Bob watches as the electricians put up a light fixture in the bedroom of the loft. The design of the fixture fits well in such a situation with high ceilings. Bob points out that once the fixtures are hung on the track, they will be much closer to the bed area, and can act as reading lamps. He notes that the set screws bite into the pipe to create a secure connection that will not slide out. Brendan feeds the flexible wire across the ceiling, down the pole and into the connector. With the black canopy concealing the wires, the lighting should look very good.

AJ Paron-Wildes from Bellacor.com joins Bob to talk about selecting lighting fixtures for the remodeled Victorian. She starts with the exterior flood lights and cap lights for the deck in a brushed copper finish. Under-deck lighting will light pathways at night. A seaside outdoor lantern uses dark-sky technology to focus the light onto surfaces and reduce stray light that spills out and contaminates dark hours. The open-plan kitchen and dining area requires a lighting mix. The island needs focused light for tasks but must match the decor. According to Paron-Wildes, overhead fixtures should be 2 1/2 to 3 feet from the surface and eliminate glare. The bathroom has a wall-mounted adjustable-arm lamp while ceiling-mounted fixtures light the hallway and mud room. A rubbed-bronze antique-look chandelier will provide ambience in the dining area and hang three feet above the table. If used in a hallway, the chandelier would hang eight to nine feet above the floor.

Track lighting is installed in the garage portion of the barn. Bob reviews the hardware, bulbs and mounting techniques used. New acrylic filters are used to reduce weight and allow better uplighting.

Bob talks with electrician John Schiavone about the new light fixture being installed on the porch. To install the fixture, first the electricity was turned off in the home. The grounding wire was attached before the other wires. The light fixture has a patina that fits the look of an older house. Once the glass bowl and the finial are added, it's all set.

Hubbarton Forge began as a small blacksmith's shop in a Vermont barn nearly 30 years ago. Each Hubbarton Forge lamp and light fixture is still hand forged in Castleton, Vermont. Using both traditional methods and the best applications of modern technology, the blacksmiths coax a piece of red-hot iron into the shape that will form a stem and leaf on a lamp. They twist and hammer the heated metal into various shapes and forms. Forging is hot and labor-intensive handwork and that is revealed in the artistry and value of each piece.

Bob shows the lighting layout for the kitchen and how it will integrate into the ceiling. The electrician, Steve Bradley, explains that the high-hat boxes can have insulation right up next to them because they have a thermal overload to detect heat to turn off the light if it gets too hot. Steve then shows Bob how to install the light fixture from the mounting to the wiring to the bulb.

Bob meets electrician Barry Driscoll, who is retrofitting an old gas light fixture into a modern electrical light fixture. They rewire the fixture from canopy to the socket.

There are many options for lighting fixtures when lighting the exterior of an old home. It is important to find something that is complementary to the age and style of the home. The two lighting fixtures on the home's porch ceiling are from Bellacor and feature clear glass domes that are appropriate for a house built in the 1920s. The house features elements of Dutch Colonial, American Colonial, gambrel, and arts and crafts styles. Some of the lights around the back of the house reflect the arts and crafts style.

Bob tours homes designed by Thomas Edison. The homes were built in Maine and shipped to Florida. The homes are surrounded by large gardens filled with bamboo and other indiginous plantings. Inside the home the decor has remained as the Edison's left it.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. After years of leftover science experiments, Thanksgiving dinners and midnight snacks, he s probably served you well, but old Mr. Fridge is adding more to your electric bill than he s worth. Your refrigerator hogs more electricity than almost anything else in your house. If it s an older model, it s using twice as much as a new Energy Star certified model would to keep the same milk cold. A new fridge is a big purchase, and there will be a small fee to dispose of the old one. But some electrical utilities are actually giving rebates of $150 or more to customers who replace their old refrigerators with new, energy-efficient models. To find out what s offered in your state, check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiencies, or D-S-I-R-E. Even without the rebate, buying an Energy Star certified refrigerator makes sense. A mid-size fridge more than 10 years old can cost $100 a year to run. Today s Energy Star compliant models cost half that much: some use less energy than a continuously running 75-watt light bulb. And with so many great new features like digital temperature control, French doors and even an alarm to tell you when the door s been left open a new fridge is a great investment that works for your family 24 hours a day! Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008