The march of consumer product efficiency continues. Modems, routers and other internet equipment are the latest items to get a bump in energy efficiency thanks to a voluntary agreement between manufacturers and trade associations. The standards mean that new equipment should use about 10 to 20 percent less electricity than the gear currently on the market. The bottom line – reduced energy bills for consumers.

Homes Across the Country

The change is ultimately expected to affect 80 million homes in the United States. Currently, the terms run through 2017 and require manufacturers and providers to make their efficiency data available publicly – ask an electrician if you need help interpreting the data or picking out the best model once the new equipment hits the shelves.

“DOE appreciates industry’s voluntary commitment to improving the energy efficiency of small network equipment, and looks forward to the progress they can make and verification of the impacts at the appropriate time,” Dr. Kathleen Hogan, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency, U.S. Department of Energy, said in a press release. 

Preparing for the Internet of Things

The voluntary agreement was hammered out among the Consumer Electronics Association, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and the companies that make the equipment. This efficiency upgrade comes at a crucial time – not only are modems and routers essential for internet access, they will only become more important as smart technology advances and more of your household systems are hooked up to the internet.

“This agreement will begin saving consumers energy and money – and do so long before any mandatory regulatory standards could take effect – while protecting innovation and competition,” Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, said in a press release. “By setting requirements for energy-efficient broadband equipment now, the agreement will lock-in efficiencies at the dawn of the Internet of Things, which depends on strong broadband networking.”

Following the Cable Box Lead

This agreement is similar to a voluntary deal worked out by manufacturers of cable set-top boxes, in which the companies worked with the U.S. government to set an attainable benchmark. The deals are voluntary out of practicality, because federal regulations can take years to take effect and can be quickly rendered obsolete by ever-advancing technology.

“Our industry has proven that voluntary, energy-conservation agreements are the best means of effectively improving energy efficiency, while recognizing the lightning-fast pace of tech innovation,” Shapiro said.

Similar to the set-top boxes, modems and internet equipment are nearly ubiquitous in U.S. households, and they draw power nearly all the time unless the family pulls the plug at night. That means there's a lot of room for cutting back on their electricity usage. If you aren't sure whether the energy savings are worth upgrading your modem or router, ask an electrician to help calculate your consumption and offer strategies on how to get the best return on your conservation investment.

That dull gray box that sits outside your home isn’t something you pay a lot of attention to. In the house, there is a gray panel that fits into the wall and is somewhere out of the way. Again, you don’t even know it is there unless you are looking for it. Every home has an electric panel. Fortunately, the average homeowner never has to do much with it. Occasionally you may need to open it up to turn a breaker off or on or maybe reset a tripped breaker. However, if you are in and out of that electric panel several times a week, you need an electrician. Pasadena homeowners who are not comfortable with how often they are messing with their electric panel can call The Electric Connection for help. You may need a panel upgrade.

There are several reasons you should consider upgrading your electric panel. The upgrade can only be completed by a licensed electrician in Pasadena. There are codes that must be followed and inspections that must be passed. You don’t want to waste time and money by trying to get by with substandard work. It is also a huge safety issue.

Here are some reasons why you would need or want to have a Pasadena electrician upgrade your electric panel.

You don’t have to know the ins and outs of your electric panel, but if you suspect there is an issue, it is always best to call an electrician to complete an inspection. You will be given the lowdown on your panel and learn whether or not you need to change out your existing panel. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your inspection.

A workshop is a place full of productivity. Filled with tools and devices, this small hub can produce the most amazing and practical creations – but in order to keep it operating, there needs to be a significant amount of electricity. To keep your workshop running smoothly, here are some things to consider when it comes to the electrical setup.

Lighting is extremely important in the workshop. Often our workshops are found in a garage or a dark room off the home. In order to see all the intricate details and get your cuts just right you need to be able to see what you’re doing. Don’t compromise safety by working in a dimly lit room – install proper light fixtures. The most common electrical fixtures are fluorescent overhead, these are easy to install, energy efficient, and provide sufficient lighting. Correctly placing these around your workshop will help brighten up your workspace and allow you to move about freely without adjusting lamps. Another option to consider is track lighting. With track lighting and floodlights you can adjust the lights to cover your workspace and provide vivid lighting to the area that needs it the most. When installing these light fixtures it is important that everything is connected correctly. You don’t want your lights shorting out, flickering, or causing interrupts for your tools.

In addition to the electricity consumed by workspace lighting, you have a number of high-powered tools constantly in use. From table saws to routers, there is always a strain on your electrical system to power these tools. When setting up your workshop, it is a good idea to place the circuits on their own breaker separate from the rest of the house. This will prevent other appliances and electronics in the house from causing trips in the breaker when activated simultaneously while other tools are in use.

Another option to consider is to install a surge protector on the breaker that is being used for your workshop. The last thing you want is to have all your expensive equipment damaged by an electrical surge.

Lastly, ensure that GCFI receptacles are installed in the workshop. These outlets will shut off immediately to prevent the risk of electrical shock if a danger becomes present. These receptacles should be installed correctly for them to work properly. You will also need them placed around your workshop correctly so you do not need to constantly adjust the position of your tools.

Setting up a workshop can be complex and if not done properly, it can also be dangerous. We recommend that if you have a workshop at home or a business, that you have an expert electrician review the electrical setup and bring everything up to code for maximum safety.

After you’ve been around something for a while, you start to take it for granted.

Things like dissolvable cornstarch packing peanuts.

It took one imaginative 11-year-old boy and an email from a happy customer to remind us just how nifty these little earth-friendly peanuts are.

If you’ve received a shipment from Pegasus Lighting in the past few years, your box most likely had a sticker on it with those words. Inside the box is a note that shares the reasons behind our choice to use biodegradable cornstarch packing peanuts, not the least of which is because they are really fun to play with.

Thank you, Happy Customer, for restoring our packing peanut fascination by sending this great note and photo of your son’s clever art sculpture (whatever you decide that it will be)! Oh, and for the record, I’m voting Rocket Ship.