What better way to celebrate Independence Day than to do so in Virginia, one of the first colonies to create talks of revolution against the British? Virginia had a huge rule in the American Revolution. In fact, our first president of the United States, George Washington, was from Virginia! Thomas Jefferson helped expressed reason for colonial independence from Great Britain by writing the Declaration of Independence. The last major battle of the Revolutionary War was fought in Yorktown, Virginia and that victory led to the end of the war.

Virginians have a lot to be proud about for their involvement in the American Revolution, so you know we love to celebrate July 4th big! Our fireworks are always over-the-top and our parades are the best in the country. If you’re planning to celebrate big this Independence Day, consider these activities to do the weekend of July 4th. Make this Independence Day a day to remember!

The price of electricity seems to be inexorably going up and so I want to present some money saving electrical tips, because statistics from the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA.gov) indicate that the average cost of electricity has risen again in 2011 to 11.47 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), from 11.2 in 2010 with an average monthly consumption per American family of 908 kWh. That means that the average family in the United States is spending $107.14 a month, or $1285.68 a year on electricity.

This is clearly a very large amount, and so it is important to consider ways that a family (or a business) can save money by conserving energy and being more energy efficient.

By far the biggest percentage of electricity use in the average home is for air cooling, with 17.9% on average of all the electricity in the average US home being spent on air conditioning.

The way that you would check for this is with the SEER Rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) which is now printed on virtually all air conditioners. A unit that is only rated as an 8 on this scale uses TWICE as much electricity as a 16 SEER unit, for the exact same cooling level. So potentially there are big savings to be made without even impacting on how often you use the units, simply by actually implementing these electrical tips in your home.

The second biggest consumer of electricity in the home is lighting at 15.3%, so also consider:

Between air conditioning and lighting these cover about a third of all the electricity used in your home every year, and so by making changes in these areas, and implementing the changes I have described in these money saving electrical tips, it is possible to make big savings on the $419 you are currently spending (a third of the total yearly spend of $1258).

Radiant heated driveways have become a very popular option for homeowners across the Midwest and east coast, where winter temperatures often present quite the challenge to homeowners with the snow and ice that they bring. Can you imagine never having to shovel snow off your driveway again?

Imagine the convenience! True, you won’t be able to claim a “snow day” to get out of going to work, but at least you can leave your house on a whim. But what exactly are heated driveways, and how do they work? Will you need to have maintenance done on them? Keep reading to learn more.

Driveway heating systems use radiant heating technology to warm concrete, asphalt, pavers, and various other floor materials—whatever your driveway is made of a heating system can benefit you. The difference is, the installation of a driveway heating system is much easier and less invasive than a typical radiant hydronic heating system.

You still certainly need a professional to install the system, and it does require the driveway to be laid down after the installation of the heating system, but we’re happy to talk to you about your options!

Also called snow melting systems, driveway heating systems uses a sensor to detect moisture, which signals a controller to supply power to the heating cable, which then warms the driveway. This prevents snow and ice from even beginning to accumulate, removing the inconvenience for you while you sleep or otherwise enjoy being indoors out of the elements!

Snow melting systems have very, very few components. It’s true that age and natural wear and tear may eventually necessitate a repair or eventual upgrade someday. However, these energy-efficient systems are relatively maintenance free. Still though, it would be wise to have our technicians check out your system on perhaps an annual basis—before winter—just to ensure everything is functioning as it should.

We realize there are a lot of different Des Moines electricians.  However, we want you to understand what sets us apart.  Our electricians can give you an upfront price right on the job site.  That way you know exactly what the job will cost before the work begins.  We give you a set price to work within your budget so you have peace of mind.  If the job takes longer than expected it will be no additional cost for you.  When our electricians arrive at your home they will greet you with a warm smile and friendly handshake.  They are professional and courteous every step of the way.  We always work to State and National Electrical Codes so you know the job will be completed to code. Our staff is familiar with the Des Moines electrical inspectors and have a quality relationship with them built on trust and professionalism.

Is your home or property not up to code?  Give us a call and we can help.  One of our professionals can perform a minimum code update or rewire your entire home.  We can add new circuits, dedicated circuits, GFCI installations, ground an outlet, and much much more.  Maybe you want something more aesthetic?  We install LED under cabinet lighting in a home virtual everyday.  This task is a highly requested item.  We also add recessed lighting.  Recessed lighting can add general illumination or accent a wall or nich.

Have a rental property in Des Moines?  Our company handles a lot of calls for landlords needing electrical items brought up to code or repaired.  Our certified electricians are on call offering 24 hour servicing for those unexpected emergencies. We can perform a code update, panel replacement, ground an outlet, or rewire your property.  No job is to big or to small.