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The smart Inside

Twenty years from now will we have enough resources to supply the energy we need? And if so, will we have enough money to pay for it?

We are faced with dwindling resources and rising energy costs. Not so long ago, when our parents were growing up, nobody worried about energy consumption. Gasoline cost less than $1 a gallon. It didn’t cost much to light and heat our homes. It seemed our supply of natural resources was endless.

We know now that is not the case. The results of dwindling supplies are reflected in the prices of gasoline, heating oil and electricity and in the concerns of world leaders about the availability of those resources.

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Hot to save energy

Heating oil is a high-cost — but very necessary — item for homeowners. Save fuel and money by turning the thermostat down. Change the settings to 78 degrees during warmer months and 68 degrees during cooler months.

You can save energy in other areas of your home as well. Wear garments more than once before tossing them into the laundry basket. Only wash a full load of laundry, which Energy Star says can save more than 3,400 gallons of water each year. Be careful not to overload or underload the washing machine. Use cold water and take full advantage of energy settings. Clean the dryer’s lint filter before every load.

Lighting uses a lot of energy. By turning out the lights when a room is unoccupied, you can save money and electricity.

Use area lighting whenever possible. Instead of lighting up an entire room when working at your desk, for example, use a lamp to put focused light where you need it. Use natural light from outdoors when possible. Buy fixtures that use a dimmer since lights on a low setting generally use less electricity. Invest in LED Lighting Sacramento. They use 10 times less little energy and last 10 times longer than traditional, incandescent light bulbs.

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Where Does my Electricity Go?

Have you ever opened your electrical bill and wondered how your little house has managed to consume so much electricity?  I certainly have, especially when the July electrical bill comes for the electricity that was consumed in June.  It is always a shock to watch your bill double or triple in a matter of weeks.  But – where is all of that extra electricity going?  And where does the bulk of our electrical consumption occur during standard times?

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Your Home – Electrical

One of the worst consumers of electricity is also one of the most essential appliances in your home.  It is the HVAC unit, or the appliances you may use if you do not have central heat and air ie. fans, window AC units, plug in heaters or electric blankets and more.  We like to keep our homes at a comfortable temperature regardless of the temperatures outside.  There are only a few things you can do to reduce this monthly expense.

Raise/Lower your thermostat. Raising your thermostat temperature setting a few degrees in the Summer or lowering it a few degrees in the winter is an easy way to save big on your electric bill.  Wear shorts and tank tops around the house in the Summer to keep comfortable and bundle up in the Winter with slipper socks and fleece or flannel house clothes.

Have your unit serviced regularly. Regular servicing will ensure that your HVAC unit is working properly and performing to its maximum potential. Continue reading

Outdoor Lighting

Lighting – Its Not Just For Indoors Anymore!

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Wilmington LED outdoor lighting

Are you looking to update the exterior of your home?  Or interested in adding some instant curb appeal?  Wanting to add an extra layer of security to your home?  While at the same time increasing the resale value?  The answer:

OUTDOOR LIGHTING!  Outdoor lighting can deter potential criminals from attempting to enter your home at night.  They also help beautiful and modernize your home.  Custom outdoor lighting allows you to highlight your home’s best features and helps with resale!  If you are looking to sell your property soon, consider that many potential buyers work during the days and may be seeing your property for the first time at dusk or after.   And many potential buyers like to come “check out the neighborhood” after dark before committing to a home purchase.  The right lighting could help make that all important great first impression. Continue reading

What Is a Journeyman Electrician?

If you have an outlet that is not working or have breakers that keep tripping or need help installing a light fixture, you know who to call – and Electrician.  Jobs dealing with electricity can be dangerous and require proper training to complete safely.  Electrical work is generally beyond the capabilities of your typical DIYer.  However, you probably don’t know that there are different skill levels of electricians out there with varying amounts of training and experience.

Journeyman Electricians vs. Master Electricians

Licensed electricians fall into one of two main categories:  Journeyman and Master electricians.

A Journeyman electrician has generally:

  • Completed a training course (usually two years);
  • Worked as an apprentice with a licensed electrician for several years (the require varies by area of the country);
  • And successfully completed a California licensing exam.

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This training qualifies him or her to work alone on most electrical installations and repairs and on both homes and businesses.

A Master electrician has gone beyond this level and used his Journeyman training to create a name for himself and a reputation for excellence.  To become a Master electrician, a person must work as a journeyman electrician for a number of years.  The exact number of years varies by state.  After they have the required years of experience, the electrician becomes eligible to take more advanced training and must pass a master electrician licensing exam.  In order to keep this designation, they are required to complete a certain number of hours of continuing education each year on related topics to stay up to date on new code requirements, products and procedures.

Electrician

In addition to performing the same work as a journeyman electrician, a master electrician can supervise journeymen electricians and work as a building inspector.  Depending on the scope of your work, you may want to hire a master electrician rather than a journeyman – for example if you are having an electrical system completely replaced, upgraded or installed from the ground up where the work is fairly extensive or complicated.  Their added experience and training may come in handy, whether they are performing the work themselves or overseeing journeymen electricians.

If you need electrical work done in or around Sacramento, California give A1 Electrical a call at 916-482-3400!

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