Saving on electricity is always the smart way to go, and you’ll find that you can keep monthly bills way down if you just do a few smart things to cut back on your electric power consumption:

Use Fans instead of AC – Winters in Texas may be warm, but the summers are comparable to sitting in the desert. You’ll find that using your AC is the only thing keeping you alive, so the thought of turning them down may be making you sweat. Turn down the AC a few degrees, and turn on some fans around the house. The breeze will cool off the home, and it will blow the cool air around nicely.

Switch Out Light Bulbs – One great way to save on electricity around your home is to use energy saving bulbs. An 18W power saver will produce as much light as a 60W regular bulb, but only use 18W. It will be a steep initial investment to replace all of the light bulbs – the power saver ones are costly – but it will cut your electric bill dramatically.

Use Power Strips – Your TV, DVD player, radio, Xbox, and other devices all use power when they’re turned off, as they’re in standby mode. You should consider plugging all of these devices into a power strip, and just turn off the power strip at night. It will cut down the amount of energy that’s used, and you’ll never know the difference.

Reduce Appliances — Do you really need a toaster, microwave, dishwasher, blender, food processor, juicer, two coffee machines, an espresso maker, and a coffee grinder? You probably need some of these appliances, but you can probably eliminate a few of the ones mentioned above. Use more gas-powered appliances, as gas is cheaper than electricity.

Replace Old Appliances – Did you know that older appliances tend to use a lot more electricity than newer ones? Newer appliances are made according to Energy Star regulations and standards, so they’ll be cheaper in terms of energy consumption. Replacing them will cost you a bit, but you’ll recoup your investment within a year or two.

Turn Down the Heater – If you are using an electric boiler to heat your water, chances are you’ve got it set too high. You probably want to enjoy a nice shower in scalding water, but most people have to turn on the cold water when they shower. If you want to save on electricity, turn down the heater until it’s just nicely hot instead of scalding. You won’t have to turn on the cold water to shower, and you’ll still be able to enjoy a nice hot shower!

Saving electricity isn’t just smart – it’s cost-effective and wallet-friendly as well!

video in which Kathleen Packard, their Healthcare Market Development Manager, discusses how some innovations in lighting can positively affect the healing process (and save energy and money). Packard describes hospitals as being historically “institutional and very uncomfortable,” and her mission is to educate the public on the “importance of design” to patient health.

intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell in the human eye, which senses light and regulates the body’s systems, including melatonin levels, which are directly related to sleep. Visa’s Amber Night Light, she says, creates ambient light that won’t disturb the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell. This allows nurses to check on patients without disturbing their sleep.

Of course, all this valuable information leads us to the problems solved by Visa Lighting’s healthcare light fixtures. Packard calls special attention to the benefits of using LED fixtures. She reminds us that LEDs are indeed a great option for hospitals because they are energy efficient and therefore save money, reducing the cost of healthcare; they render color well, which is necessary, so that doctors and nurses can accurately assess skin pallor; and, unlike fluorescent lamps, LEDs contain no mercury.

Chances are, the computer, tablet or phone that you are using to read this post is powered by electricity produced by coal, natural gas or nuclear energy. Currently, the overwhelming bulk of power for the nation's electrical work is generated in large, centralized plants that use those three fuels. However, with the rise of renewable energy sources as well as a transition to modern and responsive grid technology, the country's electric infrastructure is poised to move toward a more dispersed generation system. Read on to learn what that means for you.

Huge Generating Plants Vulnerable to Disruption

According to the Energy Information Administration, 39 percent of the nation's electricity comes from coal, 27 percent from natural gas and 19 percent from nuclear fuel. In addition to being non-renewable, the three fuels that make up 85 percent of our electricity production also work best in massive power plants that produce large amounts of power, which is then sent out long distances through the grid to power our electrical work.

This large-scale generation has advantages – economies of scale, for one – but it is also inflexible and can be subject to disruption. An event that causes a plant to shut down or interrupts its distribution, for example, could leave entire communities without power. The grid is also, in effect, a one-way street – electricity leaves the generating plant and arrives at your home, where it is consumed.

Renewable Energy and Advancing Technology

However, several changes are occurring that will create a more dispersed and flexible generation system to power our electrical work. For one, the share of renewable energy sources, which don't require large generating plants, is continuing to grow. Solar panels are popping up on rooftops across America, while wind power could provide as much as a third of the electricity in the country by 2050. In addition to being far better for the environment than fossil fuels, these power generators can scale down to even a household-by-household basis.

The other change that is facilitating a more dispersed power generation system is an advance in technology in the electric grid, which allows power to flow in two directions, both to your home and away from your home. That means that electricity can be generated almost anywhere and then zipped along the power lines to wherever it is needed. Breakthroughs in power storage technology will also help guide us toward a future where the power for our electrical work is created when and where it's needed, freeing us from the constraints created by large, inflexible power plants.

Generate Electricity at Your Own Home

If you want to learn more about adding renewable power sources to your property, or need any other electrical work done, call up an expert electrician today.