News, Events and Blog
Top Summer Backyard Ideas
With every new year comes new trends, and with no surprise the same holds true for backyard design. Many homeowners revamped their backyard spaces during the pandemic, focusing on creating a safe and serene space for friends and family to spend time together. This year’s trends are centered around designing relaxing spaces for not only your guests, but simply for yourself to enjoy as well. So, if you are looking to keep your backyard space up to date, here are some easy to implement design trends for the perfect outdoor escape. Soothing Water Features: The tranquil sound of flowing water enhances the ambience of any backyard landscape. Adding in a decorative fountain or a backyard koi pond is a great way to create a peaceful outdoor space. If you are looking for a way to cool off on a hot day, adding a plunge pool is a low maintenance trending option to think about. LED String Lights: The incorporation of LED string lights is the best way to ensure that your outdoor space can be utilized at all hours of the day. Examples range from trendy fairy lights to sleek LED string cube lights. These lights are easy to install, since they can be hung along pergolas, fences, trees, and more. Natural Walkways: There is no better way to keep your lawn protected from damaging foot traffic than to add a clear walkway leading through your backyard space. Walkways are very easy to make, using simple materials like stone, brick, or wood to fit the style of your yard. With the addition of bollard lights or bamboo wind chimes along the pathway, you can easily add a touch of elegant ambiance to your backyard. Small Outdoor Features: Just because your backyard is lacking space does not mean you can’t enjoy all of the same features larger backyards have. There are many appealing designs for small outdoor pools, as well as many functional designs for small outdoor kitchens. Smaller seating areas for guests are also achievable with the use of patio chairs with a round outdoor coffee table in the center. Sustainable Design: As a push for more eco-friendly homeowning practices grows, sustainable backyard designs continue to increase in popularity. Adding a vertical garden has become a trending way to grow fruits and vegetables without using large amounts of water. Outside of vertical gardening, drought tolerant plants have also grown in demand, seeing as they require less water to flourish. Elements of hardscape have also increased in usage, like the addition of stone patios and walkways.
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How to Prepare for Hurricane Season
Statista reports that the average number of hurricanes that can occur within a year fall between 40 to 60 hurricanes. We’re all aware that hurricanes are powerful and unpredictable natural phenomenon’s that can cause extensive damage and pose significant risks to life itself. Therefore, it is crucial to be well-prepared and informed to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones. Let’s dive into our Top Safety Tips essential for navigating any storm and minimizing potential dangers. Tip #1: STAY INFORMED One of the most crucial aspects of hurricane preparedness is to stay informed about the latest updates and warnings. Keep a close eye on local news channels, radio broadcasts, and official weather websites for updates on the storm's path, intensity, and evacuation orders. Sign up for emergency alerts on your mobile devices and download relevant apps that provide real-time information during emergencies. For additional resources on storms and hurricanes, we recommend visiting SECOORAfor trustworthy Hurricane data and tracking tools. Tip #2: CREATE AN EMERGENCY KIT Prepare an emergency kit well in advance to ensure you have essential supplies during and after a hurricane or tropical storm. The kit should include items such as non-perishable food, drinking water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, medications, extra clothes, blankets, important documents, cash, and a portable phone charger. Keep the kit in an easily accessible location and ensure it is regularly updated and replenished. For power outages during a storm or hurricane, you can find our versatile 2-in-1 power failure nightlight/flashlight here. Tip #3: DEVELOP AN EVACUATION PLAN If you live in an area prone to hurricanes or near the coastline, it is crucial to have a well-thought-out evacuation plan. Determine the safest evacuation route, identify nearby shelters, and familiarize yourself with emergency protocols. Discuss the plan with your family members or roommates and ensure everyone knows what to do and where to go in case of an evacuation order. Tip #4: SECURE YOUR PROPERTY Before a hurricane approaches, take measures to secure your property and reduce potential damage. Trim trees and remove any dead branches or loose objects that could become hazardous in high winds. Reinforce windows and doors with storm shutters or plywood. Secure outdoor furniture, grills, and other items that could become projectiles during the storm. If you have a generator, ensure it is in proper working condition and follow all safety guidelines. Tip #5: PROTECT IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS Make digital or physical copies of important documents such as identification cards, insurance policies, medical records, and passports. Store them in a waterproof container or upload them to a secure cloud storage platform. This will help you recover and file necessary claims in case of damage or loss during the hurricane. Tip #6: STAY INDOORS AND SEEK SHELTER During the storm, it is vital to stay indoors and seek shelter in a safe location. Stay away from windows, skylights, and glass doors that can shatter due to high winds. Identify a small interior room or a basement as your safe space and bring your emergency kit with you. If you live in a flood-prone area, be prepared to move to higher ground if necessary. Tip #7: BE CAUTIOUS AFTER THE STORM After the hurricane has passed, exercise caution when venturing outside. Be mindful of downed power lines, broken glass, debris, and potential hazards. Avoid flooded areas and do not attempt to drive through standing water, as it may be deeper than it appears. Listen to local authorities for guidance and updates on the safety of the area. By following these hurricane and tropical storm safety tips, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with these powerful storms. Again, let’s remember to: stay informed, create an emergency kit, develop an evacuation plan, secure your property, protect important documents, seek shelter, and exercise caution after the storm. Always prioritize your safety and the well-being of your loved ones. Being prepared can make all the difference in ensuring you weather the storm as safely as possible.
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Growing Plants With LED Lights
Turning on a light may seem like an easy task when growing plants but what if it can be made even easier? Well, low-energy lighting can. Gardening enthusiasts from all over have been switching to LED lights as part of their gardening routine for obvious reasons — energy efficiency, longevity and a great deal more versatility.
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Energy Star and Koda Teaming Up to Make an Impact on Earth Day and Beyond
Koda have saved an estimated 135,888,237 watts of energy since we started in 2019, by helping consumers make the switch from traditional incandescent light bulbs to LED.
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What are Watts? Energy Consumption Explained
So if watts are the energy consumed in a second, then how do they relate to the energy units you see on a power bill? It's simple. If a single watt is a statement of energy consumed in a second, then to calculate the bill, power companies calculate the number of watts consumed by your entire home over the course of an hour. Since the average customer uses more than 1,000 watts per hour and the cost of that much energy is typically very low, it is usually the basic unit of measurement on a power bill. That's why your LED ceiling fixtures, freezers, and other Energy Star compliant appliances list their annual and monthly consumption numbers in kWh.
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What is CRI? Color Rendering Index Explained
Are you looking for new lighting for your family room or kitchen? Perhaps you want to spruce up your lawn for nighttime use? Regardless of what type of lighting you're looking for, you'll probably want to understand which CRI you need. Use this guide to answer the question you're inevitably asking: "what is CRI?"
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What are Lumens in LED Lighting?
Lumens are the internationally recognized measure of brightness, and one lumen is supposed to be equivalent to the light from one candela at a solid angle. That means, basically, each lumen is one candle power of direct light. Since the brightness of the bulb is the important part of buying one, a lumens chart is a lot more universally useful than a wattage chart. It lets you compare all these factors to make the best lighting choice for any room
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Koda Color Temperature
If you have ever noticed the difference in the overall warmth of light between two different sources even when the temperature of the room is the same, you've noticed differences in color temperature. It's usually quite obvious when you look at a natural daylight LED simulating versus a white light fixture. White light is cooler than the slightly yellow light of the sun. If a bulb emits full spectrum light, the color temperature will still affect whether that light appears to shift more toward yellow or toward blue.
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Easy DIY Home Improvements to Make Through Lighting
Many homeowners dream of starting a DIY home improvement project to change their home’s look and add value to it. Unfortunately, several homeowners abandon home projects because many of them require funding, time, and effort. However, you don’t need to completely revamp a room to make it look different. Subtle changes can breathe new life into a room. Sometimes, all it takes is to change your current lighting fixtures to create a small yet notable difference.
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