovators hate these one-day holidays because no innovation gets done. People at large companies love these days because they get paid for doing their own thing. Have we innovated at Mr. Beams? I think so. We make the world’s best wireless LED lights. We are creating a system of emergency lighting for homes that will automatically provide light in the event of a power outage. We make the best Closet Light you ever installed on your own. We have used motion sensors and bright battery powered LED lights to eliminate darkness in so many places in a home. We have prevented countless falls due to dark hallways and stairs. When my 90-year-old Aunt Mille calls me the first thing she says in her Brooklyn accent is “Oh David that light you sent me is my favorite possession. I get up to go to the bathroom twice a night and that light goes on every time so I can find my way.” To me that is more rewarding than anything Big Box Buyer can say. So support your small company and please recognize that there is tremendous innovation in alternative distribution channels - like www.mrbeams.com
Saturday, September 4, 2010
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."
Friday, September 3, 2010
Where Do You Need Light?
What is the value of light to you? Probably never gave it much thought - yet you used some method to evaluate whether or not to call you electrician in to light up that dark porch in your backyard, or the end of your hallway that is too dark. In my mind a light costs me $250. The light itself is $50 and the electrician will cost me $200.
This same evaluation led us to develop the Mr. Beams line of battery-powered lights. At $10-$60 per light, your cost of light is significantly lower. In many ways your annual operating cost will also be lower. Battery operated lights like the Mr. Beams Ceiling Light requires 4 C batteries at $1 each. The Mr. Beams Ceiling Light is designed to last 18 months on one set of batteries - so the annual operating cost is around $2.35. If you hire an electrician to install a ceiling light, this light requires a light bulb that will probably last just one year ($1.50) plus require electricity. Electricity can add up when the light is left on during the day or when not needed. All Mr. Beams battery operated lights have auto shut-off and motion detectors. The auto shut-off turns the light off after no motion is detected.
So the Mr. Beams line of motion sensor battery operated lights can save you money and get you off the electrical grid. When battery power is combined with motion sensors and LED's, it allows you to add light anywhere at a low initial cost and a low operating cost. So at $30 per light, where do you need light? The Mr. Beams Spotlight can light up your backyard and driveway. The Mr. Beams Stair Light can make you stairs safe and help prevent falls. The Mr. Beams Stick Anywhere Night Light can light up hallways and bathrooms and toilets to help prevent falls. The Mr. Beams Ceiling Light can light up your closets and attic so bright that you can choose the right color of your clothes. All are battery powered and use a motion sensor and auto shut-off to get you off the grid and save money in your lighting.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Hurricane Earl: Be Prepared!
To our friends in North Carolina and along the Eastern seaboard who are expecting a visit from Earl: Hang in there!
A quit note about emergency preparedness: in the five years since Hurricane Katrina, there has been a heightened awareness among communities and families about the importance of establishing a safety plan for your home. A basic safety plan doesn't have to revolve around a specific disaster--every family should have the following in the event of any sort of unforeseen catastrophe:
*Central meeting place on or near your property as well as meeting place in a more public area, such as a parking lot, in the event that all family members are mobile and cannot get home
*Central emergency out-of-state contact who can serve as a clearinghouse for family members to learn the status/whereabouts of other family members
*Non-perishable food and water--one gallon of water per family member and pet per day
*Blankets and waterproof gear
*Battery-operated radio or rechargeable radio
*Flashlight
*Portable light sources, like the Mr Beams LED lights
*Charged cell phone--even if it is not associated with an active account, most newer cell phones are capable of dialing 911 if charged
*Matches and candles
It is a good idea to stick emergency documents, such as copies of insurance cards and contact information, in a storage bag and tape it to the inside of your refrigerator. The refrigerator is basically fireproof and waterproof, so by the time you are able to access the information, it should be safe and legible.
Be sure to contact your local American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) to learn more about creating an emergency kit for your family. They can also provide you with important contact information in the event of a local/regional/national disaster. Don't be caught in the storm. An ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.
A quit note about emergency preparedness: in the five years since Hurricane Katrina, there has been a heightened awareness among communities and families about the importance of establishing a safety plan for your home. A basic safety plan doesn't have to revolve around a specific disaster--every family should have the following in the event of any sort of unforeseen catastrophe:
*Central meeting place on or near your property as well as meeting place in a more public area, such as a parking lot, in the event that all family members are mobile and cannot get home
*Central emergency out-of-state contact who can serve as a clearinghouse for family members to learn the status/whereabouts of other family members
*Non-perishable food and water--one gallon of water per family member and pet per day
*Blankets and waterproof gear
*Battery-operated radio or rechargeable radio
*Flashlight
*Portable light sources, like the Mr Beams LED lights
*Charged cell phone--even if it is not associated with an active account, most newer cell phones are capable of dialing 911 if charged
*Matches and candles
It is a good idea to stick emergency documents, such as copies of insurance cards and contact information, in a storage bag and tape it to the inside of your refrigerator. The refrigerator is basically fireproof and waterproof, so by the time you are able to access the information, it should be safe and legible.
Be sure to contact your local American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) to learn more about creating an emergency kit for your family. They can also provide you with important contact information in the event of a local/regional/national disaster. Don't be caught in the storm. An ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.
Falls Prevention Day
There have been several posts dedicated to Falls Prevention Awareness Day, which is nationally recognized on September 23, 2010 (first day of Fall) as a day committed to promoting home safety to minimize falls in the home, particularly among seniors. This is a really important subject, whose relevance increases as the number of seniors living in our communities increases. Senior centers, assisted living and retirement complexes are bursting with residents; there are waiting lists for just about every senior facility. As we continue to invest in the health and care of our seniors, it is important to give them every advantage for a safe and comfortable lifestyle, whether circumstances allow them to live in their own home or in a group facility. One way to promote independent living among seniors is to provide them with enough lighting to allow them to navigate safely through their homes at any hour of the day.
You may remember that one of the reasons the Mr Beams lights were developed was because owner David Levine wanted to prevent falls in the home. His grandmother died as a result of complications from a fall in the dark and David resolved that he would do what he could to help other seniors avoid unnecessary health issues due to falling in the home. David's grandmother fell in the dark as she was trying to make her way to the bathroom. If she had had a night light or other lighting source to guide her path, perhaps she would be alive today.
Light is such a simple privilege--we need it to live but seldom stop to think about light for survival. From a primitive perspective, we need it to hunt, fish, gather berries--even if it means just selecting produce from your local supermarket. You need light to drive safely, work productively and play. Without light in our homes, we can't do many things effectively or safely, which is why Mr Beams are essential for alternative lighting solutions in your home. Seniors can easily install any Mr Beams products--there are no wires, lights are battery operated--and in minutes, the LED lights are ready for service. Trips to the bathroom, down the stairs, into to kitchen become comfortable and not dangerous as the motion-sensors in the lights detect movement and turn on, illuminating passage.
There is a Mr Beams appropriate for any supplemental lighting application:
Anywhere Ceiling Light provides 80 lumens of bright light to provide general lighting conditions--perfect for hallways, stairways, front porches, under stairs' storage or anywhere traditionally wired products are not practical. The Anywhere Ceiling Light is a great all-purpose light to have on-hand for emergency lighting as well.
The Path Light Kit offers flexible mounting for outdoor lighting on patios, along walkways, in the yard. The convenient mounting stakes allow you to control the positions of each light. With two lights per kit, the Path Lights are an easy do-it-yourself outdoor lighting option. Additionally, the low glow feature means that the lights are on from the second it's dark, providing orientation even before the motion sensors know you're there at which point the lights brighten for you.
Spotlights are available with both a remote control feature for manual activation as well as without so you can opt for a Spotlight that you can activate manually or simply depend on the motion detection technology to satisfy your hands-free lighting needs. Timers are available on all products so that you can adjust the amount of time the lights stay on.
Like the Path Light, the Step Light has a low glow option that is convenient when placing product on steps or in hallways. The "always on" feature assures you additional light before the sensors detect any motion for comfort and safety.
The Stick Anywhere Night Lights are a great alternative to other night lights as they offer quality brightness over the requisite glow that is the standard for most plug-in units on the market. The LED lights give a clean, soft light--bright enough for you to manipulate objects safely and effectively without being obtrusive.
There is no fountain of youth, but we can take care to offset some of the effects of aging. When your eyesight falters, you wear glasses, right? Falling at home is an unnecessary hazard. Plenty of light when it's dark will help you maintain your balance and coordinates so that you can move about safely in your own space. It's such a little thing--an inexpensive luxury--to install a few Mr Beams lights in and around your property or in the home of someone you care about. Think about home safety on September 23 and pay it forward by giving someone a bit of independence when you hand them a battery operated Mr Beams LED light.
Use coupon code BLOGSAVE when you order online at www.mrbeams.com to save 25% on any web order.
You may remember that one of the reasons the Mr Beams lights were developed was because owner David Levine wanted to prevent falls in the home. His grandmother died as a result of complications from a fall in the dark and David resolved that he would do what he could to help other seniors avoid unnecessary health issues due to falling in the home. David's grandmother fell in the dark as she was trying to make her way to the bathroom. If she had had a night light or other lighting source to guide her path, perhaps she would be alive today.
Light is such a simple privilege--we need it to live but seldom stop to think about light for survival. From a primitive perspective, we need it to hunt, fish, gather berries--even if it means just selecting produce from your local supermarket. You need light to drive safely, work productively and play. Without light in our homes, we can't do many things effectively or safely, which is why Mr Beams are essential for alternative lighting solutions in your home. Seniors can easily install any Mr Beams products--there are no wires, lights are battery operated--and in minutes, the LED lights are ready for service. Trips to the bathroom, down the stairs, into to kitchen become comfortable and not dangerous as the motion-sensors in the lights detect movement and turn on, illuminating passage.
There is a Mr Beams appropriate for any supplemental lighting application:
Anywhere Ceiling Light provides 80 lumens of bright light to provide general lighting conditions--perfect for hallways, stairways, front porches, under stairs' storage or anywhere traditionally wired products are not practical. The Anywhere Ceiling Light is a great all-purpose light to have on-hand for emergency lighting as well.
The Path Light Kit offers flexible mounting for outdoor lighting on patios, along walkways, in the yard. The convenient mounting stakes allow you to control the positions of each light. With two lights per kit, the Path Lights are an easy do-it-yourself outdoor lighting option. Additionally, the low glow feature means that the lights are on from the second it's dark, providing orientation even before the motion sensors know you're there at which point the lights brighten for you.
Spotlights are available with both a remote control feature for manual activation as well as without so you can opt for a Spotlight that you can activate manually or simply depend on the motion detection technology to satisfy your hands-free lighting needs. Timers are available on all products so that you can adjust the amount of time the lights stay on.
Like the Path Light, the Step Light has a low glow option that is convenient when placing product on steps or in hallways. The "always on" feature assures you additional light before the sensors detect any motion for comfort and safety.
The Stick Anywhere Night Lights are a great alternative to other night lights as they offer quality brightness over the requisite glow that is the standard for most plug-in units on the market. The LED lights give a clean, soft light--bright enough for you to manipulate objects safely and effectively without being obtrusive.
There is no fountain of youth, but we can take care to offset some of the effects of aging. When your eyesight falters, you wear glasses, right? Falling at home is an unnecessary hazard. Plenty of light when it's dark will help you maintain your balance and coordinates so that you can move about safely in your own space. It's such a little thing--an inexpensive luxury--to install a few Mr Beams lights in and around your property or in the home of someone you care about. Think about home safety on September 23 and pay it forward by giving someone a bit of independence when you hand them a battery operated Mr Beams LED light.
Use coupon code BLOGSAVE when you order online at www.mrbeams.com to save 25% on any web order.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wild Card Wednesday--BOO!
During our weekly management meeting, one of our partners, Mike Recker, introduced a really fun way to use the Mr Beams LED lights: how about lighting for Halloween?
Path Lights
Temporary Path Lighting is a great idea for the trick-or-treaters in your neighborhood. Especially in our neighborhood, where the homes are old and there really isn't much lighting beyond the porch lights to illuminate the walkways and sidewalks leading up to the houses. The Path Lights are perfectly portable--with the brackets and stakes that are included with the Path Light Kit, you simply stick the product in the ground. You can leave them or pull them up until the next time you need reliable and effective path lighting. The Mr Beams Path Light Kit comes with two lights, mounting brackets and stakes, and a remote control which allows you to activate the lights at will.
Spotlights
Spotlights provide a brighter option. Position a Mr Beams Spotlight to shine on your front steps. The second motion is detected (from up to 18' away), the lights go on, providing a safe footpath up the steps to the Treats. You can also position a Spotlight or two to shine on your Halloween decorations or position a few on your property to deter the Tricksters on Mischief Night. The Spotlight is also available with the same remote control option as the Path Light for flexibility in controlling the amount of light you want.
Portable Night Lights
Stick Anywhere Night Lights offer a softer light that will provide enough light for safety, either as they line your steps or as you carry it along your route, but won't quite scare away the haunts.
Get ready for Halloween with Mr Beams!
Off-Grid Lighting With Battery Powered "BEAMS"
I know, I know...everyone wants to advertise that they subscribe to "green". We've all been suckered into buying more bags rather than reusing the recyclable plastic bags that were the norm for so many years (true, the ones you buy are sturdier with handles), everyone has reusable water bottles, and we all talk a good game about buying local. Talk is cheap! I do those things, too, but I still love a good deal on bottled water (even though tap water is free--we have a well, even) and will compromise my family's health for produce shipped from South America over local peppers if it means saving a buck. Did you languish in the heat this summer rather than conserve energy by cutting back on the AC? We didn't. So what are some other things that we could be doing to promote a healthy planet without sacrificing convenience? (Now you know this is going to involve wireless lights.)
We're constantly touting Mr Beams products as reliable and cost-effective. The battery operated lights manufactured by Wireless Environment allow anyone the luxury of light wherever you need it--the products install in minutes, no wires, and are extremely low maintenance. With the exception of changing the batteries, you really don't need to do a thing. Guess what? There's an off-grid lighting solution. Two things to support that claim: the first is that you are not drawing from an electric grid. All Mr Beams products are battery operated and last 1-2 years under most conditions. (Mr Beams lights are IP44 rated, which means you can use them inside and outdoors. True, they're not immersible, but were you going to put them in your bathtub or pool anyway?) Second, the lights activate only when they sense motion. So it gets dark. Lights stay dark. You walk near the light (most models sense light from up to 18' away) and the light turns on, stays on until motion ceases, then shuts off automatically. Light only when you need it. No wasting electricity when you wander into the bathroom at night--the Stick Anywhere Night Light gives you just enough light to get the job done.
Here's a great place for a Mr Beams light for our family (and I'm guessing we're not alone). We have a freezer downstairs. At least one ingredient, usually meat, comes out of that freezer for our dinner, which means a minimum of one trip a day to the basement to retrieve something from the freezer. I snap the light on at the top of the stairs automatically before heading down. When I get downstairs, I turn on one, maybe two lights on the way to the freezer. I'm in the freezer for approximately ten seconds while I grab the roast of choice (or chunk of frozen hamburger), then retrace my steps--light two=off; light one=off; then it's up the stairs before turning the stairway light off. Entire transaction takes maybe thirty seconds. Now--doesn't it make a lot more sense to install a couple of Mr Beams lights along that path rather than flipping currents on and off along the way? With a Ceiling Light in the stairway I can make my way up and down the steps safely--even with my hands full, since I don't need to turn any lights on or off. With a couple of Stick Anywheres on the wall, I can find the freezer, get what I need, and hike back up to the kitchen--all without turning on or off any lights. Truthfully, I can make that trip with my eyes closed, but what a great message to send to the kids--"light only when you need it."
I can think of dozens of other places where I waste electricity, bags, water. I am going to try to do a better job at managing my resources. We say we are, we say we try...let's do more.
How do you make a difference? Tell us your story at info@mrbeams.com.
We're constantly touting Mr Beams products as reliable and cost-effective. The battery operated lights manufactured by Wireless Environment allow anyone the luxury of light wherever you need it--the products install in minutes, no wires, and are extremely low maintenance. With the exception of changing the batteries, you really don't need to do a thing. Guess what? There's an off-grid lighting solution. Two things to support that claim: the first is that you are not drawing from an electric grid. All Mr Beams products are battery operated and last 1-2 years under most conditions. (Mr Beams lights are IP44 rated, which means you can use them inside and outdoors. True, they're not immersible, but were you going to put them in your bathtub or pool anyway?) Second, the lights activate only when they sense motion. So it gets dark. Lights stay dark. You walk near the light (most models sense light from up to 18' away) and the light turns on, stays on until motion ceases, then shuts off automatically. Light only when you need it. No wasting electricity when you wander into the bathroom at night--the Stick Anywhere Night Light gives you just enough light to get the job done.
Here's a great place for a Mr Beams light for our family (and I'm guessing we're not alone). We have a freezer downstairs. At least one ingredient, usually meat, comes out of that freezer for our dinner, which means a minimum of one trip a day to the basement to retrieve something from the freezer. I snap the light on at the top of the stairs automatically before heading down. When I get downstairs, I turn on one, maybe two lights on the way to the freezer. I'm in the freezer for approximately ten seconds while I grab the roast of choice (or chunk of frozen hamburger), then retrace my steps--light two=off; light one=off; then it's up the stairs before turning the stairway light off. Entire transaction takes maybe thirty seconds. Now--doesn't it make a lot more sense to install a couple of Mr Beams lights along that path rather than flipping currents on and off along the way? With a Ceiling Light in the stairway I can make my way up and down the steps safely--even with my hands full, since I don't need to turn any lights on or off. With a couple of Stick Anywheres on the wall, I can find the freezer, get what I need, and hike back up to the kitchen--all without turning on or off any lights. Truthfully, I can make that trip with my eyes closed, but what a great message to send to the kids--"light only when you need it."
I can think of dozens of other places where I waste electricity, bags, water. I am going to try to do a better job at managing my resources. We say we are, we say we try...let's do more.
How do you make a difference? Tell us your story at info@mrbeams.com.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Getting Organized With Mr Beams Lights
This past week has been a whirlwind--we returned from vacation on Saturday night and by Monday morning, we had to have our first-grader ready for his first day of school (who planned that??). Between laundry, grocery shopping, back-to-school activities ("where's my bookbag?", "my shoes don't fit") and the general craziness that engulfs our home, I made a resolution to get organized as quickly as possible.
A quick Google on "organization" revealed shocking results: there are thousands (literally) of professional organizers out there at our disposal. These people proudly display before and after photos which demonstrated their talent for whipping households into shape. Some of the "befores" really cheered me up while others neither shamed nor embarrassed me. The point is, regardless of your particular stage of disarray, there is help out there.
While I was hunting for do-it-yourself tips, it occurred to me that a lot of these professional organizers specialize in maximizing small or awkward spaces. Once there is some semblance of organization in those areas, you'd want to be able to see what you've got, right? My point is, projects like these need lights. Pantries, closets, cupboards, under stairs--places that may be effectively utilized for storage may not be optimized for hardwired lighting. The solutions are either to call in an electrician, which means additional cost and time to your project, or you can pop in a Mr Beams Anywhere Ceiling Light or a Stick Anywhere Night Light. Two different levels of brightness, but both would satisfy the need for additional lighting without the aggravations or costs associated with professional installation. Further, the lights are temporary and portable--if you make modifications to the storage area or closet, simply move the light.
After this epiphany, I reached out to some professional organizers that I'd located on the web, just to gauge the interest level on the Mr Beams products with that audience. Guess what? A simple e-mail (yes, you can call it SPAM or cold-calling) was met with dozens of "more information, please" responses. Pleasantly surprised, I've spent the past few days shipping samples and additional product information to various organizers in Northeast Ohio.
Alas, the window of feeling panicked for lack of organization has passed for me (like it usually does). But I take comfort in the fact that I have put my own needs behind others' (that is my justification for staying unorganized) in bringing light to newly ordered space, than I'm OK with that.
To contact a professional organizer near you, check out www.napo.net. The National Association of Professional Organizers exists because of people like me who don't have an eye for organization. I guess I'll shove the wrapping paper back under the bed and try again next year. Sigh.
A quick Google on "organization" revealed shocking results: there are thousands (literally) of professional organizers out there at our disposal. These people proudly display before and after photos which demonstrated their talent for whipping households into shape. Some of the "befores" really cheered me up while others neither shamed nor embarrassed me. The point is, regardless of your particular stage of disarray, there is help out there.
While I was hunting for do-it-yourself tips, it occurred to me that a lot of these professional organizers specialize in maximizing small or awkward spaces. Once there is some semblance of organization in those areas, you'd want to be able to see what you've got, right? My point is, projects like these need lights. Pantries, closets, cupboards, under stairs--places that may be effectively utilized for storage may not be optimized for hardwired lighting. The solutions are either to call in an electrician, which means additional cost and time to your project, or you can pop in a Mr Beams Anywhere Ceiling Light or a Stick Anywhere Night Light. Two different levels of brightness, but both would satisfy the need for additional lighting without the aggravations or costs associated with professional installation. Further, the lights are temporary and portable--if you make modifications to the storage area or closet, simply move the light.
After this epiphany, I reached out to some professional organizers that I'd located on the web, just to gauge the interest level on the Mr Beams products with that audience. Guess what? A simple e-mail (yes, you can call it SPAM or cold-calling) was met with dozens of "more information, please" responses. Pleasantly surprised, I've spent the past few days shipping samples and additional product information to various organizers in Northeast Ohio.
Alas, the window of feeling panicked for lack of organization has passed for me (like it usually does). But I take comfort in the fact that I have put my own needs behind others' (that is my justification for staying unorganized) in bringing light to newly ordered space, than I'm OK with that.
To contact a professional organizer near you, check out www.napo.net. The National Association of Professional Organizers exists because of people like me who don't have an eye for organization. I guess I'll shove the wrapping paper back under the bed and try again next year. Sigh.
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