Today’s infographic breaks down the essential facts about energy efficiency. It explains why energy efficiency is so important, and goes into detail about how wasting energy can harm the environment. Then, after convincing you that conserving power is a good idea, it offers a comprehensive guide to help you start saving more energy at home, assessing the efficacy of your appliances, insulation, and of course, your lighting.

I especially like this infographic for the Incandescent/CFL/LED comparison chart at the very bottom. Good stuff!

In this high-tech age, our gadgets can be essential lifelines. Smartphones, tablets, laptops and other devices are what help us connect with colleagues, avoid boredom and find our way from Point A to Point B. They can seem almost magic, but there’s one great equalizer that limits them all: battery life.

If you depend on your devices, keeping them charged is critical. But life doesn’t always work that way; you often can’t stay tethered to an outlet for an hour or more, and sometimes an outlet just isn’t there when you need it. And that’s where portable chargers come in.

Power to Go

A portable charger is like a second battery for your device, and some models hold enough juice to charge your devices a few times over. Charge your trusty portable charger at the same time you charge your phone, and you can walk around with double, triple or even quadruple the battery life you’re accustomed to.

The portable charger market is getting bigger all the time, so choosing a model can feel a little overwhelming. But that also means that if you know what factors to consider, you can find the perfect charger for your needs.

When shopping for a portable charger, consider these key attributes:

Size and weight: The smallest portable chargers are about the size of a tube of lipstick, while others may be as big as your hand and nearly an inch thick. Similarly, some are virtually weightless, compared to larger chargers that are even heavier than they look. You might want one of each -- one for your pocket and another for your briefcase.

Charge capacity: There is a huge range of available charging capacities -- that is, how much energy each charger can store at once. Capacity is measured in milliamps per hour (mAh), and models can range from around 3,000 mAh (enough to double the battery life of your smartphone) to more than 20,000 mAh, which is ideal for laptops.

Charge speed: Nobody likes to wait, and some charger manufacturers capitalize on this by emphasizing charging speed in their designs. It’s common for chargers to be marketed based on how quickly they can charge common devices, so look for this detail if speed is important to you.

Connections and cords: Virtually all portable chargers have a USB port, but some may support several types of connections and come equipped with a variety of cords.

Special features: While many chargers just stick to Job #1, others may have features like built-in flashlights or emergency alarms.

Durability: Portable chargers are particularly popular among those who like to go off the beaten path while remaining connected. That’s why some manufacturers make their chargers waterproof, shatterproof and otherwise tough as nails.

Price: When price is an object, you’ll be able to find some chargers for as little as about $10. For the most durable chargers with the highest capacities, prices can exceed $100.

When you need a recharge on the fly, portable chargers are clearly the way to go. But if you ever have trouble getting a charge in your own home, don’t hesitate to reach out to your professional local electricians!

Since 1989 approximately 1 billion feet of CSST gas line or yellow gas line has been installed.  Nearby lighting strikes can cause an electrical surge and puncture the CSST line.  Bonding is considered electrical work and should only be performed by a qualified electrician.

In new construction we bond all gas lines.  Currently about 500,000 new homes per year have CSST gas line installed in them.  However, CSST gas line is considered safe when properly installed in your home.  Part of the installed properly guidelines refers to bonding your CSST gas line, your local electrician can do this for you.  If your home is more than two years old we recommended you have a licensed electrician check for proper gas line bonding.  Many real estate transactions and inspections require the CSST line to be bonded prior to the sale.   A good source of information on CSST lines can be found at CSSTSafety.com.

“CSST should NOT be confused with flexible gas appliance connectors – the product that joins a moveable appliance to your home or building’s gas supply line. The difference is flexible connectors attach directly to the moveable appliance from the wall or floor. CSST is usually routed beneath, through and alongside floor joists in your basement, inside interior wall cavities and on top of ceiling joists in attic spaces.” CSST Safety.com

If you would like more information or to check to see if your CSST line is properly bonded please feel free to Contact us anytime!  We bond CSST gas lines in the Des Moines area and surrounding communities.

A Tiffany lamp is a style of fixture commonly associated with the Art Nouveau movement. The term is sometimes used broadly to refer to stained glass but it gets its name from the original creator and design director, Louis Comfort Tiffany – the son of Tiffany & Co. founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany.

The first Tiffany lamp was produced around 1895. In line with Tiffany’s vision that nature should inspire design, each piece featured elements of nature or geometric shapes to create intricate patterns. Each lamp was handmade by Louis himself or by an artist in his studio.

The bases of the lamps were typically sculpted from bronze with shades created from hundreds of cut glass shapes fashioned together with copper foil. These works of art took many hours of skilled craftsmanship to complete and remain popular to this day, thanks to their complex beauty.