You have heard all about the benefits of a ceiling fan. They save money on your monthly electric bill throughout the year. During the winter, the warm air is stirred around the room instead of sitting near the ceiling. In the summer, the fan keeps the air moving and creates a cool breeze. Now that you are ready to take the plunge and buy your own ceiling fan, you are going to need an electrician in Pasadena to help you. Fortunately, you can count on The Electric Connection to get the job done for you in a professional, timely manner.

When you head to the home improvement store, you need to be prepared to sort through upwards of a hundred different fans in varying sizes, colors and designs. First of all, you will want to narrow the fans down by the size of the room the fan will be hung in. Fans will be labeled with the appropriate room size. Small bedroom fans will have short blades, while larger fans designed for the living room will have longer blades.

The height of your ceiling will also influence the fan you buy. If you have cathedral ceilings, a simple fan pull will not work. You will want a fan that includes a remote or that has the capability to have a remote adapted to it. You will also need to determine if you want lights with your fan. It is a very common accessory for ceiling fans. In fact, fans are often placed in position where the light would be located in the room. Lastly, and probably the easiest decision, is choosing the color of your fan. There are plenty of colors and wood stains available.

Once you have your ceiling fan picked out, call an electrician familiar with Pasadena electrical codes to have it installed. Give The Electric Connection a call today and start enjoying your ceiling fan this summer.

Medical News Today published an article on the effect of room lighting on decision making. Invoking crime dramas in which suspects are interrogated under bright lights, the report suggests that people tend to feel emotions more intensely in brighter light. This finding is significant not just for retailers but for anyone who consciously uses light in their spaces for a desired effect.

Medical News Today’s story is based on research conducted by academics from the University of Toronto Scarborough and Northwestern University and published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology. As you can guess, based on the journal that published the research, findings about how people act under different lighting conditions has important implications for how people act as CONSUMERS.

Here’s how the study went: A bunch of test subjects were asked to rate an eclectic mix of things, from the spiciness of chicken wings to the aggressiveness of a fictional character. Subjects were also asked to assess the flavor of two kinds of juice, the emotional tenor of certain words, and the attractiveness of a person. The scientists changed lighting levels as they observed their participants’ reactions to these stimuli. As the scientists suspected, lighting levels had an impact on how the participants felt about the things they were rating.

According to Medical News Today, previous studies have established that “people are more optimistic about the stock market, report higher well-being and are more helpful during sunny days, whereas being exposed to gloomy days for long periods of time can result in depressive feelings.”

But, then, the researchers ask, why do suicide rates peak during late spring and early summer months? This new study complicates the common belief that more light equals more happiness.

The researchers have concluded that brighter light levels do not necessarily make people happier. Instead, brighter light levels intensify both positive AND negative emotions. In the brighter room, during the experiment, participants felt more positive emotions in related to positive words and more negative emotions about negative words. They found people more attractive in the brighter room AND felt the fictional character to be more aggressive.

A 9-year, $3.8 billion study conducted at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee in collaboration with the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University found “a 47 percent reduction in the combination of death, heart attacks, and strokes” in those who practiced transcendental meditation daily. Does pretending to breath in light still sound weird?

I also encountered a study found that “Meditation provides a good starting point for learning and creativity.” The researchers assert that “There are strong pedagogical reasons for including meditation as part of the daily experience of pupils of all ages and abilities.” The study concludes that “Meditation is a proven means for stilling the mind, encouraging mindfulness, and providing optimum conditions for generative thinking and reflection.”

I’m sold. But, you know what? I’m also “sold” that drinking kale juice every morning would be great for me. That doesn’t mean I do it. Meditation, I’m convinced, is GREAT for you and for everyone. I really believe that. But how does one meditate? And when? And what will people think of me if I stare into the dark center of a candle’s flame daily?

For me, the benefits of meditation outweigh any concerns, and using the candle light solved the problem of how to meditate. I think it would be cool to stare at the dark center of a flame for a few minutes per day. Better mood? Increased focus? Better thinking and reflection? Less risk of heart disease? Yes, I think I’ll sign up.

You know, it goes without saying, but light is truly amazing.