The London Olympics are certainly on the tip of nearly everyone’s tongue (and Courtesy of FrenchArt-Deco.com

This piece, entitled “Swimming Pool” by French artist Albert Decaris won gold in the Engravings and Etchings competition.

In 1949, the International Olympic Committee decided to stop all art competitions, reasoning that it was illogical to let professional artists compete, while only amateur athletes were eligible. Instead, cultural festivals replaced the art competitions, and still do to this day. There’s still a chance for the best of the best artists and entertainers to showcase their stuff on an international stage, and for lighting designers, this is certainly a world class exhibition. 

LED is the light source that’s in it to win it this summer, wowing Olympic fans with spectacular light shows and festive monuments alike.

At the opening ceremony, LEDs were at the center of almost everything. The dove bikes used LEDs to light up their wings as they performed a circuit of the stadium.

LEDs lit the screen showing the Queen’s acting debut, with none other than James Bond.

Even on the sidewalk outside the main Olympic Stadium, there are 20 circular slabs that capture the kinetic energy of pedestrians’ footsteps to light up nearby LED lamps for 30 seconds at a time!

Working with electricity is definitely not a DIY project. Not only is there the danger of electrocution, but improperly-installed wiring is the leading cause of house fires in the United States. For anything electrical, from changing an outlet to hanging a light fixture to wiring a new room or circuit in your home, you need to call an electrician.

Knowing the average electrician prices for the most common jobs can give you an idea of what to expect when you do need to make this call. This knowledge can prevent you from getting ripped off by unscrupulous contractors or hiring an extra cheap, yet extremely under qualified, electrical company.

Most electricians and electrical contractors charge an hourly fee plus the cost of parts and materials, if needed. Many electrician prices also include a set fee, usually between $60 and $100, for an on-site estimate. However, that amount is virtually always applied to the cost of the first hour of labor if you decide to have them complete the job.

To give you an idea of what electrician costs typically look like for a few common electrical jobs, we’ve compiled the following list:

Larger or more complex projects, such as whole house re-wiring or any electrical project requiring a building permit, will usually be quoted on a per job basis rather than hourly.

At Kolb Electric, we want your home to be both efficient and safe. That’s why we employ only the most qualified licensed electricians, including a master electrician as a supervisor, for every electrical job in the DC area. However, we also understand that you may have a limited budget for your electrical repairs and maintenance and that often, such things come up unexpectedly. That’s why we always try to provide the best value on top-quality work.

To learn more about electrician costs for your Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC project, call us at 877 287-1179. We’ve been helping area Mid-Atlantic home and commercial building owners with their electrical needs since 1925.

Every year, we see dozens of do-it-yourself jobs go horribly wrong. While our trained and certified electricians can fix the issue, the property owner who tried (and failed) to do the job in the first place probably made it worse. Even if that supposedly simple job sounds easy and you find yourself reasonably handy, you should never attempt to do it yourself. Here are three reasons why you should always hire a professional.

The first and perhaps most serious risk associated with DIY work is injury. Electricity is no joking matter—it’s a powerful force with the ability to change your life in a sheer instant. The current that’s flowing through your walls has the ability to seriously injure you in a split second, and could even kill you in serious situations. You should never take working with electricity lightly, and you shouldn’t even attempt to work with it unless you’ve had extensive training and know how to do so properly.

We hear of too many people who are injured while trying to work with electricity and they fail to notice a hazard or are unaware of a potential problem. Our technicians have all been trained through years of education, practical application, and apprenticeship in order to become a certified electrician. We know how to properly handle electricity and can do so with minimal injury risk.

Are you trying to install a new appliance you just purchased? What about something larger, such as installing a ceiling fan or changing over to recessed lighting? These are all things you should trust to a professional. Not only can a professional do so quickly and cleanly to avoid the mess often caused by a lack of experience, but you can avoid potentially damaging your new purchase as well.

Lack of experience frequently can melt the wires or overload circuits through improper installation, which can ruin your brand new device, and may even void the warranty on it in some situations. If you want your new home appliance installed correctly, trust a professional to do it right the first time.

Hundreds of fires are started by faults in electrical systems every year, such as shoddy connections, low-gauge wire choice, or even loose wires left dangling. These are not only against code, but extremely dangerous and could spark at any moment. Sparks cause fire, which will damage your home considerably. A professional Marietta electrician is well-versed in the ever-changing electrical code rulebook and can do the job you need while adhering to these rules and minimizing your fire risk.

Whether you own a business or a commercial space used for residential living, there are a number of things you are responsible for doing to ensure the safety and well-being of the building’s tenants. This includes providing proper lighting both inside and outside the space. Your building, complex, or shopping center’s parking lot lighting is a huge part of this, and it’s not just about safety, either.

First off, if you have a business that’s open during nighttime hours, then having bright and inviting parking lot lights will help attract customers. Poorly illuminated areas increase risks such as theft, or worse. This is going to deter a lot of people from even attempting to come to your commercial space.

Employee safety is also a big deal. Your employees should be able to approach their cars without the worry of nighttime risks, or injury due to not being able to see where they are going clearly enough. As a business owner, you have a responsibility to your employees. Focusing on this also reduces your financial liability should something unfortunate happen.

Too often, business owners and retailers neglect their parking lot lighting fixtures because of high costs associated with repair and energy consumption. The benefits far outweigh the risks, however. Besides, today’s lighting options show a vast improvement in efficiency and affordability.

With LED and induction parking lot lighting alternatives, you can effectively illuminate your entire parking lot without hurting your bottom line. Our professional electricians are happy to discuss your options with you, and are well equipped with the tools and the training necessary to get the job done right.