Some people have complained that California is overregulated and tied up in red string. But a rising national green consciousness validates one aspect of California regulation: product safety.  In 1986, Californians voted into law Proposition 65: The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act.  Prop 65, as it is better known, requires businesses to inform the state’s public about significant amounts of toxic chemicals in products purchased for the home and workplace or released into the environment.  The EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) annually publishes an updated list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects.  Prop 65 also forbids the release of these chemicals into sources of drinking water.  Businesses are required to note the amounts used and post warnings at sites and on products.  It was a proposition that anticipated such product safety alarm triggers as last year’s consumer fears about toys manufactured in China containing lead paint.

By law, 1STOPLighting, Amazon and other lighting merchants are required to give the Prop 65 warning for products that have lead content, namely crystal products. Many manufacturers use lead crystal for chandeliers.  In the manufacturing process, they add lead oxide to molten glass to produce a product with higher brilliance.  Other common things like Christmas tree lights contain lead in their PVC insulation.  For the public, lead exposure may hinder a child’s cognitive development and other health problems. But adults, not children, are responsible for the installation, cleaning and disposal of these materials.  Please wear gloves or wash your hands after handling these products.

Product Safety isn’t just a matter of allowing consumers to make informed decisions about their health. In a larger green context, your personal health belongs to a larger exposure chain.  Chemical Body Burden is the accumulation of synthetic chemicals and metals in individual bodies.More...

The funny thing about the ability to build structures like bridges, ships and cars is that they may all fall apart from rust. It won’t be now while the steel is shining and cars are passing through at 50 miles per hour. It will happen after a long, slow decline, after the bolts and screws have lost their true material make-up. What happens to iron when it meets oxygen? It degrades over time and fails you.

So let’s focus in on the most important structure in people’s lives—their homes. Speaking at a foundational level, homes located in moderate weather conditions have a lesser amount of worries about wear and tear caused from natural elements. But those located in higher humidity zones like the coast have concerns over the longevity of individual parts. The main purpose of this blog is to address the possible solutions homeowners can implement to prolong the life of an outdoor light fixture from rusting and also save time, money and the environment. More...

How Important Are Outdoor Fixtures?

Outdoor fixtures could be just as important as interior fixtures. Not only will they highlight your front and back yard space, but they will let you enjoy these outside spaces to its fullest. Exterior fixtures also help provide general and task lighting even before you enter your home. Many times outdoor fixtures get more use than interior fixtures because they stay on over night. For this reason, it is encouraged that you use energy efficient fixtures.

Often times, energy efficient fixtures have the stigma of being non-decorative and utilitarian, but the truth is that energy efficient outdoor lighting has come a long way. With the improvement of compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), lighting manufacturers are now creating beautiful fixtures that are not only decorative but also conserve energy. When buying outdoor lighting fixtures look for the Energy Star logo, this will ensure that you are getting a higher quality of product.

Some of the benefits that are included with Energy Star fixtures that are normally not included with non-Energy Star fixtures:

The bottom line is that today it is possible to keep your home decor while  helping to conserve the environment. Improve your home's look by changing out your older inefficient fixtures with one of our Energy Star certified decorative outdoor fixtures.