CFLs are those new, small fluorescent light bulbs that screw into most regular light fixtures. You can use them to replace regular (incandescent) bulbs to save money and electricity. As the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power gets over 60% of its electricity from fossil fuels, especially coal, any time you replace a regular incandescent bulb with a CFL, it’s one small step towards reducing fossil fuel use in L.A.

CFLs come in all different shapes, but basically they’re a fluorescent tube bent this way or that or twisted into a spiral. “CFL” stands for “Compact Fluorescent Lamp.” They’re more compact than the long fluorescent tubes of our childhoods. They’re lamps, which is electrician-speak for “light bulb.” Here’s why they’re green — they save 75% of the energy that traditional incandescents use.

Here’s why they save you money — they cost more than a regular incandescent, but last a lot longer — 13 times longer. So even though each CFL costs more per bulb (about $4 for a CFL), it will also save you about $4 in bulbs as you won’t have to replace it so often.

Your electric bill will show more significant savings. Lighting costs about $20 out of $100 monthly electric bill. Because CFLs use one-quarter of the electricity of a regular incandescent, if you replace all the bulbs in your house with CFLs, you’ll save about $15 each month on a $100 electric bill.

CFLs are green, but not blue. Many people don’t enjoy the eerie bluish light of the old-fashioned long fluorescent tubes. CFLs can create all different colors of light, including warm tones. A recent study by the magazine Popular Mechanics found that even when people didn’t know which type of bulb was involved, they preferred the light of the CFL over the light from incandescent bulbs. CFLs also don’t buzz as the long tubes did.

CFLs have one downside — they each contain a small amount of mercury, which is a toxin. If a bulb breaks, you’ll need to take care to clean every bit up and to not touch the pieces. You’ll need to recycle spent bulbs or dispose of them as you would paint or other hazardous waste. However, they’re so long lasting that this will come up on the order of years, rather than months.

OK so you have a basic understanding of CFLs, now what can you do that’s simple to save money and electricity? The next time you go to the store, pick up a four-pack of CFLs. Choose four incandescent lights in your home or business that you use often and replace the incandescent bulbs with your new CFLs. You’ll start saving on your electric bill and will decrease the burning of fossil fuels to power Los Angeles.

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Wouldn’t it be nice to really step up your game this holiday season? This is the time of year when friends and family are sure to visit your home. Maybe it will be for an evening of fun and entertainment or maybe it will be for a lovely dinner. No matter what your plans are for the holidays, wouldn’t it be nice to have a little something extra to help set the scene in your home? A new chandelier is the perfect, functional idea. An electrician in Burbank, like those at The Electric Connection can get your new chandelier installed just in time for holiday entertaining.

Gathering in the sitting room for cocktails, games or good conversation is a great way to reconnect with old friends and family you haven’t been able to spend quite as much time as you would like with. Having the right lighting can help set the mood. Bright and festive or dim and intimate can all be achieved with a new chandelier complete with a dimmer switch installed by an electrician. Burbank homeowners who want to be able to set the mood with the flick of the switch will love the beauty and flexibility a new chandelier gives them.

Many of the new chandeliers available on the market today are equipped to use energy-saving lightbulbs, which can ultimately save you money in the long run. LEDs are the perfect way to brighten up a room by using just a few bulbs. The look and feel of a room can be completely transformed with the installation of a new chandelier by a Burbank electrician. Chandeliers offer unique lighting options for a foyer, dining room or a den. Have fun and shop around for the perfect fixture. Give The Electric Connection a call today and get your appointment scheduled before your next big gathering.

Whenever you have an electrical issue that needs to be addressed immediately, then you may need to call an emergency electrician in Burbank.  When confronted with this type of issue, it is always best to call right away. Waiting to deal with electrical emergencies can lead to worse problems and dangerous situations. To account for this type of electrical issues, most electricians provide emergency service at all times to ensure that your problem can be quickly and professionally taken care of. It is important that our electrical systems function safely and properly, making it necessary to provide 24 hour service.

Is It Really an Emergency?

One important difference between an electrician’s standard service and their emergency service is the rate. Emergency service typically costs a significant amount more than standard service, because it is outside of their normal hours. Before you pick up the phone to call an electrician Burbank after hours, think about whether or not your problem is an emergency. An example of an emergency would be losing power at your business such as a restaurant. Because the loss of power can lead to extensive inventory and business loss, it makes sense to have someone come out right away. Another example of an emergency situation would be any electrical issue that poses a danger to you or someone else.

After one of the technicians at The Electric Connection is on the way, all you will need to do is wait. Try to avoid messing around with the electrical issue on your own, because it could be potentially dangerous. Your best course of action is to get as comfortable as possible and wait for one of our electricians to arrive. This will save you from any unnecessary injuries, and ensure that you are ready to direct us to where we need to go upon arrival.

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Custom Electrical Services works hard to provide the best service possible to all of their customers.  We take pride in our work and the service we provide, always trying to build as much value into every project we help on.  We work with home owners and professional contractors alike.  Below is a recent review from one of our professional contractor customers.

“Custom Electrical is the Best electrical contractor in the Des Moines Area. We have used their services for the past 12 years and they are 100% customer focused, always show up on time, and perform their work in a friendly and professional matter. Doesn’t matter if it is the owner or anyone else in the organization, their service is top notch. We trust them with all our electrical needs” Kirk Mickelsen  KRM Development

Thank you Kirk Mickelsen and KRM Development for your continued support!

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