With all of the information circulating around about renewable energy sources, it can be hard to keep everything straight. One of the most common sources of renewable energy actually comes from the sun, and is harvested with solar panels. The most common solar panel converts raw sunlight into electricity through the use of photovoltaic cells. These solar panels can be found in fields dedicated to their use. One of the most attractive things about solar panels, however, is that they can be installed directly onto your home by an electrician in Pasadena CA. This is becoming more and more common, as people are looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly, self-sustainable and reduce their monthly electric bills.

Installing and Using Solar Panels

There are two different ways to connect solar panels to your home. You can either connect them to a battery array that will store the power for you, or hook them directly into the existing electrical grid. Both methods have their pros and cons, which you can discuss with an electrician Pasadena, such as The Electric Connection.

One of the great things about having your own energy storage array is that you have reserve power if there is an outage. An electrician Pasadena CA who specializes in solar panel upgrades will place a panel in the optimal position on their home. They will then connect the panel to a voltage controller, which helps to control the flow of electricity into the batteries. The battery array is then plugged into a power inverter that converts the electricity from DC current to AC current, so that it can be used in your home. This type of installation is typically used to power just a handful of essential appliances, lights etc. In the case of a power outage, you will have a few hours of electricity by smartly using the battery array to power your home lighting, and essential electrical circuits.

The method of installation that is the easiest for the end user to understand and use is by hooking the solar panel directly into the main power grid. The Electric Connection, or the electrician in Pasadena that you have assisting you with your installation can actually connect your solar panel up so that it will feed the electricity back to the utilities company, rather than just to your home. This can work in one of two ways. Either you send everything you generate back to the electrical company, or you send anything in excess of what your battery array can handle back to the electric company. In either case, you receive credit for the energy you send, which can in turn lower your electric bills dramatically. This installation is slightly more involved, but only requires a minimal amount of home rewiring and/or electrical panel upgrade.

Regardless of the type of installation that you choose, adding a solar panel to your home is a great investment. Not only will you benefit from the peace of mind that you are using fewer fossil fuels to power your home, but you can even receive credit back for any excess energy that you create. To sweeten the deal, there are many state and national grants and tax credits that have been designed to assist people investing in renewable energy sources. Because of these tax credits, much of the cost of installation will come back to you on your tax returns. In just a few years, the majority of all solar panel installations will pay for themselves. If you are truly looking to increase your energy independence, and are interested in renewable energy sources, contact your Pasadena electrician today to talk about solar power.

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Today’s lighting styles could very well take permanent hold for the future – mainly, focusing on sustainable and energy-efficient options that are becoming increasingly important even in vintage-inspired styles. Added to this are fun trends that are taking off in the moment.

Be ahead of the game by knowing 7 major lighting trends to look for in 2015:

1. Making the Switch to LEDs

This will come to no one’s surprise. Even those clinging desperately to their beloved incandescents (if there be such folks) know that LED lighting is here to stay. Remember, these oldies are being phased out as of 2014, meaning the U.S. will no longer import or manufacture these bulbs. Significantly, LED lighting is both practical and affordable as compared to other alternatives.

The demand for LED lighting, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom has grown exponentially according to residential architects. Costs for customers are also going steadily downward as their use becomes more ubiquitous. LED cabinet lighting is in especially strong demand, along with LED cove lighting.

Outdoor LED lighting is also on an upswing. Many consumers are enhancing their patios, pathways, porches, and gardens with additional lighting.

2. Clustering Glass Pendants

Pendant lighting is a hot item at the moment. Artisan glass pendants and bowls are important silhouettes that stand out for the next year.

Glass pendants are extremely versatile and transcend several décor styles. Glass pendant lights can be used to offer a direct source of light to a particular task area or can be a decorative accessory use to bring mood and color into a room. Clustering single-light pendants or hanging multi-light fixtures in gathering spaces like the living room or dining room, is another growing trend, with many consumers attracted to the sleek and timeless figures of these types of lights.

3. Chandeliers In New Places

Chandeliers are another item that used to be relegated to the dining room, weddings or a dramatic ball room. They were often seen as a glamorous object suited for only equally opulent surroundings. Now, these beauties are turning up in unexpected places; from kitchens and baths to laundry rooms.

Also, chandeliers aren’t just for the super-wealthy anymore. There are plenty of stunning, affordable options on the market today that will not sacrifice style.

Mini chandeliers fit into this category. With their small scale, they are just right for limited-size spaces such as bathrooms, attic bedrooms and small suites.

And, if you can easily afford it, the demand for traditional crystal chandeliers is coming into play once again. Many manufacturers are also willing to customize chandelier details which sees customers now willing spend extra for personalization.

4. Lighting Inside Drawers and Cabinets

Using a flashlight or turning on an overhead light to peer into a dimly-lit space is a thing of the past. There are simple and elegant solutions to this problem: they’re adding lighting inside those formerly-dark spaces.

You can use LED strip lights, motion detecting lights that use AAA batteries, or unlike  battery operated units, you can also use a strip system that turns on and off and is controlled by the contact between two magnetic switches. This model would need to be plugged into a power supply.

5. LED Lighting In the Shower

Rainshower heads with changing LED lights are a fun fashion in bathroom lighting that will be sure to take off in the next year. These heads are constructed of stainless steel and possess temperature sensitive LED lights, that will treat you to a dazzling display of color when you wash.

If you are looking for a Garland electrician, be sure to find one who cares enough about safety to help determine if your home is up to par. Some older homes often lack basic precautionary features that are inexpensive, yet vital to the safety of the family. One of these features is the GFCI, and any Garland electrician should be able to determine if your home has one.

Recently in Texas, a family experienced a heartbreaking illustration of what can happen without a GFCI. The mother was bathing her two children, ages five and six, when a hairdryer that was plugged into a nearby outlet fell into the tub. Both children were killed by the electrical current passing into the bathwater.

One of the most horrifying things about this story is that this accident was preventable! Installing a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, or GFCI, could have saved these children’s lives, at a cost of less than $60. The circuit in their bathroom was not equipped with this simple piece of equipment, simply because their home was an older home.

When the electrical current is imbalanced, it indicates that the current is passing through something that it is not intended to pass through. A GFCI handles that situation by quickly interrupting the flow of current before it can do harm. Water is an especially dangerous conductor of current, so a GFCI should be installed everywhere that an electrical device might be plugged in near water. This means that GFCIs should be on outlets in not only kitchens and bathrooms, but also in garages, outside, near countertops, and near hot tubs and pools. While a layperson might not realize that, an electrician should. That is why, whether you are looking for a Dallas, Garland, or Rowlett electrician, you should make sure to find one with enough experience to spot potential hazards before they cause tragic results.

One of the best Garland electrical teams you will find is the crew at ElectricMan, Inc. Available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, ElectricMan’s team is made up of trained electricians who care about the safety of families. To learn more about finding an electrician Garland homeowners can trust, visit the website. For a deeper connection, join the online community on ElectricMan’s social sites, or call (972)792-7270.

From twisted to swinging, the top 5 LED pendant lights award the most sophisticated styling and sensational lighting effects.  Here are our top picks from the Dallas Market Center…

1.  “Swing” from WAC Lighting’s Modern Forms

“Swing” from Modern Forms presents a playful, yet powerful geometric filled with sparkling Art Glass encased in Polished Chrome.  These 10-inch mini pendants may be artistically grouped in a linear or circular pattern to deliver superb LED illumination.

2.  “Manette Grande” from Tech Lighting

“Manette Grande” from Tech Lighting adds a sleek and versatile sophistication to this contemporary cylindrical composition.  A myriad of finish options, including Antique Bronze, Black and Satin Nickel,  combined with custom mix-and-match hand-blown glass in a choice of Clear, Smoke or White makes for a winning presentation.

3.  “Helix” from Hubbardton Forge

“Helix” from Hubbardton Forge is magnificently twisted and tastefully tapered in this minimalistic contemporary style.  Superb finish options include Natural Iron, Mahogany and Burnished Steel for a classic ensemble to highlight interior design schemes from retro-casual to modern-formal.

4.  “Masque Grande” from Tech Lighting

“Masque Grande” from Tech Lighting delivers gently diffused illumination in a modern-contemporary 22-inch Energy Smart pendant.  The blown glass shade is available in choice combinations:  Clear-White, Smoke-Black and Smoke-Gray with finish options in Black, Satin Nickel or White for a cleverly defined and robust illumination.

 5.  “Light Spheres” from ELK Lighting

“Light Spheres” from ELK Lighting dazzles with hundreds of LED light sources within Chrome plated glass balls and a laser-cut Stainless Steel frame.  Floating elegance and remarkable illuminating effects bring this pendant light to the top of the A-list.

The Dallas Market Center, home of the American Lighting Association (ALA), is the most complete wholesale merchandise resource for home decor and the lighting industry.  Attracting buyers and exhibitors from around the world, the Dallas Market Center is where the “best of the best” introduce new products, including the latest giftware, decorative accent pieces, garden accessories, and–of course–outstanding LIGHTING designs!