It’s no secret that electricity is one of our most used utilities. And while electricity brings us some comfortable living, it can be expensive. Here are eight ways your electrician can help you save money:
1. Energy-efficient light bulbs:
Electricians can install LED or CFL blubs throughout your building. Not only do these bulbs use less energy than other lightbulbs, but they can also last ten times longer. Lower electricity bills and not needing to replace the bulbs often sounds like a win-win!
2. Occupancy sensors:
Say goodbye to forgetting to turn off the lights when you leave a room. Electricians can install occupancy sensors to turn the lights off for you. This results in reduced energy consumption and of course, lower electric bills.
3. Solar panels:
Although solar panels may be more expensive initially, they can save you money in the long run. Electricians can assist you in choosing and installing the right fit for your needs. Once installed, you can feel great knowing you’re using inexhaustible, renewable energy without worrying about releasing pollutants into the air.
4. Update your electrical panel:
An outdated electrical panel could increase your electric bills and be a potential fire hazard. This is something you want to leave to the pros. Electricians can ensure your electric panels are not overloaded and install a more energy-efficient model.
5. Programmable thermostats:
Programmable thermostats can set temperatures depending on the time of day. When you’re away or sleeping, you can set lower temperatures. Using an electrician during installation can save you money on heating and cooling costs.
6. Perform energy audits:
Conducting an energy audit is one way to identify ways to save energy and lower electric bills. Once an electrician performs an energy audit, they will be able to recommend how to increase energy efficiency on your property.
7. Seal leaks:
Weatherstripping prevents heat from escaping through crevices in your doors and windows. Using insulation is another way to protect against summer heat and cool winters. Additional air leaks in your building can let heat or cold air escape, driving up costs. Electricians know how to inspect your building to find and take care of leaks, saving you money on heating and cooling costs.
8. Updated appliances:
Older appliances tend to consume more energy resulting in higher costs. Electricians can install ENERGY STAR appliances that use less energy than traditional models to help lower those electric costs.
NEEC can recommend the best steps in your particular situation. Whether residential or commercial electrical work or installation is needed, we’re happy to help you find the solutions that work best for your property, year-round. Contact us today to get started.
You’ve found your perfect fixture to transform your room’s ambiance but did you choose the perfect lightbulb? There are four popular lightbulbs that come in various colors and shapes. Here’s how to choose the best lightbulbs for your needs.
Think about your location.
The four most popular types of lightbulbs are incandescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), halogen, and light-emitting diode (LED). Each type has various strengths in different rooms.
LEDs emit a bright, directional light making them a great fit for task lighting. Since they also last up to 50,000 hours and are perfect for fixtures in inconvenient places.
CFLs: For illuminating large spaces such as basements and kitchens, CFLs work well. These energy-efficient bulbs emit a variety of colors and are less expensive than LEDs.
Halogen bulbs emit a white light similar to high-noon daylight. They are energy efficient and dimmable. However, they have a very short life span and warm quickly. It’s recommended to keep these bulbs away from fire-hazardous materials and to use gloves to change out the light. Halogen bulbs are great for recessed, pendant, and under cabinet lighting,
Incandescent: If you’re looking for an inexpensive option or a warm light to use with dimmer, incandescent bulbs are your best option. It’s good to note that even though they last longer than halogen bulbs they don’t last as long as CFL or LEDs nor are they as energy efficient.
Watt about Illumination?
All puns aside, the amount of energy a lightbulb uses is referred to as watts. To produce a brighter light, a bulb will need a higher wattage.
How many lumens does your space need? Lumens refer to the amount of light radiated. So similar to watts, the higher the lumen, the brighter the light. It’s recommended most rooms use 20 lumens per square foot for a well-lit area. Extra dark rooms or walls with dark paneling should have an additional 10 lumens per square foot. The total number of lumens can be spread across a few fixtures and one light doesn’t need to handle all of the illuminations on its own.
Whoever said you couldn’t have nice things neglected to think about a luxe feel often revolves around small aesthetic and quality of life changes. Here are seven little ways to make your home feel more luxurious when you don’t have a luxury-level bank account.
Towel Warmers
Ever feel like you’re freezing after a cold shower? It’s time to opt for a towel warmer. Warm, fluffy towels are a simple way to make you feel pampered, fighting off those post-shower shivers. Towel warmers are a great option even don’t live in an area with cold temperatures because they’ll keep your towels dry in a damp or humid environment.
Update your fixtures
Dated, builder-grade fixtures are out, and old, cracked, yellow light switches or outlet covers are really bringing down the vibes. To make your home feel more high-end, consider updating things like faucets and light fixtures. Think about spray painting fixtures to add gold accents to your home or installing touch-responsive faucets. Chandeliers or oversized pendant fixtures over a kitchen island, dining area, bedroom, or even a hallway are a great choice. Bedside table sconces hung on the wall usually always look chic. Installing such eye-catching personality pieces can serve as the main centerpiece in a room, saving you money by spending less on other decorations.
Layer the lighting
In luxe spaces, there’s not just one overhead light. The goal is to create focal points and pools of lights in areas of interest. Have you been to an art gallery and seen a light pointed at a painting? It really elevates the experience and makes the art look more expensive, right? Mix recessed lights, pendants, hidden strip lights, ambient lights, downlighting, uplighting, and so on. Use dimmers when possible and motion sensors if you opt for smart lights.
Landscape Lights
Don’t forget about the outside of your home. Landscape lights can enhance your yard structure and gardens by creating a resort-like feel to your outdoor living areas. They can really brighten up the overall look of your home, increasing your house’s value and reducing the risk of burglary.
Electric Fireplaces
An easy way to add luxury to your home is to get an electric fireplace. They are perfect for making your home feel warm and cozy. Electric fireplaces come in many different styles. You can decorate them to make them look even more elegant and sophisticated. The best part? You can enjoy your electric fireplace year-round.
Diffusers
Diffusers may be a very underrated element. Aromatherapy is huge in luxurious spaces, making them feel clean and expensive. Of course, some people may have sensitivities to certain scents but if you’re not one of those people, opt for essential oils such as Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Bergamot, Grapefruit, and Lavender.
Maintain what you have
Lastly, let’s not forget to maintain what you have. Generally, anything well maintained will feel more premium. That’s why new things always feel so nice. So don’t forget to dust your light fixtures, fix tile cracks, vacuum your carpet, and clean your mirrors!
While we’ve gone over a lot of little luxuries, you’ll notice that a lot of them need power! New England Electrical Contracting specializes in the installation and wiring of all these electric creature comforts and more! Get in touch for a free consultation and get your upgrade started!
During the mid-20th century, solar power was all the rage. Cars, homes, towns, it could all be powered by the ever-present sun! While an exciting concept, reality turned out much different. While a good option for some, the disadvantages of solar have made it a relatively lesser used energy source.
While energy independence is an alluring goal, a smart home or business owner knows to do their research before committing to a long-term investment. So let’s consider whether solar power or a whole home generator would be right for you.
Solar Batteries
Since smartphones have become a part of our lives, portable battery banks have also been around. When thinking of solar power for your home, you can think of it as being a permanent battery bank attached to your house that is charged by the sun. This comes with some obvious pros:
Ultra-quiet operation.
Extremely low maintenance.
Completely renewable energy.
However, solar power generally has a higher price tag to set up, as well as a battery that will need to be replaced within 5 to 10 years. Additionally, here in the northeast, our power usually fails in the wintertime. Days are cloudy, and depending on your power needs, solar-powered batteries may fall short.
Whole Home Generators
A tried-and-true method, our Generac-certified whole-home generators have a proven track record of keeping homeowners safe. Their sound level is comparable to a modern washing machine, and they’re usually situated outside the home. Consider several key pros:
Much more affordable to purchase.
Extremely long lifetime, on average between 10,000 – 30,000 hours running.
Seamless connection to the existing natural gas line in your home.
Not reliant on external conditions to provide immediate power to a home.
While some people scoff at buying used goods, there is a reason why garage sales, thrift shops, and auction websites have never gone out of style. When choosing a potentially life-saving piece of equipment like a whole home generator, however, should you outright dismiss the idea of buying used? Consider some informed reasons why it may not be a bad idea to consider purchasing second-hand.
The Obvious: Inexpensive!
It goes without saying that a used generator is less pricy than a new one, but the difference could be more significant than you expect. Purchasing a pre-owned, gently used model could net you anywhere between 20% – 70% in savings! Depending on your requirements, the cost savings may make all the difference in the quality of the model that may have leapt into your price range.
A concern, however, could be the condition of a used model. However, the advantage to purchasing a used home generator through New England Electrical is that you will not be sacrificing quality for price. You’ll still have our 24 hours, 7 days a week guarantee that we’ll be on-site for emergency assistance. Our award-winning service and consultations will be just as quality. Finally, our maintenance plans will keep your used generator running for many years after your purchase.
The Advantage of Whole Home Generators
There are many types of generators, but perhaps the best kind of used generator would be a whole-home model. Why? These are strictly used as a backup source of power. When assessing the quality, or value, of the unit, likely the first thing you’ll want to do is see just how long it’s been run. A backup generator is only used when power is out! This, more than anything, should provide convincing evidence of how lightly these used models will be.
Your Environmental Footprint
A natural gas generator already emits far lower levels of pollutants into the atmosphere than gas or diesel-powered generators. In fact, the EPA relaxed its guidelines for the regulating of natural gas generators. There is also zero risk of fuel spill contamination with this type of generator. Noise pollution is lessened because they run quieter than gas, and they emit the lowest levels of CO2 of all the IC generator types.
Compounded to these benefits, a used generator represents one less wasted unit. Rather than salvaging the used unit into parts or dumping it in a landfill, you’ll be contributing to a more sustainable Earth and minimizing waste.
Used, not Used Up!
The takeaway from this should be that a lightly used generator can be nearly as high quality as a new model, but with a serious reduction in price! If you’re still on the fence, call us at New England Electrical for a consultation. We’ll break down what your property requires, and will help you find the best whole-home generator, new or used, to fit your needs.
