As referenced in a report by Business Week, the average US household in 2011 was spending upwards of 1/5 of the total household income on energy expenses. As energy costs continue to rise in the US it is important to understand where, in your home, are your greatest energy consumers.

Performing an electrical audit on electronic devices may reveal some interesting results. Use a simple kWh formula for calculating usage and cost. If the amount of wattage for a particular device is unknown, there are tables available online that provide average wattage ratings. For each device, calculate:

[(Wattage x Number of hours used daily) x 365 days/year ]÷ 1,000 = Daily Kilowatt-hour or kWh consumption

1,000 Watts = 1 Kilowatt

Using a personal desktop computer and a monitor as an example:

Take into consideration that various devices continue using electricity when turned “off.” Called phantom loads, the appliances that typically use the most unnecessary electricity in this form include computers, microwaves and other kitchen appliances, stereos, televisions and DVD players/recorders. When not in use, unplugging these appliances or switching an entire power strip off saves additional expense.

Heating and cooling costs consume the largest portion of monthly utility bills and inspecting a home for possible exterior and interior leaks and performing the necessary fixes may save considerable money. Visit responsiblebynature.org for tips from Xcel Energy.

An alternative might include hiring an energy-efficient electrician to perform an electricity audit. In addition to calculating appliance and electronic device usage and cost, a licensed professional electrician will also evaluate major appliances, lighting, heating/cooling thermostats and numerous other points throughout the home for efficiency and safety. Drawing on years of experience, an energy-efficient electrician also commonly provides recommendations, money-saving tips and suggestions for creating a more energy-efficient home.

I mean, this is crazy, right?! You can almost FEEL the presence of these weird light dudes as they approach you at a murderously slow pace. Are they astronauts on our own planet? Is this our planet? I was unable to locate a larger version of this photograph, but I still put it at the top because it is incredibly evocative. And that’s not even the real kicker. If you’ve read my other posts on light painting, you know that incredibly long exposure times are necessary for shots like this. So homegirl or homeboy was out in the snow, in the dark, making this thing. And she/he had the wherewithal, tromping through the icy powder, to render these human forms so very well, even making one look like he’s trudging knee-deep. So weirdly inhuman. So weirdly human. I love this photo.

2. Give Up the Ghost

I would never give you a photo of old shoes to look at unless there were something special going on in the picture. In this one, there’s a simple, appropriate message. Ready for it? LIGHT ENHANCES THINGS. Duh, right? This photo is aesthetically interesting, but more valuable to me is the way it shows the essential point of light painting: To have fun! To breathe some excitement into your photography. If your only subject is an old pair of Tims, don’t complain. Turn off the lights and bust out a “paintbrush.”

7. There Are ALMOST No Words for This

Isn’t this great? What I love most is how nonchalant and, well, normal the guy looks in this photo. See? It’s all about juxtaposition. Angel wings mixed with a loud sense of everydayness (he COULD be wearing white robes) make you take notice of the unspoken contradiction. You ask, Why this? And you are led to wonder if maybe this is saying something about how sometimes the people who are the most inconspicuous are the most angelic. See what I did there? That’s why I have chosen these photos from among the hundreds that are out there. They invite wonder and have the power to lead to new insights. I am a dork.

9. Do Not Anger Him/Her/It

* Note: I found these photos on Pinterest and was unable to confirm all of their original sources. So, if you have any information about the original sources for any of these photos, please let us know in the comments sections. We want to give credit for these fantastic light painting photos where it is very much due! Thanks!

high-tech smart bulb that’s trending in 2015 lighting technology. But in the late 1800’s it was the Edison bulb that transfixed the world as one of the most technologically advanced inventions of its time. In a practical sense, the electric bulb was the ‘smart technology’ of the 1800’s. Fast-forward a century, and the term Edison bulb holds an entirely new meaning.

In present-day design, Edison bulbs are vintage-style incandescent light bulbs with clear glass envelopes and visible filaments. You’ve probably also heard them referred to as antique light bulbs. Today’s reproductions are modeled after — you guessed it — Thomas Edison’s earliest light bulb productions. The exposed filaments (the string-like wires inside the bulb) are what set the Edison bulb apart from its 21st century counterparts like the LED.

It’s interesting to note that while historians agree that Thomas Edison Humphry Bulb doesn’t sound nearly as cool.

Today, when someone characterizes a modern bulb as being an Edison Bulb, they’re usually referring to a handful of common characteristics that these vintage bulbs inspire…

Edison Muckers, Your blog for everything Edison, everyday.

Up/Down LED Panel Light that provides usable downlighting and ceiling accent lighting simultaneously. Without any visible bulbs, this dimmable light panel delivers 5,400 lumens of natural white illumination through a transparent lens with a frosted center. The LED panel lasts five times longer than fluorescent panels and can be used for many applications, including suspended office lighting, pool table lighting, restaurant lighting, decorative or painted ceiling illumination, and retail shop lighting.