In the past, most utility lines were strung overhead; in this day and age public utilities have gone underground. Everything from telephone lines, to cable television lines, to gas and power lines, and even sewer lines are buried at varying depths. It is important to handle these lines with care. A knick or a cut to any of these lines can disrupt your residential utility service.

In Colorado, smart digging means calling 811 before you start any outdoor job to have your utility lines located and marked. Digging without calling can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, harm you and those around you and potentially result in fines and repair costs. Calling 811 before every digging job ensures your underground utility lines are marked for free, and helps prevent undesired consequences. *

Though electrical lines may look harmless, high-voltage lines used to conduct electricity from one place to another can be hazardous or even deadly if a person accidentally comes into contact with one. Failing to call before you dig means that a piece of excavating equipment or a hand tool like a shovel or spade could inadvertently sever an electrical transmission line. This means any type of digging, whether you are planting trees and shrubs, re-anchoring your mailbox, or even placing landscaping edging has a potential hazard.

Depending on the size of the line that is cut, the damage might result in power loss to the home where the damage occurred and to other nearby homes and businesses. In a worst-case scenario, the line damaged could be a major transmission line serving a large area that would completely lose power until service is restored. Workers and homeowners in the vicinity of a severed electrical line are also at risk of electrocution if they touch the line itself or are in contact with a piece of metal equipment that touches an exposed electrical line.

* Taken from Xcel Energy, co811.org

The Seattle Mariners may have just upped their game when they retrofitted their clubhouse with an LED lighting strategy focused on intensifying the moods, energy levels and performance of their players.

In an article published in Architectural SSL, Stan Walerczyk highlights five core areas of our life where lighting effects human physiology and performance:

Circadian Rhythms — a case study by Ephesus Lighting, when the University of Phoenix replaced their metal halide fixtures with LEDs, they experienced a 75% reduction in energy consumption, a statistic that probably took the sting out of the initial investment. The long-term benefits of LED lighting (less maintenance, a reduced carbon footprint) offer less in the form of immediate gratification, but trickle their gifts throughout future generations.

You have seen it on the news and have probably noticed a neighbor or two making the transition to solar power. Is it right for you? Can you reduce your electric bill by relying on the sun to give you electricity? The short, quick answer is yes. Yes, you can make the move to solar power with the help of an experienced Beverly Hills electrician like those at The Electric Connection. Solar power is a feasible option to help offset your reliance on the power grid.

Solar power doesn’t look like it did 10 years ago. Today, the panels are mounted right on the roof of your home and can be purchased in a variety of styles and colors. The panels will be used to capture the sun’s rays, before being transformed into electricity and sent to your electric panel for you to power your home. And, you don’t have to worry about “running out” of electricity with your solar power system. You will remain connected to the main power grid as a backup plan.

You will want to discuss the size of your solar power system with your electrician. Beverly Hills residents who want to start out small and slowly work their way up to a bigger system capable of producing more electricity can certainly do that. There is a small learning curve as you learn to conserve energy, but it will ultimately save you quite a bit of money on your monthly electric bill. You don’t have to worry about spending a great deal of money up front to have one of the solar power systems installed. There are lease options and payment plans available through a number of different manufacturers. There is really no reason not to give solar power a try today. Give the team at The Electric Connection a call today to learn more about solar power.