Besides just having light, light layering (having multiple light sources for different purposes) is the most important, all-encompassing rule in home lighting design.

I recently ran across a post on Image via Freshome.com

That’s not just one, not two, but five different light sources, not counting the ample ambient light coming in from the windows. You have under cabinet lights on the left, recessed accent lights on the back wall, a pendant light, a table lamp, and linear accent lights atop the window.

On the other side of the room, there are just as many layers:

So there you have it. The most universal rule in residential lighting design, and a few ways to make it your own. What’s your favorite light layer in this space?

Winter is in full swing in Australia, which also means you’re likely spending much more time in your hot tub. If you don’t currently have a hot tub, and are considering getting one installed in the near future, there are certain aspects to consider before buying one.

We all are aware that water and electricity just don’t mix; and so, sticking to the appropriate electrical and safety protocol with hot tub installations and their maintenance is something you can’t afford to overlook. Here are a few hot tub electrical requirements and safety tips to follow:

Even if you are a DIY enthusiast, installing a new hot tub is a completely different animal. Wiring of hot tubs isn’t an easy task and is distinctly more complicated and involved than setting up some other standard home appliances. Consulting an experienced and licensed local electrician will often save you a significant amount of time, money, trouble or even a trip to a hospital.

An electrician will make sure the electrical wiring and fixtures required for the hot tub are installed well and that helps avoid costly mistakes like ones that can occur in skilled and licensed electrician will make sure that the installation and wiring is in line with the existing codes.

Before installing your hot tub, it’s vital to consider its location. Not only will you need room for the actual hot tub but extra room to get into and out of it. The feature should be at least 10′ away from any type of overhead power lines and a minimum of 5′ away from removed spa panels. It’s also necessary to consider how the hot tub will connect to the power source.

Now that you have the holes for lamp sockets, we need to start wiring the lamp sockets.

Kevy, an eCommerce Marketing Automation ​company that specializes in automating and personalizing the shopping experience. ​ ​​Kevy gives online retailers the tools they need to help visitors find the products they care about most. When she is not at Kevy, Brooke and her husband Ryan love creating new projects and are always looking for a new DIY opportunity around the house.

Ever considered utilizing solar energy in your Maryland home? If not, you might give it a glance. Not only is solar energy tech really quite cool, it boasts some unique benefits as well. But, of course, like any decision you make about the home, it all really boils down to its effectiveness, and possibly more importantly, the cost.

At Kolb Electric, we want to bring you all of the latest information and tech! Our team is excited about the advent of solar energy, and sharing what we know is just part of the superior service we provide.

When being used? Practically nothing, aside from maintenance. For solar energy, it’s all about the installation. While solar power isn’t exactly a new thing, implementing it in a larger capacity in United States homes kind of is. In a mainstream sense, at least. Preppers, ingenuitive farmers, and tech nerds have been using it for years.

So, as a reasonably newer need, solar tech installation, such as panels and solar-supported equipment are understandably rather expensive. Assume your home uses the US average amount of electricity (between 600 and 800 kWh) per month. With this estimate, assume you’re wanting you fully solar your home.

You’d be looking at anywhere between $20,000 to $40,000. Do understand that this is a very broad estimate, as individual factors about your home can lower or raise that drastically. There is an endless number of variables involved here, including how much power you want, how large your home is, your solar energy needs, etc.

You would also have to take into account maintenance, as solar equipment will require very specialised training and tools to keep working at maximum potential. Bottom line, how much does solar energy cost? Next to nothing, if anything at all. The equipment, on the other hand, we…it’s an investment.

But Is Solar Energy Worth It in Washington, DC?

Above is a map of average energy savings in the US, courtesy of Energysage.

Depending on exactly how you’re going to utilize the solar power, probably yes. Especially (and almost exclusively) if you intend to make your current home permanent. As in you plan on staying there for fifteen, twenty years. To find more exact answers and suss out whether solar power might be something you’re interested, we would highly recommend consulting an energy specialist.

Need superior electrical services in Maryland, DC, or Virginia? Contact Kolb today!