Every year, the average American household uses 5% of its electricity consumption on lights. Whether a kitchen light, bathroom light, bedroom light, or a small bulb in the attic, we rely on these lights for safety, security, and convenience. But did you know you can potentially save a good chunk of this electricity, and simultaneously save money?

Halogen incandescent bulbs are a technology that has been around for quite some time, but has grown in popularity in recent years. These bulbs operate by running electricity through a resistor filament, but do so in a chamber filled with gas to improve its efficiency. These require less electricity than a traditional lightbulb, but are not the most efficient option available today, and as such, are fading in popularity.

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs are almost identical to the long, tube-like fluorescent lightbulbs, just bent and curled into a small form factor designed for an average light socket. The Department of Energy estimates that these bulbs pay for themselves in a matter of just nine months’ time, while ENERGY-STAR certified bulbs use about a quarter of the energy of a traditional bulb that puts out the same amount of light, all while lasting about ten times longer.

What was once reserved exclusively for traffic lights and indicators has now evolved into one of the most rapidly-growing products on the market. Light Emitting Diodes, more commonly called LEDs, are a type of solid-state lighting that use semiconductors to turn electricity into light. They’re incredibly efficient, using about 20-25% of the electricity of an incandescent bulb, and can last up to 25 times longer as well! These come in a massive range of shapes, colors, and brightnesses, allowing them to be used in virtually any capacity.

It’s important for your daily convenience and safety that your home’s wiring remain in excellent condition. At the first signs of trouble in the wires, you need to call for trained electricians to come to your home, track down the source of the problem, and safely repair it. Do not attempt to troubleshoot the electrical issues yourself, since you will risk a high voltage shock. (In some areas, it’s illegal for anyone who doesn’t have proper certification to work on high-voltage wiring.)

We need to emphasize once again that you should leave the electrical repairs to electricians. You not only risk injuring yourself with amateur repair work, you could start a fire in your house. Play it safe and cautious, and call for experts to handle the task.

When problems like this occur in an older home, you should consider upgrading your wiring or upgrading your circuit panel. This will make your house safer and make it easier to add more powerful modern appliances without causing shorts.

Electric cars are all the rage these days. They promise savings to consumers, who can install charging stations in their homes with the help of an electrician and dramatically their gasoline bills. Electric cars also give Americans a way to feel good about helping the environment, since they don't burn up petroleum or contribute to carbon emissions when they are being driven. A recent study, however, showed that we still have a long way to go when it comes to realizing the promise of electric cars – contrary to expectations, electric cars can actually create more pollution than gasoline-fueled vehicles. Read on to learn why.

The Electric Generation Conundrum

When electric vehicles are touted as emission-free, a key part of the equation is being omitted: the electricity to power them still has to be created somehow, and most of the power generation in the United States is based on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. In some areas of the country, it turns out, the pollution created by generating the electricity for electric cars actually outweighs that which would be emitted by traditional gasoline automobiles.

The study, performed by the National Bureau of Economic Research, measured carbon, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen, particulate matter and volatile organic chemicals. Through a complicated formula, they compared the output of those pollutants from regional power grids, measured for the amount of electricity it takes to power electric vehicles, compared to what would be produced by the equivalent gasoline cars.

Gasoline vs. Electricity

What researchers found was sobering – while gasoline vehicles tend to produce a lot of pollution that is concentrated in urban areas, electric vehicles create pollution spread out over entire regions. The effect is particularly acute in the Midwest and Northeastern United States, where power plants don't use as many renewable energy sources compared to those in the West. The upshot? As it stands now, we are currently creating more air pollution for large swaths of the country by driving electric cars than we are saving.

The discouraging results of this study notwithstanding, that doesn't mean that it's time to give up on electric cars altogether. After all, electricity doesn't have to be produced by fossil fuels-- the amount of solar and wind generation is only growing, for example. If you install solar panels on your own roof, you can reassure yourself that you are creating green energy to offset the electricity you use in your car.

Question Your Assumptions

If there's one thing that's clear from the study results, it's that you shouldn't just make assumptions when it comes to energy conservation and pollution – not everything is as simple as it looks at first.

If you need help determining if your home is suitable for an electric car hookup, contact an expert electrician today.

Something could go wrong with your electrical system at any time. Whether you experience an issue with your wiring system, or an error that has occurred as a result of an appliance or other gadget, it is important to leave these important repairs to a professional. Rather than risking your life trying to fix a complex electrical issue on your own, you should take full advantage of the 24/7 emergency electrical services in your area. Most electricians, including The Electric Connection, offer emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You may need to call on an electrician in Santa Monica at odd hours for a variety of reasons. Natural disasters, poor wiring, overloaded circuits or appliance malfunctions are some of the most common reasons that electrical systems stop working properly. In certain circumstances, these events can make your home and electrical system unsafe until an electrician has solved the problem. In other emergency events, loss of power could lead to a potentially dangerous or uncomfortable situation, depending on the weather and special considerations such as medical equipment and food storage. If you feel that your electrical issue is an emergency, don’t hesitate to call your Santa Monica Electrician.

While you may be somewhat apprehensive at first, hiring an emergency electrician is normally just as easy as hiring one during normal hours. Simply call the office, or a special 24/7 emergency line, and describe your problem. Before you know it, someone will be out to inspect and fix your electrical system. While you are waiting, resist the urge to tinker with the electronics yourself. Doing so could lead to further damage or even injury. For fast, certified and professional emergency services, don’t hesitate to call The Electric Connection. We’re always available to help out during an electrical emergency.