The kids are grown and have homes of their own, so it’s time to make those empty rooms into that den, office, sewing room or home theater that you’ve been wishing for over the years. Or, perhaps you’d like to update your kitchen with new appliances or add some new, luxurious bathroom lighting fixtures. Maybe you’ve been thinking about a whirlpool bath. Why not? However, don’t forget to give your local electrician a call as you’re planning those changes. Chances are good that you’ll need a few electrical upgrades to make sure your wiring system is ready to handle the increased load. Consulting an electrician in Pasadena who is licensed and knowledgeable about home renovations can help you keep you avoid last minute complications as your project gets underway.

Electrical system upgrades are often an afterthought when homeowners start planning a remodeling project. Often, the plans are made and the new appliances, lighting and other electrical components chosen before the very basic issue of how to power them is discussed with an electrician. Pasadena homeowners, for the most part, just don’t stop and think about things like electrical load distribution and wiring system capacities when picking out that new, streamlined refrigerator or over-the-range microwave. However, forgetting to plan for those practical things can lead to unexpected costs when the need for electrical upgrades to make it all work becomes apparent. Including a licensed and bonded electrician in the initial planning of your home improvement project can ensure that necessary electrical work is budgeted in from the start, eliminating unpleasant surprises.

If you’re planning a remodeling project and have yet to choose an electrician in Pasadena homeowners won’t find an electrical contractor than H Electric. With more than twenty years of experience with remodeling projects in the Pasadena area, we offer knowledgeable advice and quality electrical services to ensure that your project turns out right. And, every job we do is backed by our famous lifetime guarantee.

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The rule of 3’s. They’re the triple threat of lighting design. Three types of lighting: ambient, task and accent. Three levels of design: top, middle & bottom. For today’s blog post I’ve put together a quick reference guide on what the different layers are, along with a few tips on how to use them to pull your space together.

Three Layers of Light: Ambient, Task & Accent

this interactive picture that shows the dramatic difference in a kitchen after under cabinet lights were added. (That’s next on my project list!)

3. Accent lights add depth & dimension and showcase individual items or areas. A favorite painting or photograph displayed under a picture light on the wall is a popular way to accent with lighting. One of my favorite examples of decorative outdoor accent lighting are Annie’s original post to see if you’re right.]

Three Layers of Design: Top, Middle & Bottom

Normally the only reason you would call for electrician services, is when something goes wrong… sometimes even horribly wrong. But, shouldn’t you be thinking about your electrical system and the electricity you’re using a little more often than that? Here at Electrical Gurus, we’re always happy to help when you need us most; but when it’s not an emergency, consider these ways in which you can save electricity and reduce your carbon footprint.

You may have recently done some upgrades to your lighting system, or perhaps, you’re thinking about it. That’s one of the best times to stop using incandescent bulbs and make the switch to CFL or LED lightbulb options.

We’re all guilty of it; leaving cell phones or laptops plugged in after they’ve finished charging. Once a battery hits 100 percent, they won’t be able to absorb any more energy. But that doesn’t stop the wall outlet from trying. Energy is slowly wasted this way. Additionally, appliances can be another culprit. If you only use an appliance occasionally, don’t leave it plugged in or else it will cost you money on your utility bill.

It’s easy to know that you should turn off lights when you leave a room. Remembering to do so can be a little trickier. But doing so can really add up. Additionally, after you’ve had a ceiling fan installed by your local electrician, remember to turn that off as well. Fans cool people, not the air in the room, so you would be wasting electricity allowing a fan to run in an empty room.

LED light bulbs and fixtures are the best alternatives for many reasons.

LED lights are available in several shades of white. These shades are referred to as a bulb’s correlated color temperature (National Institute of General Medical Sciences, states that, “Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment.”

According to writes, “Several studies have documented the importance of light in reducing depression, decreasing fatigue, improving alertness, modulating circadian rhythms, and treating conditions such as hyperbilirubinemia among infants. Further, the presence of windows in the workplace and access to daylight have been linked with increased satisfaction with the work environment.” Windows are the best method of accessing daylight, but cool white LED lights along with the right color temperatures at the right times, can have the same effect on the body.

Warmer color temperatures lead to the release of melatonin, which causes drowsiness. This is appropriate during bedtime hours, but causes problems for those who need to stay awake, such as overnight nurses and doctors. Introducing natural or cool white light to hallways, operating rooms, and nurse stations can help hospital staff, especially overnight workers, feel more alert and energetic.

EPA has a list of cleanup procedures, such as having everyone leave the room, opening a doors or windows, shutting off heat and air-conditioning systems, and other specific instructions.

Fluorescent and incandescent bulbs also emit low doses of UV radiation that can damage not only facility materials but can also damage skin and eyes. According to a CBSLA.com discusses the results of another study that had similar findings. In this article, it is said that, “. . . exposure to the (fluorescent) bulbs could lead to premature aging and cancer.”

Continued UV exposure is also harmful to the eyes. A LED lights won’t flicker or emit any color spikes. Color fluctuations and flicker can cause negative effects, such as headaches and dizziness. When used for hospital lighting, LED bulbs and fixtures can improve overall health and eliminate the possibility of additional health risks posed by fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.

Seeing colors as they truly are is critical in health care environments. Inaccurate color rendering of skin or blood could lead to a misdiagnosis or failure to see signs of infection or jaundice. The spectral graph below can be helpful in understanding the advantage of high-CRI light sources. Lights with a low CRI will show fewer colors while high-CRI lights cover more of the spectrum. A light source’s ability to show more colors increases its accuracy in revealing the true colors of people, objects, and surroundings.

FreemanWhite, a health-care-focused design firm reports, “. . .light fixtures with a high CRI . . .  help caregivers assess rashes, lesions, and skin pigmentation.” They go on to say, “In the interest of avoiding liability claims, better lighting quality can enhance a caregiver’s ability to diagnose correctly, identify reactions, prevent secondary infections, and minimize readmissions.” High-CRI LED lights can also help prevent medication errors.

Another method of LED hospital lighting control is the use of occupancy sensors. These sensors will save money beyond those that result from reduced energy consumption. Sensors will also extend the life span of bulbs and fixtures even further by turning them off when no one is in the area. These sensors are best suited for low-traffic areas.

A surge suppressor, commonly referred to as a surge protector, is a tool designed to protect electrical equipment from sudden increases in voltage. The suppressor works by limiting the voltage allotted to an electrical device, by grounding any voltage beyond the appropriate threshold.

Suppressors are often used in industrial settings with devices installed in communication systems, power distribution panels and process control systems. Smaller versions of suppressors are used in homes to protect household appliances from voltage hazards.  These types of suppressors are different from protecting plug strips that are commonly used for plugging multiple electronics into the same area.