Have you ever thought about what you could do to lend a hand to our shrinking natural resources? Maybe you have cut down the amount of gas you need on a weekly basis or even switched to an electric car. You have probably noticed your pocketbook is a little fatter after cutting down on your gas bill and now that you have a little taste of what it is like to rely on other energy sources you want to learn more ways. Solar power for your home is another way you can save a little money every month while doing something good for the environment. A Pasadena electrician, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you make your home a little greener.

Modern technology has afforded us advancement in solar technology. The panels are much more neighborhood friendly and can be mounted directly on the roof of your home. They won’t take up any space in your yard. The panels are aesthetically appealing and will typically not violate any covenants that may be in your neighborhood. Because of the electrical components involved, a solar power system should only be installed by a certified electrician. Pasadena residents will want their solar power to be safe without worry an appliance will get ruined by a lack of power.

You can choose just how much solar power you want to produce by buying or leasing one or several panels. The amount of electricity you need will depend on how big your home is and how much power you need. You don’t have to worry about “running out” of electricity. When your solar power system is installed, you will still be connected to the main power grid. Your electric company will be your back up electric supply. In fact, if your solar power system produces more electricity than you use, you can typically sell it to your power company. Give The Electric Connection a call today to learn more about solar power and how it can work for you.

For a professional electrician, Austin presents its own set of challenges. During summer months, electricians in Austin are often working outside without the AC many Texas residents enjoy. Extreme summer heat like the record summer temperatures we all saw in 2011 becomes compounded when working in an attic, where temperatures can quickly reach lethal levels. Fortunately, the extreme heat is almost behind us; although this year, it often seems as if Summer just doesn’t want to end. Fortunately, Austin is blessed with fairly mild winter months. There can be exceptions, however, as we saw earlier in the year. And when winter ice storms down trees and power lines, the electricians who are working to restore power are outside in the cold.

If temperature extremes aren’t enough, electricians have to deal with other hostile elements like wasp nests inside electrical boxes, and we’re not even going to discuss what might be living in the crawl spaces beneath homes, where electricians often go to work on wiring. Needless to say, electrical work is not for the weak or faint of heart. And besides toughness and courage, electricians need to be smart, because they’re working with lethal quantities of electrical current every day, and one wrong move can be the last thing an electrician ever does. Besides being tough and smart, the professional licensed electricians at Bryant Electric Service have the knowledge and skill to inspect your home or building for potential hazards, correctly install life-saving equipment like ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI). They can also install automatic backup generators to keep your electricity running smoothly despite the brown outs, rolling blackouts, wildfires, and ice storms which have left many other Texans without power for hours, and sometimes for weeks.

The next time you need electrical work or a safety inspection, give Bryant Electric Service a call. We work hard to deliver the quality of service you expect, and we’re proud of our tough, smart, and highly skilled electricians.

Your kitchen serves as the centerpiece for your home. It’s a place where family members, friends and new acquaintances come together to not only break bread, but to engage in meaningful – and sometimes contentious – conversations (Does anyone follow the “no political talk at the table” rule anymore?). It’s where kids come to conduct science experiments and to complete their homework. It’s where friends come to play games. All in all, it’s the heart of your home,  a space wherein all should feel welcomed.

Because much of the magic happens in the kitchen, it’s important to have the right lighting scheme. Make sure to follow these useful tips on achieving the right kitchen lighting balance!

Unfortunately, one type of light won’t quite suffice, so to achieve the results you want, you’re going to have to layer.  We recommend implementing three layers of light: task, accent and ambient. You’ll notice that the names speak for themselves.

Investing in a home is no easy feat; it requires extensive planning and saving, not to mention patience. But at the end of the day, you will be happy that you made the decision. Because you’ve invested substantial time, money, and energy into make your home a place of solace, it’s important to ensure it’s safe and up to code. This is where we come in.

Every electrical company is going to be different, from the service electricians who come to your home to the quality of service they provide, and of course, to the types of services they provide. Make sure you choose a company who will always have your safety and best interest in mind at all times.

Should you elect to join our home protection membership for $9.95 per month, here are the VIP benefits you will reap:

Remember that peace of mind we mentioned earlier? Well, here it is! We understand the value of being able to rest easy knowing that no matter what, someone is always there to pull through for you and your family. Joining our home protection membership means having constant peace of mind.  Need first-rate service fast? We’ve got you covered with same-day service. Want competitive pricing? With our discount repair and replacement services, you’re guaranteed a cheaper price. We’ve always got your back – that’s a promise.

CaseStudy Design, has become locally popular for their unique light fixtures that are made out of … wait for it … books! If you’re as surprised as I was when I first learned about CaseStudy Design and its owner/founder/designer Chall Gray, who are engaged in the practice of upcycling old things like books into lovely light fixtures, then read on for an interesting interview with a book-lover turned lamp designer.

1. Hello, Chall, and thanks for talking with me. First, can you tell me a little about your background and upbringing?

I’m a native of western North Carolina, and grew up on a farm out in the country. Design was something that gradually became more and more central to my life and predilections the older I’ve gotten.

2. So you’ve grown up surrounded by upcyclable things. That makes me wonder: Why books? Why not make lamps out of tissue boxes, skulls, or aluminum cans?

4. What are your goals with Case Study Design? What does the future look like?

I currently work full-time as VP at Thirsty Monk, where we have a series of beer and cocktail bars and a brewery, so I’m only able to devote so much time to CaseStudy, but it’s a central passion of my life, and luckily production doesn’t depend on my schedule because our Production Manager crafts the lights in our shop in West Asheville. As of this week our lights will be on display in Downtown Books & News, a great used bookstore in downtown Asheville, and we’re also working on a design collaboration with a local audio company on a set of home speakers, actually, which is a fun side-project. I’d love to grow the business to having a larger retail presence over the next couple of years, but really, we’re having a blast just designing and building lights.

6. Who are some of your favorite designers, lighting or otherwise?

My influences are pretty varied, but a few touchstones are the architect Tom Kundig, whose work I go back to time and time again, the shoe designer John Fluevog, and watchmaker George Daniels. The great modernists of the 20th Century, Frank Lloyd Wright, Saarinen, Eames, etc. And in terms of lighting, Ingo Maurer and Ilse Crawford immediately spring to mind.

Conclusion: Chall Gray and his CaseStudy Design Firm are doing impressive things with upcycled materials and here!