If you’re a homeowner, you’re probably looking for ways to save energy and money. There are so many hidden costs involved in home ownership, and if you’re not careful, your electrical consumption can be a big factor in those costs. However, it’s easier than you might think to save on energy if you just follow a few simple tips.

Since the advent of the incandescent (and even before), quality of light has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Regrettably, that quality has mostly been unfortunate. When incandescent lights were the only choice, the early 20th century population complained about the glare and the possible dangers of electricity.

Case in point: on an episode of Downton Abbey (Masterpiece’s smash hit about an elite family living on an estate in the early 1900’s), the prim and hilarious Dowager Countess laments the new electric lamps:

“Such a glare! I couldn’t have electricity in the house – I wouldn’t sleep a wink. All those vapors seeping about. Feels as if  I were on stage at the Gaiety.”     

I grew up in the 90’s, back when thrift store shopping was considered alternative and grunge.  While I tooled around Goodwill listening to Nine Inch Nails on my Walkman, my more sophisticated friends were at the mall, looking adorable & stylish in the latest trend from The Limited.

But that was the 90’s.

Thrift-store shopping, dumpster-diving, and hand-me downs deliver a new parlance that has clever DIY’ers quaking with excitement for Saturday yard sales and obsessively scouring Craigslist for the Next Big Find.  This elegant new term for taking used items and making them new = REPURPOSING.

Also commonly referred to as recycling, upcycling, reinventing, revitalizing and/or reusing, entire boards are dedicated to this subject on Pinterest. Everything – and I mean everything – can be repurposed.  So why not the light bulb?

With a few basic tools and a steady hand, a light bulb can be hollowed out and transformed into a unique gift or decorative project.  Prepping the bulb, however, is not a task that we recommend for the kids.  Before you undertake any of these projects, take a moment to read a tutorial on how to safely hollow out a light bulb.

1. Witches Brew

How secure is your property? Whether you own a home and/or run a business chances are that you want to keep your property as invulnerable as possible. It may not be possible to prevent all events that bring your property harm, but a Newton, MA alarm system will certainly reduce your risks!

Home and business security is something we take very seriously. Not only do we want to ensure the protection of your investments, but also the safety of your family or your employees. Burglar alarm systems can help deter break-ins, give you a peace of mind, and even reduce your property insurance costs.

Burglar alarm monitoring helps increase the security of your entire property. For businesses, this means your valuables, employees, customers, general property, and inventory. For homes the cost is even greater—alarm monitoring helps protect your family, pets, valuables, and your home in general.

The greatest benefit of monitoring is that law enforcement can and will be notified right away in the event of a break-in. In commercial settings, you have product options to choose from that allow this same type of response even during business hours. Wireless options allow you to get in touch with a security professional right away in the event of an emergency.

An alarm system, particularly security automation systems, can only work as well as they need to if they are professionally installed and serviced. We understand how legitimate of a concern home and commercial safety are, and that encountering problems with your security system can be detrimental.

If you are experiencing “false alarms” or are afraid that your security system isn’t working for some reason, give us a call right away. We want you to be able to rest assured that your property is safe and protected.

One of the best opportunities to save money is to convert Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium High Mast lights over to LED. A typical high mast light consists of a tall pole, 50-150 tall and contains multiple fixtures attached to the pole, typically 4 to 12. The lower poles may be equipped with 400W Metal Halide or High Pressure Sodium bulbs, the taller poles typically are installed with 1000W Metal Halide or High Pressure Sodium bulbs.