LED lights are also measured in two different ways; by their color temperature and the lumens they produce. Because they use significantly less power and are gaining in efficiency with each generation, whereas older bulbs are consistent in their wattage being representative of the amount of light put out, LED bulbs can vary in efficiency a bit more. What this means is that the bulbs are now rated by their Lumen rating, or how much light they put out, versus how much power they draw. Understanding how LEDs work and the opportunities that they present to you as a homeowner are key to helping you make a decision as to how you light your home.

BMW, Honda, Ford, Mitsubishi and Nissan all offer full electric vehicles; however, despite the groundbreaking technology introduced in the new crop of electric cars, sales of pure electric cars that run off of a battery alone have risen by only about 6% from the same time a year prior, according to Edmunds.com, the leading automobile information company.  An analyst from Edmunds.com believes that what he calls “range anxiety” prevents most consumers from purchasing fully electric vehicles. It is also widely believed that this slow increase is due in part to the high prices of these vehicles. Furthermore, there is very little public charging infrastructure, which can make using an electric vehicle as a primary vehicle difficult for many consumers.

The sales of hybrid vehicles, on the other hand, are going through the roof. These automobiles travel using their battery power until a traditional gas engine turns on. One of the main reasons that hybrids are doing so well is because of the plethora of options. Hybrid vehicles eliminate much of the anxiety associated with limited range due to their ability to use a gasoline engine in addition to their plug-in battery. The proposed Ford C-Max Energi, for example, can drive for approximately 20 miles on electricity alone and an additional 530 miles with its gasoline engine. This makes them not only practical for everyday use, but also for longer trips. As a result of the variety of options and advancement of the technologies in these vehicles, sales have soared 381% in the first half of this year.

Although pure electric vehicle sales are lagging behind those of hybrid sales, it is important to remember that the technologies used in these vehicles are still relatively new, and with time are likely to advance very quickly as demand and interest in these vehicles grow. Because of this projected increase in demand and technology, a licensed electrician such as The Electric Connection expects to install many electric vehicle charging ports over the next few years. It is very common for a Los Angeles electrician to install easy to use charging stations right in your own garage.

In addition to Toyota’s new plug-in version of the Prius which can be charged with the assistance of a charging port installed by an electrician in Los Angeles, Chevrolet has introduced the Volt, and Ford will be releasing the C-Max Energi hybrid, which will be coming out in late 2012.

For more information on electric vehicle charging and electric vehicle technologies, you can read more at TheElectricConnection.com

The summer time is great for hanging out outside with friends and family. Backyard barbecues, pool parties and chatting into the wee hours of the night are all a part of making memories. Your memories likely include some electricity. Yes, it seems strange and completely off base, but electricity can make your backyard summer days a little more comfortable and convenient. Maybe you need to plug in your docking station or maybe you need to charge your phone or laptop. You don’t want to be cooped up inside or leave your phone behind. You need an outdoor outlet or two. An electrician in Beverly Hills is here to explain the importance of having outdoor outlets places around your yard and patio area. The team at The Electric Connection can answer any more questions you may have about the convenience.

Homes are required to have at least one outdoor outlet in the front of the house and another in the back. This is really not enough to keep up with today’s technological world. If you have electric weed eaters or hedge trimmers, you will be forced to use several extension cords to reach the far corners of the yard. This can be dangerous as well as frustrating. A Beverly Hills electrician can make your landscaping duties a little easier and safer by installing a few more outdoor outlets to cut down on your need for so many extension cords.

Outdoor outlets also make it much easier to light up your yard for the holidays. Overloading a circuit is a common issue when you try and connect several strands of lights or decorative yard items on one outlet. This is actually a fire hazard that can be avoided with one call to your electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners will appreciate the freedom and flexibility several well-placed outdoor outlets gives them. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your installation.

Everyone is a victim of the monthly electrical bill, and nobody likes to pay it, however electricity is a necessity to our everyday lifestyle. One of the benefits of electricity is that we have the power to manage it efficiently. Taking the right actions can mean saving money every month. We like providing you with helpful reminders of how you can be saving electricity in your home to make energy wise choices and save money on your bill.

Upgrade home windows – As winter approaches, you will find yourself wanting to maintain a warm and comfortable home. A great way to keep the heat in the home from escaping outside is by upgrading to more efficient windows. Windows with more glazes/panes help to capture the heat and keep it in. While this could prove costly to replace all the windows in your home, in the long run it is a wise investment to reduce the monthly electrical bill.

Regular furnace maintenance – Just because your furnace is running does not mean that it is running properly. If you are neglecting your furnace it could be running inefficiently. A professional inspection of the home’s furnace can lead to the identification of a number of areas of potential improvement that when resolved can lead to increased energy efficiency.

Use portable heaters -We have previously spoken about the user of portable heaters in the past and it is always worth revisiting. When heating the home, it is more efficient to turn on a small heater in the room you are in, rather than turning up the thermostat. Heat only the areas that are in use and not rooms that are empty.

Use the right bulbs – Each light fixture has a specification for the bulbs that should be used. Matching the right bulbs to the fixture leads to higher efficiency as energy can be wasted powering an incompatible bulb. And, if you haven’t replaced your home light bulbs with LEDs or compact fluorescent bulbs its time to!

Smart Thermostat – We visited this topic in last week in detail – turning down the home thermostat when heat is not needed is the easiest way to save on energy. A smart thermostat will help your set better heating schedules and allow changes to be made remotely from a smart phone.

Unplug unnecessary electronics – Electronic devices that are not currently being used should be unplugged. Items such as phone chargers, kitchen appliances, and laptops can still consume electricity even if they are off.

Repair your roof – In addition to windows in a home, the roof is another area where heat can escape. Heating a home is not cheap, so each degree should be kept inside, not outside. A damaged, or improperly insulated roof can lead to heat loss. A professional will be able to inspect your attic and roof to identify areas of heat loss and repair them.

Home Electrical inspection – Old and outdated wiring is not only inefficient, but dangerous. Schedule one of your licensed electricians to inspect your home to identify areas your can take advantage of to improve electrical efficiency.

Making the right investments in your home can lead to saving thousands of dollars in the long run. Before the thermometer starts to drop this season, review your energy consumption habits and areas in the home that can be improved. For a home electrical inspection, contact your local Expert Electric.