Tennessee has relied on power generated by burning coal for decades, but it seems like that’s finally going to be coming to an end in the not so distant future. Solar power hasn’t been ingrained into Tennessee yet, but the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) has big plans to change that in the next couple of decades.

Several proposals have been drafted in regards to the state’s source of energy and what impact it’s making on the environment and the earth as a whole. These proposals are pushing that by the year 2022, solar power in Tennessee will be working with a developed 200 megawatts of energy, which will also cut the use of burning coal and cutting back on the carbon footprint. The ultimate goal is to have a long-lasting, renewable, and natural source of energy be used and coal-burning becoming obsolete as it decreases significantly in the next couple of decades.

The main reason Tennessee is choosing now to make the proposed switch is simply that the sources to have solar power have become more affordable. At one time, solar paneling was merely a pipe dream for anyone with an average income, and only the very wealthy could have these panels on their homes. In 2019 it’s much different since we see the benefits of having solar-powered items in our lives and how much it cuts back on wasting energy and saving money in the long run (even if the initial price tag is a bit steep).

The steps that TVA is taking toward a reliance on solar power are big ones in changing how the state gets its energy. If all proposals go through as intended, this could also mean the end of any coal ash or nuclear waste left behind from other power sources. As states like Tennessee adapt to solar power, more may soon follow suit. The affordability and ease of obtaining the solar panels make a huge difference to many businesses and families across the great state of Tennessee. Keep our state bright with natural light; solar power is on its way!

SOURCES: 1, 2

There are many different factors that the ADA affects. The ADA, known as the Americans with Disabilities Act, is set in place to make sure that people with disabilities are given equal access and proper accommodations are set in place. It can get precise with specific regulations to make sure spaces are safe for all walks of life, and lighting is no different. 

ADA regulations state that lighting fixtures must be no more than 4-inches from the wall and be mounted between 2-feet 4-inches to 6-feet 8-inches above the floor. Many fixtures now are being sold with ADA approval, and when paired with these specific guidelines, it gives the maximum amount of room for those with disabilities. This bit of information is highly crucial for the installation of lighting fixtures in public and commercial places. It allows any person(s) with or without disabilities to easily access essential parts of the building without coming into a roadblock of sorts. 

Universal Design principles also have a huge helping hand in making sure ADA light fixtures can be used by all, no matter what their background may be. It also accommodates well with narrow passageways in homes like hallways or bathrooms. Bathroom space is especially important in cases of handicapable stalls that need bars installed. 

The installation of ADA compliant lighting ensures that everyone can access certain areas and not be stopped by a lighting fixture, as well as have the ability to control said lighting. It’s vital that people, no matter if they are disabled, are not, can move around freely and comfortably without worrying about becoming stuck or breaking a fixture thanks to poor installation and improper fixtures. 

SOURCES: 1

Nashville is a scenic country wonderland, especially during the summer. But boy, can it get hot! One of the first things most people want to do in the summertime is to escape the heat and crank up the a/c, but that can waste a lot of energy. There’s got to be a way to enjoy the summer days and nights here in Nashville and still conserve energy while being comfortable. We figure out the top 3 ways to save energy this summer while still enjoying all that your backyard of Tennessee has to offer. 

1. Close the curtain on the sun! When the sun is peeking outside your window, closing the curtains or shutting the blinds can block out a lot of unwanted heat from entering your home. This also has a reverse advantage in the winter by opening the window during the sun’s peak hours to let in the warmth and then closing them to keep the heat inside. 
2. Upgrade your thermostat! Get a programmable thermostat (preferably one with an Energy Star rating) that regulates the temperature in your home and doesn’t use excessive amounts of energy. It works all day and night; whether you’re home, asleep, or away for a couple of days. It’s even possible to get a smart thermostat that does all this as well as lets you control it from a remote location. 
3. Shut off the lights! Take advantage of a summer breeze and natural light and shut off your interior lighting while opening windows and, if possible, a door opening to outside. Let your home soak up natural lightning, making artificial light unnecessary and saves you little bits of energy here and there. 

Get the most out of your summer in Nashville and enjoy what nature has to offer. Open a window, pour a glass of sweet tea, put on some music, and take in that warm summer breeze all while saving on your energy bill and saving the earth a little at a time. 

SOURCES: 1

Becoming a new homeowner is exciting. You get to have your own dream house to do whatever you want with. This is especially exciting for those homeowners who love a little DIY and don’t mind getting their hands dirty if they have to. It’s also a great idea to be prepared in your new home for any minor fixes. So what kind of tools should a new homeowner have on hand that can benefit their desire to DIY and also keeps everything in working order? Here you will find the answer in the top 3 tools every new home should have!

1. A hammer. It’s a classic and straightforward tool, one end makes things go in, and the other can pull them out. It is especially important to have on hand in your new home. A hammer can be used to add flair to a room by just using it to nail spots to hang decor and art. It can also be used to fix some places maybe missed by previous repairs. A loose nail sticking out from a corner or an uneven picture that can be set by merely adjusting the position of the nail. 
2. A screwdriver. Preferably one of those with interchangeable heads to go between a Phillips and flat head. This will come in handy when it comes to getting into those hard to open spots. A small screwdriver set would be a good idea to have around as well, making sure you have the right tools to open up even the smallest of screws. 
3. Lastly, we have a tape measure. This gives new homeowners accuracy down to the centimeter and can help provide the right dimensions for new additions in the home. An even better option would be a tape measure with a level attached. That way you can make sure your projects are even before using any of the other-other tools listed here.

Of course, there are many other tools that it would be a good idea to have tucked away for a new homeowner. Whatever choice of tools you decide on, make sure to have these three essentials, and you’ll be prepared for almost anything! 

As a business owner, there are three main factors to consider when upgrading your commercial lighting: 

-Light Quality
-Cost Effectiveness
-Environmental Concerns.

Upgrading from compact fluorescent light bulbs to LED lights for your office covers all three bases at once.

Light Quality – For starters, LED lighting gives off a whiter light than traditional bulbs, resulting in less strain to your eyes, and even enhancing your mood and your employees’ moods and productivity. LED lighting provides a clearer view of what you’re looking at, and makes everyone feel better!

Cost-Effectiveness – Ready to put a dent in your business’s bottom line? While the initial purchase of LED lighting is typically higher than that of traditional CFL’s, the lights pay for themselves over their lifetime. Example: an LED light would cost $99 to run for 50,000 hours while a CFL bulb would cost $160 to run for the same period AND needs to be replaced about five times during the process.

Environmental Concerns – Did you know the federal government (when it’s open lol) offers tax write-offs and incentives for businesses that lower their carbon footprint? Traditional CFL bulbs contain highly toxic mercury, while LED lighting contains no toxic chemicals or metals. With a market that’s rewarding you for going green, LED lighting benefits your business in more ways than one!

Victory Lights, Inc. can help you with all of your commercial lighting needs. Contact us today! 

Solar power has become increasingly popular in the last decade.  A lot of people have decided to take that leap and stop using power companies to light up their home. Instead, solar panels are installed on your roof or in a large open area near your home, and the sun is now your power company. An utterly renewable energy source that can cut your energy bill in half. But what exactly does using solar panels do for the environment? The list goes on and on, but we’ll just name a few key benefits for your today!

It’s renewable! As stated before, your getting your energy from the sun so there is no chance of you running out of power after the panels soaked up all the sun during the daytime. This means no fossil fuels are being used and your carbon footprint will shrink!

A significant reduction in greenhouse gases. No fuels are being burnt to create any source of energy in the home.

The sun’s energy is 100% free, whereas big corporations charge ridiculous amounts of money so that people can live comfortably. This saves the consumer money in the long run. It’s not an environmental benefit, but it’s a considerable benefit nonetheless.

Solar energy reduces respiratory and other related health issues. There are little to no air pollutants when it comes to solar power, so this saves your lungs as opposed to using coal or natural gas.

All in all, solar energy is becoming more popular for an excellent reason. It’s an expensive up, but it’s well worth the money spent to save the planet, and yourself, from harmful things lurking in our light switches. It’s time to go green, one solar panel at a time!

For many people, there isn’t anything more beautiful than the night sky. All those stars, constellations, even planets lighting up the sky like a gigantic Lite-Bright is a breathtaking sight. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t ever get to see that beautiful sky thanks to light pollution. Major cities keep lights on 24/7 365, and it completely drowns out a naturally lit up night sky. It seems almost hopeless to see the stars in a big city – that is until they discover dark sky lighting!

Dark sky light fixtures combat light pollution by containing the light it puts out. This means that all these specific fixtures have covers on the tops and sides of them as not to let the lights pour out and up into the sky. It is also a smart idea to install motion detectors for these lights and not a basic switch. This will ensure that no light is wasted if you forget to turn it off, as it will shut off on its own. It can also double as an alert when someone or something is near that part of the house. 

The effect light pollution has on us isn’t just the annoyance of not being able to see the stars at night, it can cause health problems as well. This applies to humans and wildlife, though it’s mostly animals that get the rougher end of this. Animals such as newly hatched sea turtles who get confused by the glowing artificial lights and can’t find their way to water. Or birds who collide with the source of the bright lights, or even other birds in their states of confusion. With humans, it can cause disorientation if someone has trouble seeing at night already. Take Las Vegas; for example, all the glowing neon can make a person’s head spin if they’re already squinting as is. It can also severely mess with a person’s sleep schedule! A lit up sky at night can cause our circadian rhythm to go out of whack and keep you up at night if you’re not fortunate enough to have blackout curtains. 

The International Dark-Sky Association is the group that certifies the fixtures deemed “dark-sky friendly” and will always include the IDA’s seal of approval upon purchase. If these types of fixtures were installed in major cities and parks, it would cause a humongous decrease in the light pollution put out. But as these lighting fixtures make their way more into the mainstream, you can make a difference by installing them into your home. Keep the night sky beautiful and turn down the brightness, become dark-sky friendly!

Going green has become more than a trend, it’s slowly becoming a way of life for many people. If you’re in the market to start building a new home and want to go about it the most environmentally friendly way possible, then you’ll find some useful information here. There are innovations in green building construction every day; here you will find 5 top tips to make sure you’re getting the most of an energy efficient home. 

1. Let’s start with the building blocks of the home; the wood used to create it all! One of the best options out there nowadays is a type of lumber called “Accoya Acetylated Wood.” This is a type of pine that goes through a process called acetylation which uses a combination of heat, pressure, and a strong vinegar to alter the hydroxyls in the pine into stable acetyl groups. Those hydroxyls are the reason wood can swell or shrink over time or due to extreme weather. The Accoya Acetylated Wood is much more resistant and can take a pretty severe beating and withhold it’s structure, whereas a natural piece of lumber with naturally occurring hydroxyls can not. 
2. Now, what about the roof? Well with green building construction, you can turn your roof into a home for solar panels, or turn it into a beautiful garden. Commonly known as “Green roofs,” this style of roofing lets the consumer go outside the box with standard home planning and bring literal life into the structure. This is a popular option for city living if allowed, as it brings that unique pop of green into an ordinarily grey area. 
3. Speaking of solar panels in the last tip, this is an essential and highly recommended tip in going green for your home. Solar panels give the consumer a renewable source of energy and also keeps the utility bills at all time lows. Though the initial cost of solar panel installs can be quite high, there are constant innovations beings made on how these panels are installed. There are also companies working on interchangeable solar paneling, meaning that if and when you decide to move, you can take your solar panels with you and continue to be green. 
4. Let’s shed some light on the subject of green home lighting! Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) provide a big punch in a tiny package. A light that can last up to twenty years, instantly turn on (no creepy flickering in the middle of the night here!), and never overheat, it’s a wonder why everyone doesn’t use LEDs already! These types of lights can also run solely on batteries, and even when plugged in use up minimal amounts of power. 
5. Last but not least, you’re going to want to take a shower and wash dishes at some point in your home (let’s hope you don’t wait too long), but imagine all that water you’ve wasted in the past. Well, high water bills will be a thing of the past once you begin recycling and filtering your water! Installing a rainwater collection system can do just that for you. Just like with solar paneling, this is a renewable source of energy as well since whenever it rains, that water is collected and filtered correctly, even the potable water. 

Going green can be a fun project and a crucial one as well. Learning about all the ways to help preserve the Earth brings us one step closer to saving it. If you’re considering construction on a new home, go green and go farther! 

Sources 1, 2

There have been many trends in home building lately, but one is starting to stand out more than the rest. As most know, building materials are probably the most crucial part of constructing any new building, and the trend lately has been using metal materials to build. Besides being a sturdy structure, building with metal has many more qualities. But it can also have some drawbacks too. If you’re on the fence about how to build your next project, check out these pros and cons of building a metal building.

PROS:

• The endurance of a metal building is by far the best quality it has. Especially in Florida where severe weather takes places every summer. Metal buildings are made to survive in any weather, hurricane or snow.
• Maintenance costs are low and easy to keep up with.
• Spend less time building and more time living! A metal home can be constructed in as little as three weeks. Frames are pre-made, so they’re a breeze to put together and complete a finished home.
• Nice to the environment. The materials used for the metal houses can be easily made from recyclable material, including but not limited to one of the best insulation systems a home can offer.
• Much more open floor plans. In metal buildings, there are no walls beside the exterior which allows for more ideas in creating rooms and areas within the building. This works excellent for buildings used as offices is something business related, not just for leisure.

CONS:

• Although the open floor plan gives plenty of room to create in, metal buildings are not the best option if you’re looking to build more stories onto the building. They stick more toward warehouse/barn style if you want a taller option, and can personalize to your liking in the interior.
• Unfortunately there is no customizing your framework for a metal building. The steel frames are already made and can’t be constructed into new forms.
• Metal buildings can withstand harsh weather, but there is a lingering threat of metal corrosion if exposed to more tropical climates. Though with the proper maintenance, this issue can be avoided and treated correctly.
• The price tag on a metal building is a little steep, but compared to the lifeline of the steel materials versus a typical building material like wood, it is well worth the cost.

Metal buildings are a trend that will stay with the times. If you’re tired of traditional homes and buildings, and the pros outweigh the cons for a specific situation, then give metal buildings a try!

Source

Are you the type to drive through a neighborhood and scoff at the sight of the same house over and over again? Do communities with the same visual design and assembly line styles make you want to scream for some originality? Do pre-made house plans bore you to tears? Well then maybe it’s time to break free from the cookie cutter homes and begin a new adventure, custom building your own home!

Having a new home is an exciting achievement in itself, but custom building your own home takes you to a whole new level. When it comes to designing your blueprints for your new home, you have to consider many things. Here you will find a few helpful tips when venturing into the world of customizing your new to-be-built home.

To start would be how many rooms will you need? This means every room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, living areas, hallways, etc. Utilize your space wisely! Do you want a small craft room or should you make it into a personal bathroom with a large tub? Do you want to have small sets of stairs in small lifts throughout the home, or add a whole new story? Do you have an outdoor pool and would you want to create a small pool room? Or if it’s cold where you live, would you want to have a small closet space near the front door for jackets and coats? Don’t sell your space short, and don’t cram too much into one spot.

Outlets are important! Use thoughtful planning when placing outlets in your custom home. Make them easily accessible, yet out of harm’s way (i.e., near any water sources). Also, utilize the natural light that can come through your home with the installation of various windows throughout your home.

The installation of all the “hardware” of your new custom built home is just as important as the visuals and functionality of it. The HVAC system in your custom home should be paid particular attention to and installed according to the surroundings. If a unit is not the proper size, this could cause issues in the central air and heating of the home and cause other problems to surface if not addressed immediately.

And the most important tip of all is, do what you want! This is your home; it’s custom built to fit your needs and personality and functions the way you want it to. A custom built home gives you the freedom to express yourself and live in something you helped create from the ground up!