With all the bad weather we have been hammered with this winter, our electric power stations have been maxed out trying to keep up with the demand for electricity.  With the cold, another problem has been water pipes freezing at the electric generating stations causing them to have to shut down for repairs.  Long story short, over 55 million people in America this year have dealt with power shortages.  Either being rolling blackouts, or simply no power for days.  I have received multiple inquiries from customers wanting to know if there is an alternative means to keeping the electricity on in their home without using a gas-powered generator.  Their reasons for not being able to use a gas powered generator ranged from “I live in a HOA where generators are not allowed on the outside of our home and I can’t put it on the inside due to noise and fumes,” to “I don’t have any place outside to put the generator that guarantees it won’t be tampered with or stolen.”  Some of my customers that live in condos or town homes only have a balcony which really “limits them on space.”

Even in Texas, it can get chilly.  Having a properly heated home can mean the difference between a happy family and a cold one.  Thankfully, there are a few quick, inexpensive things you can do to make this winter more bearable.  Here are a few heating tips from local Dallas Electrician that can help you stay cozy this winter.

These are just a few of the ways you can warm up this winter and make the most of your home’s energy.  If you’re interested in learning more about ways to efficiently heat your house, or if you have other questions about general electric repair, give us a call and we’ll help you design the electrical plan that’s right for you.

Have heating tips you’d like to share with us? Post a comment or post on our Facebook page.

About ElectricMan Inc.

ElectricMan Inc. is one of Dallas’ most trusted electricians. Nick Schaeffer, Mr. ElectricMan himself, has quite the resume for a master electrician. He started the company by himself in 2004 and hasn’t looked back since! For more information about Electricman’s list of electrical repair services, please visit www.ElectricManInc.com

DC motors are electrical devices which draw electricity (direct current) and convert it into mechanical energy. They have many uses in today’s industries, even though alternating current is the preferred choice for mains power supply. They are especially useful for machines that need to be driven at variable speeds.

Between buying presents and decorating your home, the holidays can get expensive. Not to mention, your

Let's face it: stringing your house with thousands of additional holiday lights is going to get the meter running in overdrive. To help put this in perspective: Americans spend

When you're hosting loved ones over the holidays, you have more lights turned on throughout the house as guests fill up previously unused bedrooms. Offset this increase by limiting the amount of time that you keep the decorative lights on with a timer. These decorations may be festive and amp up the Christmas spirit, but you only need to leave them on for a few hours every night to enjoy them.

If you really want to set the mood, rely on candles and the fireplace to provide light as well. This small adjustment can make your home feel more intimate and ignite the holiday spirit in all of your guests. Just remember to follow the necessary

You're cooking for a horde of people when the family stops by for holiday meals. Between your electric stovetop and microwave, the wattage is going to be through the roof. To minimize costs, optimize the preheated setting of an oven.

Preheat your oven only when you are ready to use it and cook your dishes at the same time (if they need the same temperature) or in a row (from lowest to highest temperature). This will prevent wasting the energy needed to preheat the oven prior to cooking.

By following these five electric bill savings tips, you can prevent your debt from being out of control when you start the new year.

Looking for new ways to reduce your electricity bills? The Department of Energy is on the job. The agency is sponsoring research that could help decentralize the nation's electrical grid – instead of powering your electrical work from large generating stations, you could create your own electricity on-site by burning natural gas. As a bonus, the equipment could provide homeowners with heat energy as well. Read on to learn more about the Energy Department's program to spur the development of small generator technologies.

Advanced Electrical Work for Your Home

The projects are part of the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), which is spending $55 million to support research and development into various technologies that could strengthen the flexibility, dynamism and independence of the nation's energy production system. The generator-related programs, known as GENSETS, or GENerators for Small Electrical and Thermal Systems, are receiving $25 million of the funding.

In addition to the GENSETS projects, the Energy Department is also sponsoring a program called Transportation Energy Resources from Renewable Agriculture (TERRA), aimed at developing biofuels.

“The GENSETS and TERRA programs demonstrate ARPA-E’s unique approach to developing innovative ideas to advance energy technologies,” ARPA-E Director Dr. Ellen D. Williams said in a statement. “ARPA-E is pushing the boundaries of current energy technologies to create a more secure, sustainable and affordable American energy future.”

Waste Not, Want Not for Excess Heat

The GENSETS technologies being developed are similar to microtrigeneration systems, which use natural gas to create electricity and capture excess heat for hot water and general home heating. With one of these systems, you'd still have a gas bill to pay – but if you combined your equipment with rooftop solar panels, you could reduce the cost of powering your home electrical work to a minimum.

The generator technology already exists and has been deployed to a certain extent, but the Energy Department program hopes to further refine the devices and make them more efficient, reliable and affordable. Twelve different teams are working on generator projects to take the equipment as far as it can go to meet the needs of the homeowners of today and tomorrow, focusing variously on internal combustion engines, Stirling engines, micro-turbines and solid state devices. One technology could end up being a clear leader and push the others out of the field, or multiple engine types could be competitive and give consumers a choice in their home electrical generation system.

A Glimpse into the Future of Electricity

If you have any questions about how the Department of Energy ARPA-E program could affect your electrical work, contact a qualified electrician today.