In the emerging world of green home technology, home buyers are looking for ways to increase their commitment to the environment with a new home purchase. Accordingly, you can increase the value of your home by retrofitting it with more green technology.

Solar panel installation is just such an improvement. A growing number of home buyers is interested in the self-reliance that comes from having a solar array as part of their residence. It doesn’t need to cover all the power needs of the home. On the contrary, just a small panel can be enough for some buyers and a larger array could turn some buyers off. But there are a few things to consider when upgrading your home with a solar panel installation.

As you install solar, it’s worth considering the possibility of recharging an electric car. Electric cars are becoming a greater part of the market every year and they require a specific infrastructure and recharging station to be a viable solution for many people. You can easily piggy-back the installation of a charging station with a solar installation, effectively doubling down on the increase in home equity.

There are also many passive solar technologies that make a good accompaniment to a solar array. Passive solar includes such things as increasing the amount of sunlight that can penetrate south facing windows in the winter and decrease them in the summer. It’s hard to underestimate the importance of augmenting your solar panel installation with such energy saving features. Not only are they attractive to home buyers, they also decrease the demands you place on your solar panels, saving you even more money. And that is the kind of smart investment that will make home buyers excited about doing business with you.

If you’re looking for a way to invest in the present and future of your home that is going to stand up to the test of time, give us a call so we can help you explore the tremendous potential of solar.

Not everyone knows that different types of lights have different colors and temperatures, which in turn can impact a person’s mental and physical well-being.

The different light temperatures are:

According to experts, the best kind of light for productivity is the cool light color. When natural light isn’t an option, try to incorporate “blue-enriched” lights that measure at 17,000K. Not only do these lights support mental vitality, but they also hinder melatonin production, a hormone that makes you feel tired.

Not everyone appreciates the stark harshness of cool lighting, though. Adding some warm lighting here and there in your workplace can help improve the feeling of comfort and relaxation for employees. This can also be beneficial in places like meeting rooms where you want your employees to feel comfortable and free to open up.

Property owners have a responsibility to their tenants to keep a house or apartment in good working order. This includes the electrical portion of the home. Property owners or property management companies have to be on call 24 hours a day to handle any emergency. And because of that, you need an electrician in Glendale who is also ready to take your call anytime, day or night. At The Electric Connection, we understand that need and make sure there is always somebody to take your call. During business hours, a live person will answer the phone and after hours, there is an on call service number available.

It is crucial to any property owner they have a company they can rely on to take care of every electrical problem, whether it is big or small. It is also very important a person can rely on an electrician to make the best call to fix a problem. In most cases, the property owner will not be on the premises when the electrician goes out to investigate a Glendale electrical situation. Because the property owner, not the tenant, will have the final say in what repairs are made, it is very important there be an open line of communication between the electrician and the management company or the owner. If an electrician realizes a diagnosis of a problem may take several hours, it should be communicated up front before any work commences.

There is also the sensitive nature of telling a tenant too much about the situation. Of course some information is necessary, but ultimately, it is up to the owner or manager to choose how much a renter knows. You will want to make sure you hire a company who employs electricians that are friendly to tenants, without divulging too much information. If you are in need of a company to service your rental properties, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Choosing the right size depends on the level of energy independence that a renewable energy owner wants. It may simply boil down to what you can afford. These levels range from 100 percent or completely off the grid (the most costly), to a simple energy backup for emergencies.

100% energy independence or completely off the grid: this requires a huge investment in terms of generation and storage. In addition, it may require other power sources such as fossil fuels or wind generators.

High energy independence: This requires a solar system with enough batteries to last a few days or even through the winter. PV systems are sized to enable the owner to have surplus energy to store during summer and be self-sufficient through winter without relying too much on the grid. The customer will still rely on the grid for backup just in case there are prolonged days of bad weather.

Summertime independence: Customer installs just enough panels and storage capacity to get through a normal summer day but will have to draw power from the grid during the winter.

Peak time independence: Battery size should be large enough to supply power during peak times when electricity rates are highest.

Reduced reliance on the grid during peak times: Some customers cannot afford to install enough storage to cover their entire peak time usage. In such a case, some will install a system that will enable them to at least reduce part of their grid usage during these times.

Emergency power backup: This requires smaller energy storage, enough to cover a short power outage. Some customers use this together with fuel generators. Battery storage is only required for the short duration from the time grid power goes out, to when the alternative power becomes available.

Even though a solar energy system is a great investment that reduces your electricity bills, it is not possible to completely get off the grid without investing in large storage systems. However, adding modest battery storage to a grid connected to solar systems is a better way of increasing your independence from the grid without spending too much.

Most marketers have online tools that can help you get the right size battery based on various factors. However, it is advisable to consult professionals for the best advice.

Customers with solar systems are increasingly adding battery storage to reduce their electricity costs or become independent from the grid. With better technology and prices getting lower every day, battery storage is becoming an appealing component to many solar power system owners.

This type of storage allows the customer to charge their batteries during the day and then discharge them when there is no generation. This permits homeowners and businesses to have a backup power source and save on electricity bills. In addition, you can sail through cloudy periods or other times when power generation is low.

High temperatures cause conductors to expand and hence increase in length. The converse is true for low temperature conditions. The change in length varies from one conductor to another depending on its thermal expansivity. The length of copper conductors, for instance, changes by 5 feet per 1000 feet of length when the conductor temperature changes from 100 – 0°, while aluminum changes by about 7 feet. The length increases with increase in temperature and reduces with reduction in temperature.

This increase or decrease in length is of great concern when installing power transmission lines between poles and towers, or when installing other power connectors. There must be an allowance for this change in length since it can cause catastrophes if it’s not there.

Weather changes are associated with increase and decrease in temperature and thus affect power transmission lines and other conductors. However, change in temperature is only one factor that affects power lines. Below are the changes that occur to power lines and other conductors as a result of weather changes:

The amount of heat dissipated from power conductors is reduced during hot and calm weather conditions. Basically, if the temperature of air around the cable is low, more heat is lost from the cable to the air. If the air is already hot, the exchange of heat is lesser. This low heat dissipation causes the lines to overheat. However, the rise in conductor temperature (overheating) worsens when cables are transmitting too much power than required. The first effect of this increased conductor temperature is snagging, which is the downward bulging of the cable between two poles, caused by the increase in the length of cables.

Snagging is largest during extreme hot weather (largest increase in temperature) conditions experienced in summer. The increase in length results to downward bulging of the cable due to the effect of gravity. Excessive sagging is dangerous if it goes below the accepted height clearance – cables could come into contact with trees, buildings and other structures underneath, causing electrocution and fires.

Excessive sagging represent an added weight on the power line and this increase may cause the line to fail or to pull down weak poles and towers. The effects can be small but gradual and so the poles and towers will finally come down or require some adjustment/replacement after some time, which is costly. This sagging can also cause the lines to short out. Excessive sagging is also costly since it leads to increased electrical resistance. This means that a sagged power line transmits lesser current than it normally does, thus causing under-feeding of electrical equipment and industries. It is also costly and time consuming to rectify a sag.