Are you thinking that it might be a good time to install solar panels for your home? More correctly, there has never been a better time to invest in solar panels. Why is it such a good time to install solar panels?

For starters, there are incredible federal tax rebates currently in place that allow you to detect a portion of the expense of installing the panels from your taxes. About a third of that cost, no matter the cost, can be subtracted from your taxes.

The California Solar Initiative was put in place a few years back to encourage residents to take advantage of one of our most abundant resources: sunshine. Now, you may be eligible for a variety of monetary incentives to install a home solar array. The policies are extremely varied across the state, and many of them have expired. Some areas still have potential for Solar Incentives, so acting now could save you additional money.

There is already a favorable picture of the solar installation scene right now, but it gets even better when you consider solar leasing. Solar leasing isn’t the right choice for everybody, but it has tremendous allure, too. Basically, solar leasing is a partnership between you and a solar installation contractor. They install the system and you pay back the cost of the materials over time. Even as they pay down their solar lease, many residents enjoy savings on their power bills, too. You might even be eligible for free installation, making the proposition an investment of zero dollars for a lifetime of savings.

If you’re interested in the potential of solar panels and solar leasing, call us to discuss your options. We can get you started with a quote over the phone today and soon have a solar array up at your house. It’s never too late to start saving, so start today!

photo courtesy of moviewritemyu.wordpress.com

“The first rooftop celebration atop One Times Square, complete with fireworks display, took place in 1904.*

Don’t let this New Year’s Eve slip away without a proper celebration.  Whether you are quietly reminiscing with a loved one over dinner or out on the town in the midst of noisemakers and confetti–see yourself in the best of light and make 2015 your brightest year yet.  New chandeliers, table lamps and wall lights are a marvel with outstanding and energy-wise light sources and intriguing configurations.

“CHIMERA” WALL SCONCE FROM CORBETT

“URBAN NIGHTS” FROM MAXIM

“RING O” FROM VAN TEAL

“GATHERING” FROM VAN TEAL

“RAVENNA” FOYER PENDANT FROM HINKLEY LIGHTING

See the the latest portable lamps, chandeliers and decorative accessories at 1800lighting.com. Stay tuned for the latest introductions from the Dallas Market January 2015.  Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom or 1800lighting.com for expert advice and a complimentary lighting plan for a new year of inspiring illumination.

*wikipedia.com

It’s incredible the way lighting can change outdoor spaces. As is the case with indoor spaces, spending comparatively little on lighting can produce dramatic results. A DIY outdoor lighting project might be just the thing to make you fall in love with your home all over again. But before you begin an outdoor lighting project, it’s important to think about your options. Here are 10 tips for 10 approaches to outdoor lighting.

1. Using Outdoor String Lights

Outdoor string lights are just great. But there are so many different kinds! Some have bare bulbs; some have lanterns. Some are LED; some incandescent. Some are white; some are colored. Make sure you research your options and choose the ones that are right for YOU!

2. Taking DIY Outdoor Lighting to the Next Level

Sure, you can install a standard low voltage lighting fixture and be justified when you say you Did It Yourself, but have you ever considered making your own DIY outdoor lighting fixtures? Mason jars seem to be the ingredient of choice when constructing your own outdoor lights. The internet is full of instructions for making DIY outdoor lighting fixtures, so do your homework and find the perfect project to make your outdoor area more luminous.

3 . Making it Modern

Let’s get weird! Isn’t that what modern outdoor lighting seems to say? I guess it depends on whom you ask. Modern outdoor lighting usually consists of interesting light fixtures with unusual, playful designs, and they can really make your outdoor vibe more interesting and thought-provoking.

4. Showing Off Textures

Sometimes you start with a particular light source in mind. These days, that light source is often LED. If you’re sure you want to use outdoor LED lights, you have a wide variety of outdoor LED light fixture types, from LED rope to LED tape to LED path lights, step lights, puck lights, recessed lights, and string lights. LED outdoor lights are highly efficient and look great. And some, like the one above, run on solar power! That means free!

8. Decking Out the Deck

If you are focused specifically on outdoor deck lighting, make sure you think about caution. Outdoor deck lighting should entail step lights if there are steps and should include lights around the perimeter of the deck. LED tape or rope, colored or white, are often great for running on the underside of deck railings.

9. Using Timers

Are you sick and tired of paying an arm and a leg for your electricity bills? Congress is considering legislation that could bring you some relief. A bill was introduced to the House of Representatives this summer that would update the Title I Home and Property Improvement Loan Program, which helps consumers make efficiency upgrades to their homes. The new bill is intended to help homeowners invest in solar energy to power their home electrical work. Read on to learn more about this legislation and how it can help you.

Upgrading Your Electrical Work

The Title I home loan program has been around since 1934, aimed at helping homeowners with capital for home improvement upgrades. Currently, Title I is working through the Federal Housing Authority's Power Saver program, designed to promote clean energy and fight climate change. Home energy efficiency upgrades like photovoltaic solar panels, therefore, are a natural fit for the program.

The legislation currently in front of Congress, called the “Solar and Water Efficient Homes Act,” would update the Title I guidelines to better accommodate modern technologies, as well as increase the number of loans that are available and reduce the bureaucratic red tape that has bogged down the program in the past.

Bringing the Capital to You

Upgrading your home can require significant costs that are beyond the reach to many low and middle income families, so the Title I program provides capital that allows homeowners to realize energy savings immediately. Those who are eligible can get loans of up to $25,000 to make a variety of efficiency upgrades to their electrical work, most notably by installing solar panels. The program will also help homeowners purchase new HVAC systems, beef up their home insulation, buy new water heaters and even install geothermal heating systems.

“Title I loans have helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners improve their homes,” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California), one of the bill's sponsors, said in a press release. “It’s time we make it easier for homeowners to invest in energy efficiency upgrades and improve water conservation, creating good local jobs, and helping the environment.” The legislation also hopes to spur job creation by encouraging consumers to spend more money on home services labor and equipment.

Efficiency Arrives at Your Home

When it's time to boost your home efficiency, Title I is there to lend a helping hand – and if Congress passes the Solar and Water Efficient Homes Act, the incentives will be even stronger. If you want to learn more about the Title I loan program, or need any repairs done on your home electrical work, contact a qualified electrician today.