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Installing an Outdoor Wall Sconce

Bob meets Brad Owen the electrician who is installing exterior wall sconces in series. What is unique about the lights is they are fluorescent fixtures with a ballast, and fluorescent lights are very energy efficient. The electrician is connecting the fixture wiring with the house's field wiring. He connects hot to hot, neutral to neutral and ground to ground. This Lightolier fixture also has a very neat feature. It has a safety cable that holds the glass cover while replacing bulbs or servicing the fixture.

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Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom Shower Now Playing

Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom Shower

Installing an Outdoor Wall Sconce Now Playing

Installing an Outdoor Wall Sconce

Building a Community with Environmentally Friendly Materials Now Playing

Building a Community with Environmentally Friendly Materials

Clip Transcript For:

Installing an Outdoor Wall Sconce

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" You're installing these exterior fixtures that why do you have that many wires coming out of the box -- lights going on here we have the -- porch itself OK and we have three walls -- come down the -- OK so they're all in this series correct. Total of five. And what kind of a fixture we -- it this is. -- To analysis and still hold yes somewhat fluorescent bulb itself that's right that's that's this uses the new kind of club -- they're the that like the way to get to play a very heavily if you -- it's like a cast aluminum exterior light. And the advantage of these things as they left -- long time and -- energy's energy right and we'll say we'll go ahead and if that went up there. The blacks to the blacks and white lights. -- they needed to wire -- tightened up there end to lug around here last thing is to get the ground. -- was boxes and death. Now these Latin leader guys think of everything that I know at this little wires for its full safety cable right. Case today taking -- to save itself exactly we'll fall so that what you're replacing the bulb at any point you have to worry about. The actual lights that last part of it. Falling -- correct. Okay let's proceed to cable -- safety people and that bothered to."

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Combat Global Warming from Home

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. While it s easy to feel helpless against global warming, there are actually 8 simple things you can do at home to be part of the solution. Energy-saving fluorescent lighting has come a long way. There s a fluorescent bulb to fit almost any fixture inside and outside your home, and they re a good bet for lights that are used a lot because they last 10 times longer. If we all switched out 5 standard light bulbs for fluorescents, it would be like taking a million cars off the road for a year. Put on a sweater, set your thermostat just two degrees lower in winter and cut your carbon emissions by 9 percent. A programmable thermostat is a great energy saver, automatically lowering your heat when you re at work or asleep. Wrap your electric water heater in an insulation blanket and set it at 120 degrees. If it s time to replace your water heater, install a tankless unit for an endless supply of hot water at 40 percent savings over conventional tanks. Wash dishes and clothes only when the machines are full. When you buy an appliance, make sure it s Energy Star certified. And run it all with green power: Ask your utility company about buying your electricity from renewable sources, or visit the U.S. Department of Energy s green power web site. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Preparing for Demolition in a Historic Brownstone Apartment

Bob enters the Brownstone apartment to find more evidence of 1940s updates in this turn-of-the-century row house. Curved ceiling shapes, a built-in bar, and chopped-up space show layers that were added during the conversion of the original building. Bob meets up with his son, Chris Vila, and reviews the preparations for demolition, which include permits, shutoffs for all the gas, water, and electricity, and removal of moldings and fixtures from walls. Bob asks if any detailing from the original Brownstone remain. Chris says there is nothing -- no moldings, mantles, or ceiling details. Chris does show Bob the hardwood floors buried beneath layers of vinyl and linoleum flooring. The goal will be to peel back the layers of this 2,000-square-foot apartment until just the original shell and structure remain.

Energy-Wise Lighting Fixtures

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. We all know that switching to fluorescent lighting saves energy and money. But if it s such a good deal, why aren t we all doing it? One reason is the bad rap that fluorescent lighting has gotten from those old-style fixtures we all remember from schools and commercial buildings of decades past. T-12 type standard fixtures are infamous for humming, buzzing, flickering and giving an unflattering cast to everything they illuminate. Those older fixtures can be upgraded with an electronic ballast. They can also be replaced with the new t-8 type fluorescent fixtures that eliminate humming and flickering. T-8 type fixtures last just as long or longer because they weigh less and run cooler, and they save 40 percent on electricity. Installing them on timers or occupancy sensors saves even more energy, and that s very good for business. At home, a lighting upgrade is much simpler. Now you can find a compact fluorescent bulb to fit almost any fixture in your home. While they may take a few seconds to warm up, they produce more accurate color and less glare than standard bulbs, which reduces eye strain and headaches. A new generation compact fluorescent bulb will cost more than a regular incandescent bulb anywhere from $5 to $25. But each one can save you $100 in electricity and last up to 13 times longer. As if that weren t motivation enough, some utilities offer free light bulbs or rebates for homeowners who are willing to make the switch. Best of all, upgrading your lighting saves greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing just one 75-watt light bulb with an 18-watt compact fluorescent can keep one ton of carbon dioxide emissions and 20 pounds of sulfur oxide out of the atmosphere. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Energy Star Lighting Fixtures and Ceiling Fan

The ceiling fan is being installed in the Punta Gorda home. Its workbox must be firmly mounted to hold the ceiling fan in place. This house is Energy Star qualified, which means that, in addition to the insulation, windows, and building materials, the appliances are also Energy Star rated. Fluorescent bulbs are used in the fixtures to reduce energy use throughout the year. The burnished brass-look fixtures are from Sea Gull Lighting and are all Energy Star certified.