Restrained ornamentation and a refined decorative look is the order of the day for Crystal lighting. Fixtures in this class usually have a smaller scale compared to the more Baroque-era grandiose fixtures with more excessive design elements.

Often times; Crystal lighting styles will have distressed tones that resemble their vintage-style lighting counterparts, but with heavier design elements and more intricate detail while using crystal as an accent to project the light in a visually pleasing pattern. An intricate pattern in an antique bronze finish with crystal inlays without invoking the more flared styling that is typical of earlier period lighting is a great example of Crystal lighting.

Today’s technology offers a great deal of convenience, but it's also capable of taking quite an environmental toll through increased electrical consumption, greenhouse gases, and electronic waste. How does one upgrade responsibly? Install long-lasting, easily recyclable, energy-efficient appliances capable of reducing your monthly utility bills. How much are my kitchen appliances really costing me? For the average homeowner, large appliances such as your refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer, account for around 13 percent of monthly utility costs. Add on your hot water heater, and you’re looking at another 15 percent of your bill. Plus, usage costs can vary drastically depending on the age of your appliances. Appliances older than 10 years old are simply screaming for retirement –nearly doubling energy usage. Energy efficiency: learning the lingo Advances in today’s appliance technology adds up to savings for you, but only if you understand what you’re looking at. What’s the big deal about ENERGY STAR? The program was established by the EPA as part of the Clean Air Act to preserve the environment, as well as help individuals save on energy expenses. EPA labs test and certify ENERGY STAR appliances to signify equipment that perform above and beyond standard models. Top-of-the-line ENERGY STAR equipment bears the newly introduced “Most Efficient” label. Kitchen appliances that give you the most bang for your buck:

STOP! Don't just toss that old appliance! Electronic waste, or e-waste, is quickly becoming a global crisis. As the fastest growing waste stream in many countries, e-waste results in the release of extremely toxic substances that are contaminating both the Earth and our bodies. At this time, only 11 to 14 percent of US electronic waste is properly recycled and reused. Please dispose of your old appliances responsibly, as safe e-waste disposal is essential to preserving not only the environment, but your health as well. How to do I responsibly dispose of my family’s e-waste? There are many safe and responsible e-waste disposal and recycling options. If your retailer does not provide a free pickup service with the upgrade of your new appliance, Mr. Electric®, in cooperation with the non-profit organization HirePatriots, offers e-waste disposal solutions as well, including responsible recycling, e-waste packaging, pickup, and removal, secure data destruction, accredited repair and refurbishment, and more. Improve your efficiency and responsibly manage your e-waste with the help of Mr. Electric. The professionals at Mr. Electric have what it takes to handle all of your appliance upgrade and e-waste recycling needs.

Hightstown home wiring inspections are something no Hightstown homeowner should ever overlook. The fact is that no matter how secure a home looks from the outside, there are elements not always seen but are vitally important in ensuring that it is safe. One of those is electricity or the wirings running through the house. Following are some of the reasons why this is the case.

Control Damage

Overtime, home electrical wirings would start to deteriorate and fray around the edges. When this happens, there’s a chance that homeowners would “brush” these wirings and get electrocuted or perhaps trigger an uncontrollable fire. The goal of the home wiring inspection would be to detect these problems before they occur and replace wiring for safety.

Performance of Appliances

Are the appliances and lighting not performing as efficiently as they used to? Perhaps the home electrical wirings are no longer at top shape and therefore affecting the flow of power. In most cases, this could mean damage to the units attached to the power line and ultimately additional expenses on the part of the Hightstown homeowner. A well laid-out wiring plan could also save homeowners hundreds of dollars in electricity bills.

Resale Value

People who are in the market to buy a home are very particular nowadays. They usually want a house that needs as little alteration as possible. Hence, it’s not surprising for them to hire their own inspector to see if the Hightstown house is up to par. With constant Hightstown home wiring inspections and changes, sellers can feel confident that their house would be satisfactory and therefore can demand better prices for the sale.

Compliance

Regulations about electrical home wirings may change from time to time as authorities increase the level of protection necessary. That being said, it is important that homeowners periodically have their home electrical wirings checked to ensure that they are still complying with the regulations of the state. Even more importantly, regulations are designed to provide maximum protection to Hightstown homeowners so in complying with these rules, homeowners are also serving themselves.

Keep in mind that the most important thing when it comes to wiring inspections is the inspector themselves. They must be thorough with the house, reviewing it with a fine tooth comb in order to find any irregularities with the wiring. Note that inspections are done periodically depending on various factors. Never attempt to do these inspections personally no matter how knowledgeable one is. Electricity is serious business and must be handled by professionals only.

The lighting of your kitchen plays an absolutely critical role in how your design will marry together, as well as make a very noticeable impact on the functionality of your space.

Many homeowners put off or ignore lighting in the kitchen, and neglect to plan accordingly. This can only end in tears! What is the benefit of those gorgeous mahogany cabinets, and that handsome granite counter top if no one can see them properly?

Don’t find yourself regretting your kitchen design decisions. Take lighting into account right off the bat! But how do you plan for your kitchen lighting? There are a few types of light to consider, and it all comes down to how you want your kitchen presented, and more importantly, how you want it used. Consider these lighting types for your perfect kitchen design.

For the sake of giving off the best lighting possible for visual appeal, consider these:

Task lighting is used to provide ample illumination for performing specific tasks (thus: task lighting), and should be installed with a specific purpose in mind. This could be for your stove top, a cutting and preparing area, or a space devoted to work or play. Task lighting is best used when it provides ample, glare-free lighting. These fixtures work particularly well:

Whether you need to install new lights in Alexandria, Annapolis, or anywhere in between, you can rely on Kolb Electric’s licensed electricians for a job done right. We’ve been helping DC home and building owners like you with all their electrical needs since 1925 and are ready to help you next!

Lights are one of the greatest things about the holidays. You’ll find them in trees, colorfully decorating home exteriors; you’ll even find them on vehicles. And honestly, we love it. Lighting is one of the keys to the spirit of the season and an integral part to this time of the year. But, as we’re all well aware, they aren’t exactly the easiest thing in the world on your energy bills.

Looking for ways to keep your holiday lighting costs at a minimum this year? With more than 25 years of experience and knowledge, we can give you a hand! Sit back, relax, and let the certified electricians at Hoffman Electrical show you some quick and simple ways to lower holiday lighting costs!