This year at the mall in Glendale, I swear I saw holiday lights go up right after Labor Day. And, how much do you want to bet that Black Friday starts by the first of November next year? Stores all over are initiating it way before I have digested my Thanksgiving dinner which is usually served by 2PM. I thought the point of that famous shopping day was that it kicked off the holiday shopping season, now I am expected to get up from Thanksgiving dinner and head straight to the mall. Actually, if someone else would clean up the mess, that might not be a bad idea.

Okay, accuse me of sounding like Ebenezer Scrooge. It won’t be the first time, since I have told many that I think this well-loved holiday season should only be celebrated every other year. We would still honor any religious purposes annually, but we could skip the hustle and bustle of all the decorating and gift buying. Time goes by so fast anyway, most of us would not even notice. We would all save money, which would help alleviate stress, and Santa would have a well-deserved hiatus. And think of all the electricity costs we would lower if we only put up the lights every two years.

Speaking of electricity, I did soften a little bit about this whole holiday thing. For the first time in 5 years, I decided to put one row of outdoor lighting across my front window. When I added the tree inside with its colorful light bulbs, all went dark quickly. No matter what I did, it soon became clear that I needed to find a Glendale electrician. Bah Humbug evolved into more like Electrician, Glendale, and I was feeling grumpy.

Not knowing any electrician in Glendale, or any where else for that matter, I called a company I found online called The Electric Connection. Bright and early the following morning, a pleasant and knowledgeable young man arrived at my door. I kept reminding myself, all this was because of the holiday season that happens way too often.

Did you know that those colorful strings of holiday lights put a burden on really old electrical circuits? I would definitely be more of a complainer if all this holiday stuff had not been the real indicator of major electrical issues happening at my house. Events happen like they are supposed to, and sometimes we might miss why if we don’t pay attention. My new Glendale electrician enjoyed his time working at my place as I listened to his stories about working as a volunteer with needy kids during the holiday season. He enlightened me to the fact that this season brought out the spirit of giving that was so important, he wished it would happen two times a year. I didn’t dare tell him about my wishes to have it occur every two years. However, I could tell he saw me melt as I asked how I could get involved with his volunteer efforts.

As a result of my holiday season fiasco, I now have a new friend, a great Glendale electrician to use and refer, new electrical circuits, and my “electrician, Glendale, California” has turned into “Happy Holidays” to everyone this year and next.

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The search for commercial lighting systems can be confusing, misleading, and overwhelming at times. With all of the different terms, labels, and technologies being used how can anyone expect you to make any decisions with all of that going on?

Well, this post is going to at least relieve your confusion about DesignLights Consortium vs EnergyStar approved and qualified lighting products. There is a difference, and you need to be well aware of what it is when you are looking into a new lighting system for commercial Click here to read it, then come back to finish the rest (opens in a new window)!

The major difference between DLC and EnergyStar is that DLC is only for commercial lighting products while EnergyStar is more focused on residential purposes and applications, with a minor hint of commercial lighting in there as well. This makes DLC the more “go to” organization when it comes to commercial lighting qualifications as they are seen as the experts on commercial lighting products and technologies.

Anyways, when it comes to becoming EnergyStar qualified for a lighting product, a product needs to pass these (along with others) guidelines to be able to be EnergyStar qualified:

Conclusion

After this quick, simple, and brief overview of the differences between EnergyStar and DLC; we hope you’ve found some light on the topic (get it, light).

In a general sense, most of your commercial lighting purchases will include DLC qualified products, especially when buying for warehouses, factories, parking lots, street lights, and the like all except for those listed.

Are you confused on any point? Have any comments or questions? Comment them below and we will surely find an answer or response!

If you’ve ever known someone who had a house fire break out in the middle of the night, or had a circuit breaker issue at 3 AM, then you know how important 24 hour electricians are. Like many issues related to being a homeowner, electrical problems rarely occur neatly between the hours of 9 AM-5 PM, Monday – Friday. Even when they do, it’s rare that an electrician can be dispatched to fix them right away, which can leave the homeowner and their family vulnerable to dangerous conditions.

Even in this day and age of modern technology and electricity, many house fires are caused by a fault in the home’s electrical system. It could be due to old or faulty wiring; it could simply be a bad wire that has created a spark, or it could be an overload. Whatever the reason, the results can be devastating.

In addition to house fires, faulty wiring can also cause less serious but still risky issues such as frequent blackouts or circuit breaker problems. This may not be life-threatening the way a fire is, but it can cost you money in both electrical repair costs and costs to replace appliances. When appliances are constantly exposed to electrical outages and surges, they can wear out much faster, meaning they need to be repaired or replaced more often.

If you contact a 24-hour electrician as soon as you notice a concern, you can head off many major electrical problems while they are still small. While the cost may be greater than calling for an electrician during business hours, a 24 hour electrician can provide peace of mind during situations that can be very stressful. They can replace circuits, make repairs on wires and wiring systems, and ensure your home is safe to inhabit. In the event larger repairs are required, they can make sure the parts you need are obtained and installed before too much time passes.

If you’ve never had to call for an electrician, plumber, or another service at any time besides business hours, you might be unfamiliar with how the process works. Here’s what happens when you make that 3 AM call for an emergency electrician:

No one likes to think about needing an emergency electrician. After all, the cost for an after-hours appointment with any service will be high, and the news may not be positive. However, when it comes to your home, major electrical problems can cause house fires and other issues which will cost you money over the long run. Reaching out to an emergency electrician at the first sign of trouble can help save not only your home but your life as well.

The march of consumer product efficiency continues. Modems, routers and other internet equipment are the latest items to get a bump in energy efficiency thanks to a voluntary agreement between manufacturers and trade associations. The standards mean that new equipment should use about 10 to 20 percent less electricity than the gear currently on the market. The bottom line – reduced energy bills for consumers.

Homes Across the Country

The change is ultimately expected to affect 80 million homes in the United States. Currently, the terms run through 2017 and require manufacturers and providers to make their efficiency data available publicly – ask an electrician if you need help interpreting the data or picking out the best model once the new equipment hits the shelves.

“DOE appreciates industry’s voluntary commitment to improving the energy efficiency of small network equipment, and looks forward to the progress they can make and verification of the impacts at the appropriate time,” Dr. Kathleen Hogan, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency, U.S. Department of Energy, said in a press release. 

Preparing for the Internet of Things

The voluntary agreement was hammered out among the Consumer Electronics Association, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and the companies that make the equipment. This efficiency upgrade comes at a crucial time – not only are modems and routers essential for internet access, they will only become more important as smart technology advances and more of your household systems are hooked up to the internet.

“This agreement will begin saving consumers energy and money – and do so long before any mandatory regulatory standards could take effect – while protecting innovation and competition,” Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, said in a press release. “By setting requirements for energy-efficient broadband equipment now, the agreement will lock-in efficiencies at the dawn of the Internet of Things, which depends on strong broadband networking.”

Following the Cable Box Lead

This agreement is similar to a voluntary deal worked out by manufacturers of cable set-top boxes, in which the companies worked with the U.S. government to set an attainable benchmark. The deals are voluntary out of practicality, because federal regulations can take years to take effect and can be quickly rendered obsolete by ever-advancing technology.

“Our industry has proven that voluntary, energy-conservation agreements are the best means of effectively improving energy efficiency, while recognizing the lightning-fast pace of tech innovation,” Shapiro said.

Similar to the set-top boxes, modems and internet equipment are nearly ubiquitous in U.S. households, and they draw power nearly all the time unless the family pulls the plug at night. That means there's a lot of room for cutting back on their electricity usage. If you aren't sure whether the energy savings are worth upgrading your modem or router, ask an electrician to help calculate your consumption and offer strategies on how to get the best return on your conservation investment.