When you own a home, it’s easy for household expenses to spiral out of control. Every year, the average homeowner is in the unenviable position of spending thousands of dollars on owning and maintaining a home- and that’s just when everything is going well! If an emergency hits, many homeowners have to make sacrifices they can ill afford just to keep the home up and running. The best strategy to avoid disaster is to work on cutting down the everyday household expenses associated with owning a home.

So where does the money really go? On average, American homeowners spend about 34 percent of their income on home expenses. Paying for the house itself, of course, is the largest chunk of that expenditure, but does it surprise you to know that utilities make up the next largest amount? Most Americans spend about seven percent of their income on utilities; that’s more than what they spend on entertainment, clothing for the family and even health care! Obviously, that’s an area where it makes sense to find ways to scale back. If you live in Texas, it’s even more important than it is for people in other states as Texas electricity rates are 30 percent higher than rates elsewhere.

To save money on electricity, you need to understand it. Electric companies measure energy usage in kWh, which is a measurement of the hours you spend using 1000 watts. By lowering your kWh, you will, of course, lower your electricity cost, but where do all those kilowatt-hours go? Appliances can be huge energy hogs but so can game systems, televisions and computers. Older homes are often ill-equipped to handle the energy demands of a modern lifestyle, and this can be not only costly but dangerous, as faulty electrical systems can lead to house fires. Modernizing your home can save on more than just household expenses- it might also save your life.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to save on energy (and its associated costs). If your home is more than 20 years old, get your electrical system checked out by a professional to determine if you need any upgrades. Buy ENERGY STAR compliant appliances whenever possible, and turn off anything you’re not using, from lights and appliances to your Xbox 360.

Are you ready to lower your household expenses? It helps to find a company such as ElectricMan, committed to providing low-cost electrical services without sacrificing high-quality service. A family owned business, we offer quality electrical services, and we only employ professional, licensed, certified electricians. And we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it’s a general electrical repair or an electrical emergency, ElectricMan has you covered! Visit the ElectricMan website to learn more, or connect with our online community on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus.

Over the last several years, a variety of electric cars have come to market that provide consumers with an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to your standard gasoline powered vehicle. If all of this is true, why haven’t they caught on? One of the biggest reasons why electric cars have been accepted so slowly is because many people believe a wide variety of myths and misconceptions about how the vehicles work. Here are a few of the most common misconceptions that are encountered by your electrician in Santa Monica.

They Don’t Go Far

Most people view electric vehicles as a limited range, low-power option to their traditional vehicle. Although this could have once been true, it is not always the case today. With the current advancements in battery technologies, electric vehicles can go fairly far distances. Because most U.S. workers drive about 40 miles each day, an electric-only car can be a viable alternative for their driving.

They Aren’t Actually Green

Many people believe that electric cars are just as polluting as their gas-powerd competitors. Although electric vehicles will have a certain level of emissions, they are much lower than even the most efficient gasoline and diesel competitors.

Batteries Are Dangerous

Many people believe that the batteries used in electric cars are dangerous, toxic or just environmentally unfriendly. This is typically due to the fact that most people just aren’t all that familiar with electric vehicles and the batteries that they use within them. Although some battery chemicals can be hazardous, it is very rare that these chemicals ever escape into the environment. To make this even better, most newer batteries can be recycled at a rate of around 99 percent.

If you are considering an electric car, give us a call at The Electric Connection to talk about your options for electric vehicle charging stations and other power necessities to ensure that you can always charge your vehicle. You can also learn more at visit The Electric Connection (Click Here) .

Summer is not typically a season we need to worry very much about huge power outages. However, this is a good time of the year to consider what your generator needs are, before you actually do need it in the winter time. Homeowners in the Midwest are subjected to cold weather and winter storms on a yearly basis, which is made worse when severe weather knocks the power out.

Many homeowners might rely on a portable generator, but this might actually be insufficient for all the needs of your home. Additionally, they only function for a limited amount of time. For this reason, we highly recommend the installation of a whole-house standby generator.

Comfort: When winter does roll around again next year, you’ll want a reliable heating system. But most heaters won’t function with a complete loss of power—not even natural gas heaters as most require an electrical ignition these days. Huge power outages typically happen during extremely cold weather. The right standby generator can make sure that your heater is able to do its job, keeping you and your family warm.

Safety: Does anyone in your home rely on electrically powered devices for some type of medical condition? If so, it’s essential to have an effective standby generator. Should you need electricity for any medical reasons, it’s time to inquire about a whole-house standby generator.

Portable Generators are Insufficient: As we mentioned briefly above, portable generators are often insufficient for all the needs of your home. This type of system can be fine for a small camping trip, or even to keep in your car in case of emergency. But they are not designed to power an entire home, and won’t last long enough if you try to use it for such purposes.

Peace of Mind: This is perhaps the biggest benefit of having a standby generator installed. Even if you never face a significant power outage in your home, you’ll always know that you are prepared should one occur.

MyLEDLightingGuide.com’s

Each kit measures 6.8″ L x 4.9″ W x 1.5″ H and weighs about 1.5 lbs. These lights come in 100-277 (Standard) | 347-480 (High Voltage), and can be installed in environments ranging from -30°C to +45°C. Three color temperatures are available: 4000K | 4500K | 5000K (Standard). MyLEDLightingGuide stocks 5000K, but can order in 4000K or 4500K.

 

These retrofit kits are specifically designed for smaller fixtures that have bulbs up to 400W. Three models are available to match the right output with your application. These lights fit well into wall packs, highbays, parking lot lights, canopy lights, low bay lights, flood lights. In fact, the only limitation is the fixture itself.

 

 

2 models make up the Large Series of LED Retrofit Kits, the 150W and 200W. These lights are powerful enough to retrofit and replace Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium bulbs all the way to 400W-750W. These lights are designed to provide more than the normal 400W retrofit replacement kits. There are times when more light is needed, and these kits were designed to provide more light than our normal retrofit kits designed to replace 400W Metal Halide

 

 

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With over 1 million homes in the Dallas area over 20 years old, older home electrical safety is a major concern that should be assessed by a licensed Dallas electrician. Many homes in the 70’s and 80’s were built with electrical wiring and breaker panels that have been known to be a fire and electrical shock hazards. If you live in one of these older homes, and it has not been updated, it is very important that you have a licensed Dallas electrician come out and take a look at the electrical system in your home, to ensure your family’s safety.