The Benefits of Natural Cooling Ceiling Fans

According to the website Eartheasy.com, air conditioners can use up to 1/6 of all of the energy used in the United States, and on hot summer days, they consume as much as 43% of the country’s peak power load. Air conditioners are huge electricity zappers, and if you’ve ever received a sky-high power bill for the months of July and August, then you know this first-hand. Air conditioning can account for 60-70% of the average home’s summertime power bill. Fortunately, air conditioners are not the only option you have for keeping your home comfortable when it’s steamy outside. Ceiling fans are a considerably less costly and more eco-friendly cooling option for your home.

Most 56-inch ceiling fans use only as much power as a standard 100-watt light bulb, making them an energy-efficient option. Smaller models use even less energy, such as a 36-inch ceiling fan, which would use only 55 watts of power. With a ceiling fan running, it can allow you to keep your thermostat at a higher temperature, therefore lowering your energy consumption while still keeping you cool. For every degree above 78 degrees that you raise the air conditioning thermostat in your home, you can save 3 to 5 percent on your total cooling cost. According to Progress Energy, a 1,500-square-foot house with air conditioning using two ceiling fans and raising the thermostat setting could save about $70 to $200 over a six-month cooling season.

Air conditioners are big energy wasters that release harmful chlorofluorocarbons into our air. So this year, make a commitment to install ceiling fans in your home so that you can raise your thermostat during the summer. Ceiling fans are an attractive and earth-friendly way to help keep your home (and your wallet) cool.

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March 28th, 2011 | No Comments »

Don’t Risk Safety by Installing Lighting on Your Own!

If you are familiar with electricity and how it works or you are very handy around the house, it may sound easy to tackle light installation for your home by yourself. Installing even the simplest electrical fixtures may sound tempting if you’re used to taking care of other tasks around the house, but before you take the plunge, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with.

Not all electrical light installations are the same, and there are many risks involved when you attempt to install them on your own, both during and after the installation process. During installation, you run serious risks of shock and electrocution if you don’t know what you’re doing, and if you install something incorrectly, risks for electrical fires can emerge due to poor or incorrect wiring.

Enlisting the help of a professional lighting technician from a reputable and qualified electric company can help eliminate those risks and will allow for an easier, quicker installation process. Whether you’re interested in installing interior lighting in your bedroom or living room, a professional electrician can ensure your lighting looks the way you want it to, while making sure your household is safe at the same time.

Interior lighting can transform your room from drab to fab by setting a comfortable, relaxing mood. It can help enhance the ambience of the area, and it can be customized to suit whatever purpose the room is used for. Additionally, you can utilize exterior lighting installation for an aesthetically pleasing look and for safety as well. The next time you think about installing any kind of lighting for your home, pass on the DIY process and let a professional electrician install it instead.

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March 21st, 2011 | Tags: , , | No Comments »

Going Green with Low Energy Lighting

Are you tired of high electric bills? There are many different ways that you can save money; you just need to know what to do. One of the best ways that you can save money and go green all at the same time is to use low energy lighting. It’s a great option and will help you do the environment some good, too. Today, conserving energy is so important, and this is a great way to do so without having to make major changes on your part. Take the time to look at low energy lighting upgrade options.

• Save Money with Low Energy Lighting

With the low lighting energy options, you will see significant savings on your electric bill. Anyone can appreciate this, since electricity and other utilities don’t seem to be getting any cheaper anytime soon, right? More money in our pocket is more money that we can spend toward other home upgrades! Take advantage of these options and save some cash. Depending on what lighting you plan on upgrading in your home, you can expect to make small but effective changes for only a few bucks.

• Low Energy Lighting is Good for the Environment

Another benefit of low energy lighting is that it is good for the environment. Everyone knows that energy supplies are limited, so we want to conserve them. That is why we try to make small contributions by turning lights off when we leave a room and turning the water off when we brush our teeth, right? The 21st century is all about implementing eco-friendly practices at home. Doing something simple like switching to low energy lighting will actually help you do your part for the environment, and it can make a huge difference across the globe. If everyone switched over to low energy lighting, the world would see a significant change in energy consumption.

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March 14th, 2011 | Tags: , | No Comments »

Tips for Checking Electrical Safety in Your Home

Electrical fires account for hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries each year. Fires can be a result of appliance defect, electrical system failure, and poor home maintenance. Thankfully, most of these situations are preventable if you check your home regularly for electrical safety.

General Guidelines

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, you should check your home every six months for electrical safety. They provide a complete checklist that will ensure you have checked all electrical components in your home, if you follow it accordingly.

Lighting

Lamps and installed light fixtures should be checked in every room. You need to ensure that all light fixtures have the right watt bulb installed. If not, you should replace all bulbs with the correct watt bulb. This will prevent overheating of the light fixture. According to the CPSC, if you are ever unsure, you should use a bulb that is 60 watts or less.

Portable Electric Heaters

Portable electric heaters are one of the most common causes of house fires in the winter. You should carefully check these heaters to ensure electrical safety in your home. First, you need to be sure that all portable heaters have the nationally-recognized testing laboratory seal on them. UL, ETL, and CSA are the most common. If you do not see any of these symbols on the portable heater, then you should immediately replace it.

You should also check all portable electric heaters for stability. You want to be sure that the heater will not tip over while in use. Heaters should also be at least three feet away from flammable objects, including combustibles, clothing, and drapes.

Electrical Cords

Problems with electrical cords are also a common cause of electrical fires. Cords should not be frayed or exposed, and they should not be placed under rugs or carpeting, or wrapped tightly around anything, including furniture. Cords should not be stapled or nailed to walls or baseboards. If any of these problems are present, either replace the cord or correct the problem.

Electrical safety is important for the well-being of your household. You should follow all guidelines and correct any issues immediately. Doing so can help you prevent the chances of an electrical fire in your home.

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March 7th, 2011 | Tags: , | No Comments »