Summer Energy Saving Tips for Your Home

Summer can be a brutal time for your residential electricity bill. Your air conditioning is usually one of the biggest culprits, but other everyday appliances and electronics also come into play, only escalating your bill even more. Allowing cold air to escape your home even in the slightest can make a big difference in your energy usage, as can simple things like using the oven on a daily basis.

Heating the oven and keeping your house cool on a daily basis are common examples of how your energy usage can easily fluctuate, but what else can you do to cut back on your electricity bill this summer?

Here are some tips to keep those balances down, your energy efficient, and your home safe.

1. Talk to your residential electrician about green upgrades- Everything from ceiling fans, low energy lighting, and whole house fans can work magic when it comes to reducing your energy consumption. Not only will it lower your bill, but it will make the energy you do use more efficient.

2. Use as much natural sunlight as possible- We can’t stress it enough! Turn those lights off when you’re not using them. Draw the curtains and blinds and use natural sunlight as much as you can.

3. Keep windows and doors shut when air is running- Air conditioners in the summer not only require a lot of energy to operate, but they are huge money drains as well. It costs a lot to keep your home cool, so if you want to see those electricity bill numbers drop, conserve your cool air as much as possible.

4. Replace window caulking- Replacing your window caulking is simple yet effective when it comes to keeping air inside your home during the summer. It’s worth the extra expense and project time.

5. Replace clogged air filters- If your air filters are clogged, your air conditioner has to work even harder, using much more energy to keep your home cool.

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June 27th, 2011 | Tags: , | No Comments »

5 Ways You Can Go Green with Your Home’s Electricity

Although the green movement has been around for quite a while now, more and more homeowners are just now catching on to ways they can jump on the green bandwagon. From grocery bags and recycling to using products that are kinder to the earth, we can all find ways to help the environment and live more eco-conscious lifestyles.

Electricity is obviously a huge area of concentration when it comes to going green, as we have options today that allow us to use less energy and to make the energy we do use far more efficient than it ever was in the past. If you’re looking into possible electrical upgrades for your home and you want to be kinder to the earth, here are some installations to consider.

Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans are great energy savers, they keep the air circulated so that the air in the room is fresh, and they are excellent decorative pieces as well.

Lighting Control: Control appliances throughout your home with wireless lighting controls. Timers, sensors, and dimmers all limit energy consumption by allowing you to adjust the levels of energy you use, and they are easy installation procedures that anyone can benefit from.

Low Energy Lighting: Say goodbye to 100 watt incandescent light bulbs and hello to low energy lighting options, such as the CFU (compact fluorescent units) and LED (light emitting diode) bulbs, both of which have their own energy-saving benefits. You won’t have to replace the bulbs for years and you’ll be saving a significant amount of energy while you’re at it.

Power Conditioners: These electrical devices help provide clean power to your electronics and offer noise filtration and surge protection.

Whole House Fans: These natural cooling whole house fans provide an excellent alternative to air conditioning and offer exceptional energy efficiency.

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June 20th, 2011 | Tags: , | No Comments »

Considering Motion Sensor Installation for Your Home?

If you’re considering adding motion sensors to your home, a Rochester electrician can help. During the research process, you’ve probably learned by now just how valuable a motion sensor can be for your residence. Also known as motion detectors, motion sensors provide your home with an extra element of safety.

They are designed to alert you when they sense any movement on your property, and they are also used in conjunction with things like floodlights, alarms, locks, and gates to activate or deactivate a device.

There are two types of motion sensors: passive and active infrared sensors. The infrared technology is used to sense heat from a living thing, and when it does, it activates the device, whether it’s a light, alarm, lock, etc.

Passive motion sensors are usually used inside your home and are linked to your security system or network. Active motion sensors use sound waves to detect any motion, and they are commonly used in homes and businesses. An example of an active motion sensor is a doorbell-detection sensor. When someone enters the doorway, the device triggers the doorbell sound.

Whichever kind of motion sensor you are considering for your residence, you’ll need the help of a professional electrician to properly install one for you. Although you may have help from your security professional to install the security system elements, a professional electrician can help you ensure that the motion sensor portion of the system is properly linked and that its wiring is safe and secure.

If you’re looking to protect your family’s safety or you want to make your home’s security features more convenient, motion sensor installation may be exactly what you need. Find out what a Rochester electrician can do for you today.

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June 13th, 2011 | Tags: | No Comments »

Electrical Safety Risks You Can Prevent Before Your Kids Even Tamper with Them

Parents everywhere are aware of the most common electrical safety risks in the home, but some of the simplest risks that can be prevented often cause serious injuries or even death year after year. It’s common for parents to not think twice when it comes to certain safety risks.

After all, they’ve heard the warnings over and over again, even since they were little kids. Just like anything else, though, when we’re drilled with the same information and the same warnings, we eventually tune everything out.

Just because you’ve heard the same old electrical safety warnings for years doesn’t mean it’s safe to let your guard down. Children get into everything. All it takes is one second for you to turn your head or leave the room, and you could have a potential electrical injury on your hands.

Whether your child is an infant or is attending middle school, here are some common electrical safety risks you can eliminate before they even have the chance to tamper with them.

Appliances plugged in near water—Talk about back to electrical safety basics! Something as simple as a blow dryer being plugged in near a bath tab that is filled up is a serious safety risk. When it comes to any electrical appliances or devices used in the bathroom, your best bet it to just unplug them whenever you can.

Exposed Wires or Outlets—If you have a baby, you’ve probably already went ahead and placed outlet protectors around your home, but another common risk is exposed wires. They are big tripping hazards, not to mention they can be tampered with by your children or your pets.

Old Fixtures—If you have old lighting fixtures or appliances with old wiring, they could be faulty and cause potential fires or even electrocution. Combat these possibilities by having your home inspected regularly for any electrical maintenance repairs that may be needed, and switch out older fixtures for newer ones.

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June 6th, 2011 | Tags: , | No Comments »

Homes Today May Not Be Able to Keep Up with Current Electrical Needs Presenting Unsafe Conditions

Webster, NY (June 1, 2001) –May was National Electrical Safety month, and Lon Lockwood Electric is celebrating it by providing a series of safety tips that homeowners should know. This is the fifth of six releases with helpful information, and it discusses an important topic: determining if a home can safely keep up with that person or family’s current needs.

Just 30 years ago, the average home only needed a 60 amp electrical service to function. Twenty years ago, homes began being upgraded to 100 amp electrical service. It was at this time that circuit breakers began becoming more and more common.

It’s also within these last 20 years that Americans became so power hungry. In fact, today’s air conditioning systems take more power than an entire home did 30 years ago. And many kitchens are now equipped with a number of receptacles capable of supplying more than 60 amps just to counter top appliances! Yet as this demand has increased, not many people have looked to increase their home’s electrical panel.

“Many people fill their homes with the latest electronics, like computers, massive televisions, and high-tech stereos. Yet these same people often have an old, outdated electrical panel! They’re plugging in thousands of dollars worth of electronics into a panel that may not be able to safely serve and protect them,” Lon Lockwood, owner of Lon Lockwood Electric, said. “It’s a potential disaster waiting to happen!”

A common sign that a home is drawing more electricity than its system can safely distribute is constant shorts or flickering lights.

Call us today to receive a free electrical safety inspection

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June 2nd, 2011 | Tags: , , | No Comments »