Electric cars like the Tesla are rapidly growing in popularity—more so than any type of car in the industry. At some point, it’s safe to assume that vehicle powered primarily by electricity will be the standard for the automotive industry, so it’s important for the infrastructure in the U.S. to change in order support electric vehicles. Electric cars save energy, promote health, and are environmentally friendly, so they can offer a number of great benefits, and if you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle, it’s important that you prepare your home for the change.

When it comes to residential Tesla and other electric vehicle chargers, it’s generally recommended that you install a Level 2 charger. Here some basic information about Level 2 charging devices:

Level 1 and Level 2 chargers are what most homeowners have access to. Level 1 electric vehicle chargers use standard household outlets, and it’s common for electric cars to come with Level 1 charging cords that cna be directly plugged into your home’s outlets. The downside of Level 1 chargers is that they’re limited to about 120 volts, which means that they can take up to 22 hours to charge your car.

Level 1 chargers are probably not a feasible option unless your car is a plug-in hybrid.

Our professional Princeton electricians recommend Level 2 chargers for residential electric vehicle charging. Level 2 chargers supply 240 volts of electricity to your car, so they can significantly reduce charging times. You’ll be able to fully charge your car in as few as three to four hours.

Installing Level 2 chargers will probably require some adjustments to your home’s electrical wiring, but our Princeton electricians will be able to handle the job.

The primary benefit of a Level 2 charger is the significant reduction in charging time. You’ll be able to charge your car much more quickly, which gives you more flexibility when it comes to using your automobile. Your car can easily be fully charged over night, or while you enjoy a meal and complete some household duties.

Level 2 chargers can also help you save money on your electrical expenses. They’ll allow you to charge your vehicle at strategic times when electrical demand is lower. You can take advantage of lower electrical costs during the night, which help maximize energy savings on an already efficient vehicle.

We have 168 hours in the week, and most of us spend 40 of those hours at our office. If we are spending this much time in one place, we want to make it a comfortable atmosphere for ourselves and others who are visiting. The appearance of your business can be influenced heavily by its lighting. Here are some business lighting solutions to keep in mind to help yourself and your business.

The last thing you want is to be sitting in a dark space day after day. Getting the proper lighting in your office will help lift your energy and make your space more enjoyable. When you look at your office space, can you identify dark spaces or dimly lit areas? If so, you are most likely in need of a lighting redesign. Using pot lights and spot lights can help to brighten up even the darkest corners without adding large fixtures to your space and reducing the height of the room. In rooms where you have no natural light at all, it is especially important that you have substantial lighting. Having only light from your monitor can create stress on your eyes.  Let an expert review your space and get your ceiling connected correctly with the right lighting.

For those businesses that are looking for foot traffic even at the late hours of the day or night, this is a big one to consider. The outside of your building should be well lit for potential customers to see. Not only does it make your business more appealing, but it also adds safety for both your customers and employees. Adding outdoor spot lights and overhead lighting can make all routes to your business visible and safer for everyone.

At this point most of us are tethered to our computers. Without them, little work can be done. So, if a power outage occurs, you could be looking at hours of downtime. Installing a backup generator can help to protect you from the unproductive hours. If a power outage occurs, the backup generator will engage to keep your electronics up and running. Computers, printers, registers, and tills can be continually used. An investment like this can pay for itself over the years.

Making your work a more enjoyable place can start with simple steps, like upgrading your lighting. Have one of our expert electricians visit your business and we can help you not only make it enjoyable for you and your customers, but more productive and safe.

WAC Lighting:  Illuminating Your Home for Peak Performance

Fun fact:  According to recent findings, the seven dwarfs were correct:  Whistling while you work may increase your performance and help shield your brain from “choking” during pivotal moments on the job.  “A leading psychologist claims whistling or singing helps distract the mind from trying too hard and prevents mental overload.” *

Need more reason to whistle while you work?  Healthful illumination and affordable lighting solutions are within your reach. Update your home and work environment with superb lighting design from WAC Lighting.

Why WAC Lighting?

Enjoy Capitol Lighting’s specials and experience the latest innovations from WAC…

Peak Performance Track LIGHT and Tape Light Systems:

SUPERIOR RECESSED INNOVATION:

BEAUTIFYING Mini Pendants:

Since 1984, WAC Lighting has created “design excellence in lighting” by integrating state-of-the-art technology with world-class lighting designs.

WAC Lighting has transformed its strong family values into successful business values while promoting the highest standards for sustainable lighting and professional development.

Capitol Lighting presents the latest from WAC Lighting.  Visit with one of Capitol’s professional lighting consultants or shop 1-800lighting.com to illuminate an environment that works for you.

But Iowa has us and the rest of the country beat when it comes to percentage of electricity demand provided by wind. Their wind power farms set a record of 20% of state electricity needs in the second quarter of 2011, with 4,000 megawatts of installed wind farm capacity.

In terms of total generation, the top wind power state is Texas, with 9,000 megawatts of installed capacity. Of course, Texas has a lot more people than Iowa, so wind power accounts for a lower percentage of its electric needs.

After the 2008 financial crash, the wind power industry, along with a lot of the economy, declined. However, it’s now on the upsurge. According the American Wind Energy Association, “7,354 megawatts of new capacity was under construction nationally by July 1, more than at any time since the third quarter of 2008.”

(Information for this article provided by Care2 newsletter and Brian Merchant, a Treehugger blogger.)

For information on how you can use your electricity more efficiently and save money, click on my tips.

Kim Hopkins

CEO, The Electric Connection

Click here to visit our website.

A home inspection covers a number of areas, not the least of which is the electrical system. ElectricMan, a trusted certified electrician.

An electrical system inspection includes looking for any aspects that make the home unsafe. A good report features the following most common items:

With all of these points checked off the list, you know you have run across a home with a sound electrical system. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re moving into a home that won’t present trouble around every corner. That’s why it’s so important to have an inspection conducted by a qualified professional before you buy.

If you have any questions about the electrical system aspects of a potential new home’s inspection report, please contact a ElectricMan website, and don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Twitter.