While power outages aren’t a common occurrence in and around Sydney, there are times when you have to deal with an electricity outage due to inclement or stormy weather. Our modern day living is highly dependent on electricity and without it; our lives can literally come to a standstill. This is why it becomes important to check back and ensure that we have some proper power and outage solutions in place.

While most electrical outages don’t last for over a few hours, it’s best to be prepared for the situation. We have listed a few tips that will help you prepare for a power failure or a power outage:

There is no point in running around in frenzy when there is a power outage; and it is important that you create a plan in advance for this type of a situation. It doesn’t have to be a very complex one, but should include some basic things such as being able to locate where the candles and emergency lights are kept, so you can access them easily. You should also know where the emergency kit and the additional supplies are kept. .

It is very important that you have an emergency kit that can be used in case of power failures and power outages. You have the option to purchase a ready kit from the market or put together one yourself, with all the essentials such as:

These are just the basic things your kit needs to contain. The items and quantity of the items would be dependent on the number of people in your household.

Whenever any power outage or failure occurs, it is a good idea to check the utility service provider website. The companies generally post updates on the scale, probable duration and size of the outage. If you find that the problem isn’t at the utility company’s end, you should check with your neighbours to know whether they too are facing the same problem.

This will give you a clearer picture about whether the power problem is exclusive to your home or your entire neighbourhood has been affected by it. It’s important that you keep the freezer and refrigerator doors shut till the power problem is fixed.

Getting a standby generator installed on your property is one of the best ways of dealing with a power failure or outage. You would be able to use the generator to power the basic appliances in your home and maintain the indoor temperature on your property at comfortable levels. Speak with your local electrician about getting a good capacity generator installed.

The new Live Laugh Love collection from Murray Feiss features a rustic Grecian Bronze finish with an uplifting mantra artfully imbedded in the design. Choose from 4-light chandeliers, 6-light pendant-style chandeliers and coordinating wall sconces.  Just in time for summer 2013, these new lamps impart a light-hearted message in a full-bodied design.

LIVE:

What do we mean by “lamp life?”

The “average life” of a light source is determined through controlled testing on a large sampling of light bulbs (lamps). Lamps of the same type, make and model are switched on at the same time, and when 50% of the bulbs in this large sampling burn out, this is the determined rate of lamp life.    Thus, due to slight variations in the environment, usage and make-up of each light bulb, the “rated life” listed on each bulb carton is an estimate; and, each bulb will perform slightly differently—some may outlive the “rated life” and some may die out before.

LAUGH:

It has been said that the average American child laughs out load about 400 times each day.  But, as children grow up into adults they laugh a whole lot less—maybe four times a day!

Studies show that just thinking about being happy or simply imagining yourself laughing, recalling a funny story, reading a piece of inspirational advice—all of these activities boost neural connections that can actually elevate your happiness quotient.

Although a serious lighting design is no laughing matter, new lighting compositions from Murray Feiss are made to uplift your spirit and enhance your life. So, why not install a new lamp to remind you to  “Live, Laugh and Love” every day!

LOVE:

What is a love light?

The term “love light” was made famous in 1961 when Bobby Bland recorded his R&B-style hit  “Turn on Your Love Light.”  The song has been popularized over the years, and recorded by many other bands including The Grateful Dead.  In  1999, the song was included in the Hall of Fame’s list of  “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.”

Love light may also include fine novel home lighting and accessories crafted to fill our homes with beauty and the most uplifting lighting effects.

Make a statement and select the seasons top fashions with bold new lighting and home accessories.  The Live Laugh Love collection from Feiss will give you reason to smile and get happy—quality design, accessible price points and exceptional service have kept Murray Feiss at the top of the lighting industry since 1955.

Other fun summer highlights from Feiss include island lights, mini chandeliers and ceiling pendants from the “Celebration” collection and colorful table lamps in the “Kennedy” collection.

Electrical repair isn’t a subject most people think of on a regular basis. Unless you’re an electrician, or you know an electrician, you don’t really think about the wiring inside your home and office walls, wiring that makes just about everything in our world possible!

Sometimes, though, an electrical system needs a little help. When it does, you’ll find yourself thinking about electrical repairs more than you ever thought you would. And you’ll need to find a good electrician, too!

But, first, how do you know you might need to make electrical repairs to your home or office?

If these sound familiar, you might be in need of electrical repairs in your home or office:

-> Appliances that switch off, consistently, when another appliance is switched on

-> Power off in just one part of the home

-> Do you consistently replace a certain breaker in your breaker box?

If any of these symptoms sounds familiar to you, you might need to make electrical repairs to your home or office. The best place to start is to find a good electrician. A good electrician can help you to locate the problem, estimate the repair cost, and get the job done right!

There’s no real science to finding a good electrician just like there’s no real science to living life! Ask your friends or neighbors for advice, or do some research online. Whatever your process might be, the following two items are *essential*. Your electrician must be both certified/licensed and insured.

The electrical system in your home is a complex and delicate thing. Don’t neglect it! Fire is a real danger when it comes to ignored electrical problems – in just 2011, alone, 43,700 domestic fires in the United States were linked to electrical problems in the home or office.

So, if you suspect trouble, no matter how small, find yourself a good electrician and find peace of mind!

Every year, the average American household uses 5% of its electricity consumption on lights. Whether a kitchen light, bathroom light, bedroom light, or a small bulb in the attic, we rely on these lights for safety, security, and convenience. But did you know you can potentially save a good chunk of this electricity, and simultaneously save money?

Halogen incandescent bulbs are a technology that has been around for quite some time, but has grown in popularity in recent years. These bulbs operate by running electricity through a resistor filament, but do so in a chamber filled with gas to improve its efficiency. These require less electricity than a traditional lightbulb, but are not the most efficient option available today, and as such, are fading in popularity.

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs are almost identical to the long, tube-like fluorescent lightbulbs, just bent and curled into a small form factor designed for an average light socket. The Department of Energy estimates that these bulbs pay for themselves in a matter of just nine months’ time, while ENERGY-STAR certified bulbs use about a quarter of the energy of a traditional bulb that puts out the same amount of light, all while lasting about ten times longer.

What was once reserved exclusively for traffic lights and indicators has now evolved into one of the most rapidly-growing products on the market. Light Emitting Diodes, more commonly called LEDs, are a type of solid-state lighting that use semiconductors to turn electricity into light. They’re incredibly efficient, using about 20-25% of the electricity of an incandescent bulb, and can last up to 25 times longer as well! These come in a massive range of shapes, colors, and brightnesses, allowing them to be used in virtually any capacity.