This is the second year the United States is focusing its efforts to really bring energy conservation to the forefront of conversation. We have all heard about fossil fuels being depleted and the demand each house puts on the power grid. We are constantly told we have to be more frugal with electricity. It is for the benefit of the world as well as our bank accounts. Saving energy will ultimately save money on the electric bill and make each one of our carbon footprints just a little bit smaller. Your Burbank electrician and the team at The Electric Connection wants you to know about Energy Action Month, which is this October.

Right now, the government in the United States is taking action to reduce their own energy consumption. It starts at the top and by their good influence, hopefully citizens will follow suit. An electrician in Burbank has some ways that will help you take action this October and develop new habits that will ultimately lead to less energy usage, lower electric bills and a smaller demand on today’s power sources.

Things to do right now include;

*Turn up the AC a couple degrees or turn up the heater a couple of degrees *Switch out those old bulbs with LEDs (this may require a different light fixture)

Things to Schedule

*Get a ceiling fan installed by an electrician, Burbank homeowners can really save money on their heating and cooling costs with this one device

*Schedule an energy audit to get an idea where you use the most electricity and how you can cut back

These are 4 easy, actionable steps that will help you save money and do something great for the environment. Give The Electric Connection a call if you need a new light fixture or ceiling fan installed.

Everyone loves a beautifully decorated and well lit house on Christmas, but you should remember to keep safety in mind. A lot of lights, cords, and wires are covering your house, and although they are beautiful, you should be aware of what you are risking and maybe consider some alternatives. Here are some tips and tricks to make sure you stay cheery and bright:

Don’t use Grandma’s old Lights – I know they may mean something to you and they might be charming and rustic, but they are not safe to use considering their age. You could be posing a risk. Instead consider using cooler LEDs that are longer lasting.

Keep Cords Together and out of the Way – Make sure all cords are out of the way of where people may walk so no one trips or rips the cords out. Consider tape or clips to keep them together and out of the way!

Damaged Goods – If it looks frayed or damaged in any way, don’t risk it! A skilled electrician might be able to contact an electrician.

When you’re purchasing LED strip lights, there are numerous details and specifications upon which to base your decision. Color, length, and intensity are some of the major deciding factors, but there are many unthought-of product aspects that further customize light strips and what they’ll require when it’s time to install them. For example, a decision between 24-volt strip lights could change the products needed for your project.

While it depends on a light strip’s current draw, LED type, and number of LEDs, 24-volt LED strip lights tend to have longer maximum runs than 12-volt strips. This is because higher voltage carries more power. All strips have a maximum run, which is the length of continuous strip that can be powered without experiencing voltage drop. Voltage drop happens when the supplied energy of a power source is reduced as electric current flows through wire (or any other pieces of equipment that do not supply voltage on a circuit). If a run of strip is too long, reduced energy across the strip will lessen its intensity near the end.

Because they can handle more power, many 24-volt LED strip lights tend to have brighter LEDs, dual-row LED configurations, or single-row configurations of more LEDs. In these instances, maximum run might be the same as a 12-volt strip. However, keep in mind that these are more powerful strips with more LEDs or higher LED intensities. An identical 12-volt LED strip light would have a shorter maximum run.

Make sure to check any light strip’s specifications or description for its maximum run.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.

We’ve touched a bit on the subject of Do It Yourself solutions in the past. Mostly making mention here or there of when it is, and is not, a good idea. But at Kolb Electric, your safety is always our absolute primary goal. So rather than leave it at a mention, we wanted to take some time to tell you some important points. 

We support all kinds of on-your-own projects. It’s a great way to get a new skill set, or polish one you already have. Plus, nothing beats that feeling of accomplishment you get from creating or building something all on your own. But when it comes to DIY electrical work, we would firmly call it a really bad idea.

It really comes down to one major point: harm. It is entirely too easy to cause harm to yourself, to others, or to your personal property. If you follow along with our blog, you may remember a point we made in the article about “What It Takes To Become An Electrician”. In that post, we mentioned that anyone pursuing an education in electrical work pay very close attention to the safety aspects of learning.

This is because electricity, by nature, is highly volatile, and can be hard to predict without training. It only takes one, single misstep and suddenly you, or your home, is on fire. There are plenty of articles out there on how to wire an outlet, or replace a ceiling fan, but please be aware that 1) these articles are rarely comprehensive and 2) reading something and doing it are two very different things.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that roughly 400 domestic electrocutions occur every year. And of the estimated 360,900 residential building fires reported, the leading cause is electrical issues and mistakes. We really want to nail home the point that this kind of work takes training and experience to work well. Without these two things, you risk:

Fires that result in catastrophic property loss can even be caused by incorrect bulb wattage, so please keep in mind that something as intense as rewiring should be handled by a trained and certified professional.

Next time you need electrical work, trust in the certified professionals at Kolb to get the job done right! Don’t risk yourself, and your investments on a personal side project. Contact certified electricians today to learn more about our comprehensive electrical services.

Whether you are a contractor working for well-to-do clients, a lighting designer, a home remodeler, or just a fan of carefully planned home design, luxury bathrooms are fun and engaging to admire. Especially when you see something new or innovative that catches you off guard. “I never thought of THAT,” you might say. Well, I’m here today with something good to distract you from whatever else you could be reading or doing – a stream of 11 large, high resolution photos of stunning luxury bathrooms. The topic of focus? Lighting, of course. Check out these awesome luxury bathroom lighting solutions.

1. Cove Lighting Is Ultra Modern Design’s Best Friend

Well, first of all, this bathroom has a sauna in it. It’s awesomeness should be momentarily acknowledged. Now that that’s out of the way, check out the way the cove lighting brings the beautiful wood tones to life. The recessed lights provide great general light. Like the simple angular design motif, the recessed lighting here is not meant to call attention to itself but to do its job humbly. That’s a sign of restraint in design that can really work to create a successful final product.

3. Cove Lighting with Mini Recessed Lights

Oh, look, it’s the old sconce on copper trick! I jest: This is not old hat but highly innovative. I love all the shiny surfaces in this luxury bathroom. That tub isn’t half bad either, and it looks especially alluring with the inconspicuous can lights and cove lighting above it. Full disclosure: I thought that thing on the right was a light bulb, but it’s just the reflection of the ceiling above the tub. That’s the thing about shiny surfaces: They reflect light. The light in this luxury bathroom is really fun.

5. Mega Modern Chandelier

This is just so simple and so perfect. This kind of design is almost difficult to talk about. Instead of laboring over how to say exactly why this design is so cohesive and successful, I think I’ll let it speak for itself. Just notice how that little bit of amber colored cove lighting draws the eye. What a nice focal point, whose position at the back of the room makes the whole luxury bathroom look bigger and more sweeping. The warm light scallop from the recessed spot lights above the tub is nice, too: Just a splash of warm light makes this place very inviting.

7. Recessed on Mirrored Ceilings with Scallops

Again, modern design employs cove lighting. Are you noticing a theme? If you’re trying to create a more modern look in your home, adding via via deehouzz.com

There’s kind of cool thing going on here. The vanity lights match the sconces over the tub, and their shape matches the arched ceiling, large window, and even counters (notice how they bulge out). This luxury bathroom may not be the most expensive of this collection, but it does transmit one very important lesson: Every design element must have a purpose. If all these shapes line up, it’s because careful thought has been put into seeing all the design elements as parts of one visionary whole. For lighting enthusiasts, this means that the shape and look of the fixtures are important in addition to the warmth and color rendering of the light source. I hope this and the other photos of the best luxury bathroom lighting I have recently seen has inspired you and given you a place to return if you’re ever involved in a bathroom lighting project.