The go-green movement has increased awareness of depleting natural resources and encourages people to reconsider personal energy usage. Many are considering switching from gasoline-powered transportation to electric cars. This switch would not only ensure the power needed to operate a car, but would also help save the environment and money. One of the primary concerns hindering people from switching to electric cars is the presence (or lack thereof) of charging stations across the nation. Although electric cars are growing in popularity within their niche, it is difficult for owners to feel confident with the availability of energy refill stations as they leave the comfort of their own home. In 2012, the number of publicly available charging stations surpassed 7,000. This number continues to grow as the popularity of electric cars steadily increases. Mr. Electric is here to encourage you that it is possible for you to live comfortably with an electric car! Check out our infographic on the availability of charging stations and their growth across the nation. 

Places such as grocery stores, shopping centers, gas stations and many others are adding EV stations to make them more readily available for electric car drivers. There are dozens of other reasons for you to consider an electric car, some of which include:

When you own a home, it’s easy for household expenses to spiral out of control. Every year, the average homeowner is in the unenviable position of spending thousands of dollars on owning and maintaining a home- and that’s just when everything is going well! If an emergency hits, many homeowners have to make sacrifices they can ill afford just to keep the home up and running. The best strategy to avoid disaster is to work on cutting down the everyday household expenses associated with owning a home.

So where does the money really go? On average, American homeowners spend about 34 percent of their income on home expenses. Paying for the house itself, of course, is the largest chunk of that expenditure, but does it surprise you to know that utilities make up the next largest amount? Most Americans spend about seven percent of their income on utilities; that’s more than what they spend on entertainment, clothing for the family and even health care! Obviously, that’s an area where it makes sense to find ways to scale back. If you live in Texas, it’s even more important than it is for people in other states as Texas electricity rates are 30 percent higher than rates elsewhere.

To save money on electricity, you need to understand it. Electric companies measure energy usage in kWh, which is a measurement of the hours you spend using 1000 watts. By lowering your kWh, you will, of course, lower your electricity cost, but where do all those kilowatt-hours go? Appliances can be huge energy hogs but so can game systems, televisions and computers. Older homes are often ill-equipped to handle the energy demands of a modern lifestyle, and this can be not only costly but dangerous, as faulty electrical systems can lead to house fires. Modernizing your home can save on more than just household expenses- it might also save your life.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to save on energy (and its associated costs). If your home is more than 20 years old, get your electrical system checked out by a professional to determine if you need any upgrades. Buy ENERGY STAR compliant appliances whenever possible, and turn off anything you’re not using, from lights and appliances to your Xbox 360.

Older homes generally have a character quality that can’t be seen in newer houses. These homes offer great value, and renovation improvements can bring new life into them. Unfortunately often enough the electrical wiring is never inspected during these updates for years at a time. To ensure that all your hard work is going to be safe, look for these common dangers that could threaten your older home.

From the 50s to 70s many homes were built with aluminum wiring. This was used because it was cheaper and more conductive than copper wiring. Unfortunately many pitfalls were found with aluminum wiring after it was used. Overheating and cracking are common problems with aluminum wiring. If your home was built in this time period, have your wires inspected. There could be a number of hazardous points behind your walls that may cause major issues. For more information and hazard signs of aluminum wiring, read our blog article.

Knob and tube wiring was used in homes in the early 1900s and even as early as 50 years ago. It is possible that these homes still contain knob and tube wiring in them. This wiring can be dangerous as it is more likely to crack and result in electrical fires.

The dangers of these two out-dated wiring systems are that they were installed without worry and the problems were not realized until years later. The electrical wiring systems in these homes were left untouched and so did the problems that came with them. Electrical fires, are especially dangerous as the fire starts and spreads quickly and out of sight. By the time the fire is visible it is too late and the damage can be done.

Over the years homes can see additions: new rooms added onto the home, new electrical lines added, hot tubs, etc. If a licenced electrician did not perform these additions there can be a mess of wire connecting the additions to the original home. This problem comes to a head at the service panel. If it is not properly maintained the breaker will trip constantly and electrical outlets will be overloaded. This is very dangerous as the electrical panel is in charge of keeping your home safe from electrical hazards. It is very important that the electrical panel is upgraded in order to provide the correct control of electricity throughout the entire house, old and new. This also means the panel is properly labelled so it is easy to maintain if further updates are being made.

While there is nothing wrong with purchasing an older home, we recommend that a licenced electrician inspect the electrical system in order to identify potential electrical hazards. One of our expert electricians can provide you with a list of items that should be handled. This will help you have peace of mind that your family is safe in their home.

Deciding whether or not to install solar panels is a big decision for anyone who owns a home or commercial building. The good news is that solar power is becoming more common, meaning that there are more installers and other companies that work with solar power. Because of this, you have more options when it comes to purchasing or financing your solar panels. Kim Hopkins, the owner of Solar Panel Info has set up this website to share his extensive knowledge of acquiring and installing solar panels. One of the most interesting things that discussed is the relatively new opportunity of the solar lease. Options such as this make the cost of solar panels attractive to many more buyers than ever before.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

One of the greatest barriers to solar installation has always been the huge up-front investment that can be required. In recent years, however, there are many companies that offer alternatives to this, such as the solar lease. Programs such as this allow you to actually lease the panels for a monthly fee. This fee is typically based on the size of the system installed, your credit and other factors. The company leasing the panels will send their own solar installers to install the system on your home or business, and maintain ownership of the system. All of the electricity that you generate, however, is your own. In most cases, according to www.solar-panel-info.com, your new (lower) electric bill, plus the solar leasing costs will be less than your electric bill before your panels were installed. This means that you can start saving money during the first month of ownership.

If you wish to do so, you can also purchase solar panels outright. This can be done through the same companies that lease, or through other solar panel installers in your area. One of the benefits of purchasing your own solar panels is that you can take advantage of many tax benefits, rebate programs and other incentives. While this option may not work for everyone, you still have the ability to finance the purchase of the equipment, as well as the cost of installation.

Will Solar Panels Save Me Money?

According to the experts at www.solar-panel-info.com, most homes and businesses will start saving money during their first month of solar power generation. This is especially true if you choose to take advantage of a solar lease. In addition to lessening your dependence on electricity from your utility company, many utilities also give you the option to sell your electricity back to them. This can be incredibly beneficial on days that you can generate much more than you use. In most areas, especially during the summer, you will be generating the most electricity during peak hours, and drawing electricity during off-peak hours. Because of this, you will use lower-cost off-peak power from your utility and sell them back higher-cost peak electricity. This is perfect for offsetting cloudy, stormy days that will generate little to no electricity.

If you are looking for a great way to lower your energy bills, while also helping the environment, solar panel installation may be perfect for you. Now is an ideal time to start looking into this type of technology. There are many different incentives, rebates and leasing options that make getting started easier than ever before. If investing in the purchase of your own solar panels has been holding you back, take some time to look into companies that offer solar leasing. Experts in this field, such as Kim Hopkins, can give you some valuable insight and information into the options that you have in your area. If you have any additional questions, you can visit for more great information on solar installation.

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Over the last several years, it has become more and more common to see solar panels on the roofs of houses in any given neighborhood across the United States. Although this technology has been around in a form very similar to its current state, why is it just now starting to catch on so widely? There are naturally a number of reasons why, including increased accessibility, government subsidies and rising fossil fuel prices. If you’re thinking about installing solar panels on your home, here are a few reasons why 2013 may be the year for you.

If you have been on the fence about solar power, take some time to browse through our resources (Read More). We specialize in options such as solar leasing, which can make solar panels a reality for almost anyone.