A whole-house generator offers you the chance to go about your daily routine in relative normality, even when the power from the electric grid is cut out. Unlike portable generators, into which you must plug chosen appliances directly, a whole-house generator is actually hardwired directly into your home’s electrical system. When the power goes out, you can either start up this generator or, if equipped with an automatic transfer switch, wait for it to start itself up within moments. Once it does, you’ll be able to run your appliances and HVAC systems, as well as your gadgets and electronics, with the same ease and convenience as if the power were on. The capabilities of your whole-house generator, and its capacity to support systems of various electrical needs, will depend upon its size and quality of installation. We’ll make sure that you have what you need to keep your home up and running.

A portable generator may run on gasoline, but this is not the right fuel for a whole-house generator. These larger generators may take diesel fuel or run on propane, both of which will have to be stored on site, or you can opt for a whole-house generator fueled by natural gas, which is piped directly to the system. Contact a member of our staff to discuss your options so that you can choose your generator with well-deserved confidence.

LEED) is a program that offers certifications for green buildings. The third-party verification program was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as a means for healthier, sustainable, environmentally friendly, more efficient, buildings, homes, and neighborhoods. In a nutshell, LEED supplies the guidelines for creating a green building. Using individual points-based rating systems that differ by project type, building projects can achieve Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum statuses. Project types can include new building design and construction, building operations and maintenance, interior design and construction, homes, and neighborhood development. For each project type, LEED has a list of credits with specific requirements regarding anything from building materials to bicycle storage. Points are awarded based on the degree to which the requirements are met. There are several credits that include LED lighting is the first choice of any builder trying to achieve an LEED status.

The following LEED credits relate to lighting for new construction:

full-cutoff LED wall packs that are designed to reduce glare by emitting illumination downward instead of outward. Many indoor and outdoor LED lights come with or can be used with dusk-to-dawn or PIR motion sensors to prevent wasted light.

A19 bulbs to powerful EAp2 – Minimum Energy Performance

Buildings must meet a minimum level of energy efficiency to receive points for this credit. The goal is to minimize environmental and economic problems that can be caused by high energy use. As mentioned above, LED lights are extremely efficient and can dramatically reduce a building’s carbon footprint.

dimmable under-hutch LED strip lights with handheld remotes and bulbs, or other dimmers.

SFGATE, “The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warns that, given the current trends, energy-related emissions will increase by 70 percent by 2050. This can accelerate the negative consequences of climate change, including higher temperatures and a rise in the frequency of extreme weather events.” Lessening energy consumption with LED lights and renewable energy sources will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help prevent that prediction.

website, the USGBC states that 92.2 percent of 7,100 LEED-certified new construction projects are improving energy performance by at least 10.5 percent. In addition to other methods of energy improvements, lighting plays a key role. One building can have hundreds of lights. Using LED lights will not only help achieve an LEED status, but they will also contribute to a greener future.

Having to unexpectedly close the doors of your business is a guaranteed way to lose money because not only are you unable to serve your immediate customer base, but also you are losing out on potential new customers because you are unavailable. And when you are forced to keep the entrance locked because of an electrical issue, more often than not the problem could have been prevented. With regular inspections of your electrical services from a commercial electrician, there should be no surprises that ultimately cost you a great deal of money. However, in the event that your business does have an electrical problem, there is no reason to wait it out. Instead, your business could use a local electrician who offers emergency electrician services, and in Des Moines, that means putting in a call to Electrical Gurus.

At Electrical Gurus, we offer 24 hour electrician services so that your business can start serving the community again as quickly as possible. Whether you are running a local pub or a laundromat, our electricians can handle any sort of electrical problem from panel replacements to rewiring and everything in between. We understand that electrical issues are never convenient, and you need to get your business running again as soon as possible. So if a storm has caused damage to the electrical systems at your Des Moines business after hours or if a faulty appliance has unexpectedly caused an electrical short that is bringing your work day to a halt, give the experts at Electrical Gurus a call. Our electricians are on call 24 hours a day to handle whatever electrical issues your business has. Give us a call today at 515-446-7040.

Security cameras provide constant monitoring of your home even when you are not there. Unless you are a superhero, there’s no way you can be two places at once. It’s practically impossible. Security cameras are a great investment that can be your eyes even when you cannot be there in person. You don’t have to install a full security system, as it can be very expensive and intrusive, but installing a couple of cameras in your home can go a long way. Check out these reasons to install security cameras in your home this summer!

Keep an Eye on Your Children

When you leave your kids by themselves, you don’t have control of where they go or what will happen to them. There’s always that fear that something terrible will happen to your kids while you are away. Although that scenario is not likely, it’s good to have a few cameras around just in case. Security cameras can help you watch your children when playing in the front yard or near the street, and this can alert them to strangers approaching or children wandering too close to the street.

You rely on babysitters and trust to take care of your children properly. During an evening out, you can remotely access internally mounted security cameras to monitor how your babysitter interacts with your children. If there should be any issues, you can know about them immediately if you are monitoring in real time, or you can watch taped footage later to ensure that the babysitter is acting in their best interests when watching your children.

Dissuade Possible Vandals and Thieves

Even if you live in the safest neighborhood in Virginia, there are those few criminals that are always around and tend to target the least prepared and most vulnerable amongst us. Security cameras are an excellent way for your home to be on guard against these risks. Those who are looking to break into a home often look for security cameras and observe the property prior to acting. they should see security cameras positioned around the home, it is more than likely that they simply move along to another home that is not as well protected.

Security cameras have an added benefit of protection with the ability to capture a break in or vandal and save the images as evidence. Sometimes security cameras are in place with the added protection of burglar alarms to ensure your home is safe all around. This can be very helpful to police agencies by providing them the evidence they need to pursue individuals who commit crimes in your home.

Monitor Your Home Remotely

If you’re taking a long vacation and are worried about leaving your home unattended for several days, consider installing a few security cameras. Security cameras give you the ability to monitor places like a remote vacation property or your home when you are not there. This allows you to be notified quickly if there is something wrong with your remote home or property and you can alert the local authorities to the trouble. That way, you have peace of mind and can relax and enjoy your vacation!

This year marks our 15th anniversary, so we have been celebrating by taking trips down memory lane to 1999, the year of Pegasus Lighting’s birth. This month, of course, we are checking out what was going on in September 1999. Remember when Viacom merged with CBS, the Sega Dreamcast temporarily entranced the population, and lots of crazy stuff happened at the MTV Video Music Awards (In fact, the first five items on this list occurred during the VMAs)? Come check it out!

1. Lauren Hill Is the Queen of Hip Hop

Lil Kim had decided to wear a rather risque outfit to the VMAs, and Diana Ross decided to give the world her opinion of Kim’s outfit.

3. Mothers of Slain Rappers Unite

By presenting a host of male drag performers dressed as the singer in her past music videos, MTV paid tribute to the most nominated artist in VMA history, Madonna.

5. Beastie Boys Back with Vengeance

The first entry in the sixth genereation of video game consoles, slightly predating the Playstation 2, Xbox, and GameCube, was Sega’s Dreamcast. The last console Sega would ever release, its popularity was shortlived.

7. Viacom, Corporate Behemoth

U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno launches an independent investigation into the 1993 fire at the Branch Davidian church near Waco, Texas after watching a documentary film about it. Who says the movies don’t influence society?

9. John Elway’s Jersey Number Retired

NASA annouunced that it had lost contact with the Mars Climate Orbiter. Oops.

11. Ally McBeal Steals the Show

The Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series was given to The Practice. Also nominated were ER, Law & Order, NYPD Blue, and The Sopranos.

13. John Lithgow’s Still Got It!

The Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Acress in a Comedy Series was given to Helen Hunt for her role on Mad About You.

15. The Sopranos