When it comes to crime, it’s evident that there’s an appeal to darkness. Less visibility means less chance of getting caught. The 2014 National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)—an annual Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program publication that’s released by the FBI—includes detailed crime data, such as time of day and type of offense. More than 18,000 law enforcement agencies participate in the UCR Program and provide data voluntarily. NIBRS’ Crimes Against Persons data shows that of the 1,093,466 incidents reported in 2014, 562,104 (51.4 percent) were between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Crimes Against Property data shows a lower—yet significant—39.4 percent of 3,493,904 reported incidents taking place between those same hours.

In an attempt to lessen crime and increase energy savings, many cities and businesses have started replacing traditional high-intensity discharge (HID) lights with LED bulbs, light engines, and fixtures. These actions have paid off. In 2008, Los Angeles began a project to retrofit 215,000 lights with LED lights. Since implementation of the project, color-rendering indexes (CRI) than HID fixtures. CRI refers to how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects, people, and surroundings. The CRI of an HID bulb can range from zero (high-pressure sodium) to about 65 (metal-halide). LED fixtures are capable of having CRIs of 75 and higher. Lights with a CRI of 80 or higher are considered to show colors most accurately and increase visibility, which is especially important for security purposes and parking lot surveillance.

When in prime working condition, air ducts are a great option for distributing heated and cooled air throughout one’s home. However, serious problems can arise when those air ducts are compromised in any way. If you find that you encounter any of the issues detailed below when heating and/or cooling your home, let a member of our staff know immediately. We are more than happy to meticulously complete your duct testing services in Boston, MA. Armed with the information gathered, our IAQ technicians can go about determining precisely what the best course of action for your situation may be. Give FB Electrical Services a call today to schedule your duct testing services with a consummate professional.

Are you perfectly comfortable in your living room, only to enter your bedroom and feel anything but? It could be due to air leaks in the ductwork servicing that area of the house. If air is leaking out of your air ducts, you really don’t know precisely where it is going to end up; it will not be, though, where it ought to be.

Have you noticed that your heating and cooling costs have spiked, despite the fact that you have not been using your HVAC system in an abnormal manner? It too could indicate that you have leaky ductwork. While the conditioned air distributed by the system will wind up somewhere, it is not guaranteed to wind up where it should be. This can lead your HVAC system to work overtime as it tries to sufficiently heat or cool areas affected by air leaks.

Don’t ignore strange hissing sounds coming from your HVAC system when it is running. Yes, your heater and/or air conditioner is going to make some noise as it operates. However, this hissing sound can actually be the sound of air actively escaping your ductwork. The only way to be sure if your air ducts are compromised is to schedule professional duct testing services.

Are you impressed by the nation's current lineup of efficient electrical appliances and devices? You ain't seen nothing yet, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The DOE recently released a report previewing some of the big technological breakthroughs that are poised to help you get the most out of your residential electrical work. These advances promise to reduce the energy consumption of the average household while still delivering effective performance. Read on to learn what your next refrigerator, clothes dryer and lighting system could look like.

More Efficient and Effective Electrical Work

The Department of Energy predicts the following leaps forward for some of our commonly used appliances:

Cut Back on Energy Use Sooner, Not Later

Don't wait until the future to beef up the efficiency in your home electrical work. For help identifying opportunities to cut back on energy use, contact a licensed electrician to conduct a thorough energy efficiency audit.

Electrical motors are wonderful devices that are used in a myriad of ways, making things easier in our daily lives as well as a wide range of industrial applications. When these gadgets fail, work often grinds to a halt till they’re back up and running, and the reasons for electrical motor failure can range from the commonplace to the bizarre.

While the list of possible causes can go on forever, we’ll take a look at some of the most common ones here:

Exposure to high heat is a top culprit for all kinds of equipment failure, and ranks as the number one reason for motor malfunctions and deterioration. Optimal running temperatures extend motor life, which is why they should be your first priority.

In fact, most of the other possible reasons for electrical motor malfunctions also lead to the generation of extra heat. A rise of even a few degrees can cause trouble over time, and if motor windings are exposed to an extra 10° C of heat, the life of their insulation drops by half!