Is it only the astronomers and avid stargazers who seem to have noticed that our night sky is being swallowed up in a cloud of artificial light?

Glaring streetlights, flashy billboards, automobile headlamps, overly bright landscape and outdoor lighting…. all of these factors have had devastating consequences on our environment.

“Parking lots and gas stations, for example, are now often 10 times brighter than they were just 20 years ago and light pollution continues to grow at 6 percent every year.” Paul Bogart for The Sunday Star-Ledger, A bright idea whose time has come: Turning down city lights. March 3, 2013, P6

Not only does this wasteful illumination block our view of the stars and planets, this overabundance of nightlight disrupts circadian rhythms and negatively affects all life on earth.

“Fatal light attraction” -which is produced by excessive outdoor lighting-is deadly for migratory birds, causing over 100 million bird fatalities across the United States.–www.enlightenmentmag.com, Feb. 2015

So, what can YOU do to make your home more “Dark-Sky” friendly and stop the proliferation of profuse and destructive lighting design?

1.  Become a partner with the International Dark Sky Association.  The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) is a US-based non-profit organization devoted to preserving the natural splendor and beauty of the nighttime sky.  Membership includes all 50 states in the USA and over 70 countries worldwide.

• Contact ida@darksky.org to learn more about Dark Sky awareness and support efforts to preserve and protect the nighttime environment with good outdoor and landscape lighting plans.

2.  Check around your home at dusk and after sunset.

•Make sure outdoor light fixtures are shielded and angled downward to minimize “light trespass” beyond your property.

•Install motion sensors and automated controls on outdoor security lights so they will shut off when not in use.

3.  Talk to your neighbors.

•Educate them about Dark Sky laws and help each other to light responsibly.

4.  Upgrade your home with “Dark Sky”compliant fixtures.

• These outdoor and landscape lighting fixtures are shielded to focus light downward.

•The latest Dark Sky outdoor lighting fixtures are eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

5.  Throw a Star Party

•Enjoy a view of the nighttime sky with friends.

The latest Dark Sky outdoor and landscape lighting fixtures make it easy to get on board with the International Dark Sky movement.

Check out the latest Dark Sky outdoor wall lights from Modern Forms;

“Origami” WS-W27515

“Balthus” WS-W28514

“Kyoto” WS-W22520

For more information:

International Dark Sky Association

3223 North First Avenue

Tucson, Arizona 85719

Being the owner of a plant is a big responsibility and it is very important to keep your equipment in working condition. You need to remember that all your maintenance must be planned in an efficient way for both economic and energy efficiency.

Usually when you choose to partake in your routine maintenance, it may cause a delay in your production resulting in loss of income. All safety electrical equipment that is used on a continuous basis will require a lot more maintenance than your equipment that is used rarely, although they will still need to be maintained.

Even though you may maintain your equipment on a regular basis there will be times that your equipment could break. You will then need to take all costs into consideration before deciding whether you should repair the equipment or to just replace it completely.

To help you decide, you should analyze what you have already spent on the equipment as well as what it will cost to maintain it in the future. Once you have done that you should compare it to what it would cost you to acquire newer equipment that may cost less to maintain.

You could also hire a specialist that could create a breakdown of important factors such as the probability of the following:

To run a successful plant you will also need to keep the following important steps in mind:

Does the concept of a whole house surge protector have you scratching your head? Perhaps you’ve envisioned a super-sized power strip? Or maybe a large magical box capable of absorbing lightning bolts? Whatever your misconceptions about whole house surge protectors, we’ve got the 4-1-1 you need to help you protect your home and all its valuable appliances from those inevitable and frequent power surges.

Simply put, a whole house surge protector protects all the appliances in your home from voltage spikes, limiting excess electrical current by blocking its flow or shorting it to ground, much like a pressure relief valve. This includes surges occurring not only from lightning, but the 60-80 percent of surges that occur from within your home – typically from major appliances cycling on and off. With all of today’s electronics, you simply can’t afford not to protect your home with a whole house surge protector.

Whole house surge protectors are typically hard-wired to your electrical box. Proper installation is essential. A whole house surge protector must be properly grounded, since without proper ground even the best surge protector will be unable to perform its job.

Whole house surge protector installation by a professional typically takes about two hours. Unless you are highly skilled in electrical, it is strongly recommended to hire a professional electrician to install these devices. The electrical wiring on your service panel may be confusing, improperly installed, or house defects that could pose a danger to DIY installers not in-the-know. In addition, without proper grounding, your whole home surge protector will not function properly. For the safety of your home, your appliances, and your family, consult a professional for whole house surge protector installation.

Many components in today’s sophisticated electronic devices are sensitive to power surges. However electronics and appliances containing microprocessors -- an integral part of most of today’s appliances and technology -- are particularly sensitive to surges. Since microprocessors only function properly when they have the right voltage, a power surge can easily damage these fragile devices, affecting everything from central heating and air to kitchen appliances and entertainment technology.

Due to the prevalence of sophisticated electronics in today’s homes, every home should consider installing a whole house surge protector. In fact, everyone from the National Fire Protection Association to the Institute for Business and Home Safety recommends them. And while insurance companies don’t give discounts for surge protectors, they can easily pay for themselves in the event of a single power surge. Give your home the protection it needs with the help of Mr. Electric®. Contact Mr. Electrictoday for the fast, safe installation of this inexpensive and easy to use safety device for all of your essential electronics.  

With more and more emphasis being placed on renewable energy sources, especially options such as home solar panel systems, many homeowners are wondering whether or not they can do the work themselves in order to save a few dollars. Although many of the basic concepts of a solar power system may seem rather simple, it is important to get local solar panel installers involved so that you can ensure that the system that you are installing is appropriate for your needs, that it follows all local codes, and that it is properly and safely installed.

The cost of solar panels is by far one of the main reasons why anyone would look into the option of installing solar panels themselves. Having a professional installation team work in conjunction with a local electrician, however, can make a huge difference in the overall health and life of your solar power system. This is especially true if you are connecting your solar panel array to your electrical service panel. Performing a step like this requires very specialized skills, tools, and knowledge and could result in very serious injury or death if not done properly.

All in all, choosing to install solar panels on your home is one of the best ways to reduce your overall dependency on traditional electricity sources. It can also help to reduce greenhouse emissions and lower your carbon footprint. To make this type of project even more attractive are all of the credits, incentives and different payment options that are helping to make green energy technologies more accessible than ever before. For any questions regarding the purchase, lease or installation of solar panels, please browse through the solar power info that we have here. You can also contact us at any time.