We all know that switching off the lights when not in use is a good thing; but we often leave the lights on even when we leave a room or aren’t using a particular space. This can result in an increase in our utility bills in the long term.

In many urban houses, electricity is wasted more than it is used. There are a number of devices on the market today that save a considerable amount of energy. Installing these controls would help in decreasing your bill in a significant way. Here are some of the devices that help save energy in your home:

These devices are largely used for security lighting installation. They detect movement and will switch on the lights connected to the system. They can be installed on the porch as well as the indoor spaces of your home. Installing different types of security lights in the outdoor and indoor areas of your home can be expensive.

However, installing motion detectors on your lawn or on floodlights directed towards your porch will add to the security of your property and help save electricity as well. The lights won’t consume an excess amount of energy and will be switched on only when any motion is detected. They can be customized to be turned off during the daytime.

LED lights are up to 80% more energy-efficient when compared to traditional lighting. The latter generate heat which results in energy-loss. However, in the case of LED lights, only around 5% of the energy gets converted into heat and more than 95% is converted into light. They are environment-friendly and an 84 watt fluorescent bulb can be replaced with a 34 watt LED and will emit the same amount of light. While the upfront cost of LED bulbs is higher than that of halogen or fluorescent bulbs, they can last for up to 50,000 hours and provide value in the long term.

This is a more technologically sophisticated version of motion detectors. These sensors are specially designed for indoor spaces. They turn on the lights automatically when someone enters the room, and turn them off when they leave. Ultrasonic sensors can pick up sounds and detect if someone is in the room; they trigger the lighting system in the room. But these sensors aren’t of much use in quiet environments. Infrared sensors are useful in these settings as they detect both – body heat as well as movement.

These devices are installed in areas such as basements, where artificial light is needed and there is less of ambient light. These sensors turn off the lights when they detect daylight and automatically turn them on when it gets dark; this saves a lot of energy. Many of these products can be customized to your needs. You can change the level of brightness at which the lights get switched off and on. These technologically advanced devices add to the energy-efficiency of your property.

People opt for an electric panel upgrade for many reasons, many of them linked to the increasing electrical demands of modern households. In today’s world, we need more power than ever as the devices we use become more sophisticated. With the growing importance of the technology around us, having an electrical panel that can support it all is critical. Beyond maintaining the standards of living we desire for ourselves and our loved ones, an electric panel upgrade is also necessary when it comes to safety.

Find the best in outdoor lighting, as well as fabulous light fixtures for the kitchen and bath.  Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom to view outstanding arrivals to welcome the new season.

From kitchen island light fixtures to mini-chandelier lighting, there is something for everyone with stupendous seasonal savings on Artcraft Lighting…

Enriching the Kitchen with lighted pot racks that are functional, beautifying and surprisingly affordable.  Don’t miss Artcraft’s  “Contessa” collection!

Reach for the Stars and add a little contemporary flair with new collections including Artcraft’s “Eclipse,” “Aquarius,” Aurora,” “Rocket,” and “Shuttle” series.

Enjoy Time-honored Design and traditional elegance with Artcraft’s “Heritage” collection featuring outdoor lighting superbly finished in dark oil rubbed bronze.

Treat Yourself to a Little Romance with the latest mini-chandelier lighting fixtures perfect for powder rooms, bedrooms or small foyer areas.  Especially attractive additions include the “New Castle” collection from Artcraft.

Meet the Latest Technological Turn Ons with Artcraft’s LED “Radiance” collection of Energy Smart bath vanity lights. Also brilliant are Energy Star ceiling fixtures in Artcraft’s “San Diego” collection and Energy Smart chandeliers and island light fixtures featured in the “Berkeley” collection.

Artcraft has set the standard for quality lighting featuring hand applied finishes and distinguished glassware for nearly fifty years. The chandeliers are breathtaking and styles are available in a range of sizes, including mini-chandeliers and pendant lamps, to accommodate home decorating schemes from cozy corners to master bedroom suites.

Whether you need to update the light fixtures in your kitchen with new island light fixtures or brighten a gloomy nook with mini-chandeliers, you will always find a complete selection of home lighting and accessories at Capitol Lighting.

Revere the Dark Sky and Welcome the Fall Season with Wisdom and Light

Fun Fact: Certain municipalities throughout the United States have passed laws and ordinances requiring outdoor lighting fixtures on newly constructed homes be “Dark Sky” compliant. These ordinances are intended to protect our view of the nighttime sky from being obscured by “light pollution” inherent in poor artificial lighting design.

Light emitted from Dark Sky compliant fixtures is shielded to purposely focus illumination in a downward direction over designated areas where it is needed. Dark Sky compliant lighting also leads to energy savings. Whereas an outdoor sconce with openings on the top and the bottom may call for a 100-watt bulb, you may switch to a 40-watt bulb in a Dark Sky fixture that emits light only from the bottom for similar lighting effects.

Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom for more information on the latest outdoor lighting applications.  Enjoy promotional discounts on innovative designs from Artcraft Lighting.

Not to be missed-Artcraft’s stately outdoor post lamps in the “Aspen,” ”Denver,” and “Seattle” collections.  Your home will stand out with class and style, while respectfully illuminating your environment for safety and security.

For great value and top quality designs in outdoor lighting, you can count on Artcraft. Capitol Lighting is proud to showcase outstanding new designs from Artcraft Lighting.

By Spencer Cutright

Crowds are packing amusements parks this summer as they look to let out their inner adrenaline junkie. With more than 400 amusement parks and 786 roller coasters in the U.S., there are plenty of rides to choose from. Mr. Electric® presents our favorite list of the top five roller coasters with gut-wrenching drops, jaw-dropping loops and stomach turning speeds that are sure to give surge to your summer.

This menacing roller coaster in Jackson, New Jersey at Six Flags Great Adventure, is not only the world’s tallest roller coaster, but also the world’s second fastest. Riders are launched at 128 miles per hour and reach a height of 456 feet before plunging back down to ground level.

Featuring the world’s largest loop, this Six Flags Magic Mountain coaster in Valenica, California catapults riders at 66 miles per hour before being sent into a massive 160-foot loop.

This high adrenaline coaster is packed with twist, turns and loops. Located at Sig Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas, riders reach top speeds of 70 miles per hour and must endure a 145-foot loop, a cobra roll, two corkscrews and even a zero gravity roll.

The first roller coaster to ever use floorless trains, this Busch Gardens Williamsburg coaster features two Immelmann loops, two vertical drops and a splashdown. The coaster also reaches a top height of 2,005 feet and a top speed of 71 miles per hour.

Located at the world famous Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, this coaster sends riders on a terrifying 300 foot drop, two tunnels, three overbanked turns and reaches speeds up to 93 miles per hour.

We hope you have an electrifying time and enjoy these rides as much as we do. As always, remember to call on your friendly neighborhood Mr. Electric for any summer electrical needs.

The electrical system in a home is incredibly complex, and it can fall prey to a number of different repair needs. Although it’s tempting to try to fix what may seem like “little” electric problems using a few tools like a pair of pliers and electricians’ tape, you should avoid this “do-it-yourself” temptation at all costs. The power coursing through the circuits in your home could cause high voltage shocks and or lead to electrical fires. Only entrust the repair work to licensed electricians from a reliable contractor.

Pay close attention to any signs in your house that there are electrical repair needs: flickering lights, power surges, sparking light switches, acrid burning smells, etc. Turn off the power and immediately call for licensed electricians; you never want to risk injury or a fire.