One of the most popular ways for the average homeowner to decrease their dependency on fossil fuels for electricity is solar installation. As it becomes easier to access this incredible source of renewable energy, more and more homeowners are considering it as an actually viable option for energy generation in their home. Here are a few of the options that you have, when it comes to installation solar panels on your property.

Professional Solar Installers Provide Value

Although you may be tempted to try to install solar panels on your homes in order to avoid much of the solar panels cost, there are a number of benefits that come from working with a qualified solar installer. By working with a professional, you will know that your panels were installed by someone who works extensively with this technology on a daily basis. This means that they have ongoing and extensive training installing panels and connecting them to your home under a number of different conditions. Plus, these are the people who have all of the best connections with your local solar power industry, giving you extended insight into options, discounts and special programs.

Are You Aware of Solar Leasing?

Because most homeowners have never heard of solar leasing, it’s no surprise that it is less utilized than it actually should be. This great innovation is a great way for homeowners of all different income levels to lease a solar panel array that is perfect for their home. Whenever you enter a solar lease, you simply pay a monthly fee to have the panels installed on your home. Once the panels are installed, they remain the property of the solar leasing company. All of the electricity generated, however, belongs to you. In most cases, this results in a net gain as a result of the energy savings experienced.

In this blog, we talk a lot about potential dangers. From water damaged wires, to possible causes for power surges, we try to cover it all. Why do we spend so much time on this? Well, for one it makes for decent reading. Learning things is always kinda fun. For two, and the more important, is that electricity can be dangerous when misused or damaged.

At Kolb Electric, your safety is always the top priority. Second to superior service, of course. And today we’ll be covering something a little new (though we’ve mentioned it a bit here and there). Ever wondered exactly how safe outlets actually are? After all, they’re essentially tiny holes full of electrical potential located all over your home. Should you be worried? Well, it depends!

Contact Kolb today to get top-quality electrical outlet installation from our certified electricians!

It’s actually kind of a loaded question. How safe is a kitchen knife? It’s pointy and sharp. And there’s potential for injury there. But, if you use it right, there’s no real danger! It’s pretty much the same with outlets. When they are used properly, you shouldn’t have much to ever worry about. Oh, and the type is important, too.

What do you mean “type”?

Certain types of outlets should be used in certain ways for maximum safety and functionality. For instance:

Aside from these types and stipulations, there are some small things to consider. A damaged outlet is always dangerous. Even if it’s just a busted plastic cover. Skin, organic materials, or moisture coming into contact with an uncovered or damaged outlet can result in shock and electrocution. Never take chances with this.

We hope you learned some cool things today! And if you learned that some of your outlets might be somewhat unsafe, we hope you choose our experts to provide the electrical outlet installation services you need. Keep updated, and you should never have to worry about your outlets. Looking for service in your Rockville home? Contact us today!

For the photo shown to the right, taken at night in a Texas ghost town, Danser assembled the following items: a powerful, handheld LED light; his Canon 5D Mark iii camera and Canon 16-35 mm L lens (at 16mm); Canon 580ex 2 flash; a red gel (piece of red cellophane to color the light of the flash); a tripod; and his girlfriend’s finger (to graciously hold down the shutter release button because he forgot his bulb release at home!).

Danser told Pegasus: “So, I set my camera on bulb mode and had my girlfriend hold down the shutter release button for 13 minutes, while the camera was very sturdy on the tripod. The place was pitch black except for the stars and the moon (very little ambient light pollution in the desert). As my girlfriend was keeping the shutter open, I walked to one side of the structure and methodically shined my flashlight (rated at 2000 lumens, so it’s pretty bright) all along the exterior and front facade of the building. This lasted for about five minutes before I turned the flashlight off and ran to the other side of the building and ‘painted’ for another five minutes.”

Danser said that one of the important tricks of light painting is to show off the textures of the buildings by shining his LED flashlight at an angle instead of from the camera position.

After “painting” the sides of the building for five minutes each, he ran inside and popped off about 10 red-gelled flashes to create the effect of a warm glow pouring out of the building.

When asked how he was able to run in and out of the building without showing up in the photo, Danser simply replied that “The camera could not ‘see’ me because I was moving quickly, and there wasn’t enough ambient light to expose me in the picture.” While popping off the gelled flashes in the building, he always made sure he was not visible to the camera.

After 13 minutes at an aperture of 2.8, Danser was able to get an excellent exposure of the night sky while having ample time to do all of the “light painting” that he had planned beforehand.

Soon I hope to try some light painting of my own with less expensive equipment to show you how anyone can adopt Danser’s technique. After all, light can be used in all kinds of art and photography projects.

In the meantime, check out this Danser’s website to see tons of beautiful experiments playing with—and painting with—light. Thanks, Matt!