ledlights

A Few Facts about LED Lights for World Environment Day

Schedule Service

World Environment Day, the United Nation’s primary event to encourage awareness about environmental issues, is June 5th. The day, celebrated by over 143 countries around the world, is focused on outreach, advocacy, and education.

Since World Environment Day’s goals involve both educating people about environmental issues and promoting change, we can all celebrate this year by being exposed to new ways to help the planet. With that spirit of change and action in mind, in this post, we’re going to look at some of the benefits that come from using LED (light emitting diodes) bulbs in your home.

Not only are these bulbs more efficient and longer-lasting than other bulbs, but they are also safer for you and the environment. Today we’ll share some of the benefits of LED lights so you can ensure that you’re using them in your home and so you can help convince others of the importance of making this change.

Stop Taking Light Damage

nouvlightMany people know that incandescent bulbs are less efficient than LED or even CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs, but did you know that they also have health risks?

Incandescent bulbs can cause eye damage to the retina, which in extreme cases can lead to complete loss of vision.

As a result, if you’re using these bulbs it’s important to use a shade or decrease the brightness to avoid eye damage. In addition, both incandescent and CFL bulbs can give off UV rays, which can cause a number of health issues.

Avoiding Ultraviolet Light

healthUltraviolet light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is most commonly associated with the sun but can also be transmitted from waves or particles at different frequencies or wavelengths.

While some amount of UV light is good for you, too much can have harmful effects on the eyes, skin, circadian rhythm and immune system. As a result, it’s best to limit UV exposure, and the sun is really the only UV light that we should be around.

CFL bulbs give off varying amounts of UV rays. Even incandescent bulbs give off some UV rays, while LED bulbs give off very small amounts or no UV rays. Using bulbs with the lowest amount of UV rays is just one more way to help you and your family be a little healthier.

LED Bulbs are Mercury Free

nomercuryBoth incandescent and CFL bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, which is harmful to both the environment and people. In contrast, LED bulbs are mercury free. This is one more way that these bulbs are better for you and the planet.

In addition to containing mercury, incandescent bulbs waste a lot of energy, as 90% of their energy is released in the form of heat. While you might not mind this in the winter, it can make your home even more inefficient in the summer because of the increased pressure it puts on your cooling system.

Switching to LED bulbs is one easy way that you can make your home more environmentally friendly this World Environment Day. We’ll continue looking for ways to protect the environment and hope that you’ll do the same. If you have any questions or need any electrical upgrades, call us today at 608-470-3876 .

toiletetiquette

For The Unlucky Ones Who’ve Experienced Bad Toilet Etiquette

Schedule Service

Poor, unlucky friends- we at Cardinal Heating feel for you. We know your St. Patrick’s Day celebration was hindered by a terrible bathroom experience. That’s why we are putting out this information to let you, and everyone else, know that you can change your luck with public bathrooms by improving your toilet etiquette.

Not only does proper toilet etiquette improve your overall bathroom experience, but it can also prevent you from experiencing a plumbing disaster. Let’s look into some practical ways that you can improve your toilet etiquette today!

Maintaining a Clean Toilet

toiletcleaningThe simplest way to ensure you are using good toilet etiquette is to flush the toilet every time you use it and to wipe the seat down when you are done.

These two things are especially important in the context of public bathrooms. One way we've found to help us remember these important courtesies is with this fun little rhyme:

Even if you’re in a rush,
Please remember we all must flush.
And if you have a little leak,
Please be neat and wipe the seat.

Did we get that rhyme from an elementary school bathroom? Yes, we did. Has it stayed with us through the years and taught us a valuable lesson? Yes, it has! Now we hope it will stay with you as well.

Do You Need Repiping?

disposingNot only can toilet etiquette save you from encountering a dirty toilet in a public bathroom, but it can also help you prevent damage to your own toilet and piping system at home.

What some people don't realize is that if they are not careful about what they are flushing down their toilet, they could end up clogging it.

A clogged toilet may not sound like a serious situation, but in the case of more severe clogs, it could lead to extensive pipe damage and potentially thousands of dollars in repairs or repiping.

The only items that should ever be flushed down your toilet are solid and liquid human waste and toilet paper (in reasonable amounts, as an excess of toilet paper being clogged at once can also cause a clog).

You Can Prevent a Plumbing Emergency

plumbingemergencyWe understand, friends, that you may slip up and forget to flush the toilet once in a while, or you may accidentally drop something into the toilet that you shouldn't have.

You may even overindulge on a day like St. Patrick's Day and forget to aim for the toilet. When we are not careful about our toilet etiquette, it can lead to bigger problems and even a plumbing emergency.

So, don’t be bitter about the bad experience you had in a public (or maybe even a home) bathroom. We all make mistakes now and then. Just remember in the future to #keepyouraim, clean up after yourself, and always flush (but keep in mind that somethings shouldn’t be flushed away)! Don’t forget that if you find that you have a plumbing emergency in the Sun Prairie, WI area, you can always call Cardinal Heating at 608-470-3876 !