For anyone who is in control, manages, or even owns a facility that has a parking lot for either employees, customers and clients, or both; you know that security and protection of everyone is paramount.

With outdated, inefficient, and low quality output per watt, which is all that matters when it comes to getting the most efficient lighting. The reasons behind this is because let’s say you have two different LEDs products, one outputs 135 lumens per watt while the other is at 120 lumens / watt. To power a light that outputs at 18,000 lumens; the 120 lumen per watt fixture will take 150 watts to reach 18,000 total lumens. While the 135 lumen per watt fixture will only require approximately 133 watts to generate same exact amount of light that the other higher watt fixture products.

See the important of lumens per watt? It’s everything, and we believe

Here’s another project of ours where we retrofitted an existing fixture in a parking lot (before and after):

The image list could go on, but the gist is this: LED has and will always improve your facility’s lot. Just look at the images yourself for the proof!

By choosing LED parking lot products for your facility, you are choosing higher quality along with higher efficiency products. LEDs (more specifically MyLEDLightingGuide’s) offer a better Color Rendering Index rating talked about before is about lumen depreciation. Metal halide and HPS experience greater and quicker depreciation in lumen output than any LED product does. So while a brand new and freshly installed metal halide fixture may look the same as an LED to start off its life; give it a few years and watch the difference. LED is almost guaranteed to be brighter for longer.

On the topic of saving money, how about the final benefit that will make you fall in love with LED technology and what it can do for your business.

While you need to be careful which LED products you purchase and from where you buy them from; commercial LEDs are just as open to rebates as any other.

Something called DesignLights Consortium (DLC for short) qualifies products and lists them on their site if they pass vigorous tests set by them. They offer two types of listing: commercial rebates but they also prove to be lesser of quality. Think; if a company offers quality lights what’s their reason not to get qualified? There isn’t, and that’s exactly our point.

Thankfully there are many DLC qualified products out their on the market, including ours. You can always take a look around just to say hi!

Image via BusinessWeek

We hear a lot about LEDs these days, but is there a place in the market for their fancier, pricier cousins, the OLEDs? Organic light emitting diodes have yet to find a niche in the market, but if and when they do, they’ll have to overcome stiff competition…

Lighting tips…

Other Cool Stuff…

This summer, soccer’s about more than just winning games. A group of young innovators have started producing a new kind of soccer ball that can generate and store electrical power when kicked around. This is a huge breakthrough for families who don’t have reliable access to power…Image via EarthTechling

Normally, finding a broken light bulb is a bit of a let down, but in Jon Smith’s photographs, they turn into something extraordinary. Jon fills the light bulbs with different materials, like paint or glitter, then shoots them with a pellet gun and photographs the explosion. It’s way cool…Image via Wide Eyed Illuminations

Now that the weather is warming up, you'll have more time to get those household jobs you've likely been putting off done. There'll likely be lots of trips to the hardware store, power tools, shouts of victory and the occasional groan of defeat along the way as you undergo a renovation. Before you launch into your summer projects here are a few tips to make sure you have a productive home improvement season.

Do your homework

Research your project before you start by finding stories and reading product reviews. Doing your due diligence on a job before you even pull out a tape measure will help to prepare yourself mentally.

Stick to the plan

Before you start knocking down, peeling off, unscrewing or disconnecting, make sure you have a clear plan of what you want to do and how you want to achieve it. The last thing you want is to turn a two hour job into two day patch-up.

Measure twice, cut once

Not being meticulous about your measurements often leads to "an inch off here" or "an inch to much there," which is all you need to ruin a great day's work.  Making sure you get the right size pipes, joints and parts the first time you go will save you multiple trips to the hardware store.

Get the right tool

Much like the previous point, using the wrong tool can lead to you undoing your hard work. We've all been tempted to jury rig something that's "close enough" to what we want, but that sometimes turns out to be not just unwise but also unsafe.

Have a backup plan

You have probably heard about electrical safety since the time you can remember. However, because we are so used to using electricity and having it around us all the time, we rarely stop to really think about it. Complacency can be dangerous. It is important to take a step back and really look at your home and surroundings. Are there any electrical hazards looming? Are you practicing safe electrical habits? An electrician in Burbank has some quick tips for you to practice. You can always call The Electric Connection to learn more and ask more in depth questions about electrical safety.

1-Only have electrical work in your home completed by a qualified Burbank electrician.

2-Plug large appliances like refrigerator, oven and microwave directly into an outlet.

3-Use GFCI outlets in the kitchen and bathroom area. These should be installed by an electrician. Burbank residents can protect themselves from electric shock in areas where water is present with this type of outlet.

4-Don’t make extension cords a permanent solution. If you need more outlets, have some installed by an electrician.

5-Don’t plug more than one heat producing appliance i.e. toaster, space heater, coffee maker, into an outlet at the same time.

6-Have all remodel work completed by an electrician.

7-If you are buying a new home, have it inspected by an electrician first.

8-Only use lightbulbs that are appropriate for a light fixture.

9-Ensure electrical cords are not damaged or at risk of being damaged from being run across walkways or smashed in doors.

10-If you experience a tingling feeling or small jolt when plugging in an appliance, stop! Don’t use the appliance until you can have the outlet inspected.

These are quick, basic tips that can actually prevent serious injury. If you have any questions or need an electrician to complete some work or an electrical inspection, give The Electric Connection a call today.