While it might seem surprising, lighting for commercial buildings commonly accounts for as much as 35 percent of business overhead. The good news for business owners trying to cut costs is that commercial lighting technology is moving forward every day and modern lighting can provide the same or better quality lighting for less while improving energy efficiency. Upgrading your building’s lighting can take some of the strain off your building’s electrical system, but in order to get the most benefit from your new lights, you have to plan carefully!

It’s one thing to say “we want new lights for our building.” But it’s another thing entirely to say “we want new lights because we believe they will improve employee morale and productivity!” Before you implement a new lighting plan, consider the specific goals you have in mind for your new lights. These could range from the aforementioned productivity and morale improvements to reducing your carbon footprint and reducing your overhead costs.

If possible, try to find lighting schemes you like in other buildings that you think would work well for your building—this can give you a better idea of the lighting design you’re after. And of course, feel free to talk to the lighting design experts at Kolb Electric—we can help create the perfect lighting design for your building!

There are three specific categories of lighting, each of which serves a different purpose in your building:

A good lighting design will layer these three types of lighting, starting with ambient lighting, then task and accent lighting. Each type will require a different fixture.

The type of light fixture you use for a certain type of lighting can make a big difference when it comes to the efficiency and effectiveness of your lighting. Light fixtures are generally broken down into three categories:

The availability of cheap electronic goods combined with our ever-advancing world of technology are rapidly creating a worldwide crisis. E-waste, or electronic waste, resulting from consumers improperly disposing of old equipment without a second glance, is taking its toll not only on the environment, but on the population as well.

The fastest growing waste stream in many countries, e-waste includes any item that utilizes a battery or plugs into an electrical outlet for operation.

Twenty five U.S. states have laws requiring e-waste recycling, which is typically free to consumers, however comprehensive federal laws have not yet been established. 15 states have landfill disposal bans on electronic waste. For information on your state, contact theNational Center for Electronics Recycling.

In cooperation with HirePatriots, a program of parent non-profit Patriotic Hearts dedicated to providing jobs for U.S. veterans and support services for their families, Mr. Electric® offers complete, professional electronic waste management solutions. As part of the Veterans Green Projects, HirePatriots is leading the way in providing safe e-waste recycling and disposal. Contact Mr. Electric today for all your e-waste management needs. With the help of HirePatriots, we can help you safely and responsibly recycle or dispose of your used electronic gadgets and appliances. Your world – and your family - is counting on you.  

Customers are always inquiring about the cost of solar panels. Here, we’ll break down the answer to that question.

First of all, the panels themselves can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000 depending on your demands and the size of the array. This is easily the most quantifiable part of the equation. This is often somewhere around half of the full cost of a solar installation.

The panels don’t do much good without the power inverter that allows you to connect to the power grid and they can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $3,000.

There are also a variety of related connecting pieces to make the whole thing work properly.

Then we move on to the “soft” goods that are part of the installation. Namely, the installation itself. The cost of installation often hovers somewhere around 25 percent of solar panels cost. Installation isn’t just the act of putting panels on your roof. Preparing the roof to accept the mounting system can take time.

And once the array is installed, you have to pay for permits and inspections for the array to be part of your home. These can run you a few thousand dollars. All in all, solar installation can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $40,000.

And the cost doesn’t stop there. Regular maintenance is recommended to keep your array running at optimal performance.

But you can compare these costs to the greater cost of using traditional power from the municipal grid, which continues to rise every year. Solar power grows cheaper all the time and is an incredible way to reduce your long-term expenses.

If you look at these numbers and wonder how you can make any of this a reality, give us a call so we can discuss financing options. Some customers are eligible for quite generous agreements that let them get started with a solar array almost immediately. That could be you, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.

When you are purchasing a home, it goes without saying that you want to be sure the house is structurally sound, and that there are no lurking problems that will surface later and burn a hole in your pocket. It’s why many people get a building inspection and pest inspection done before they sign on the dotted line. While all of this sounds good, what most people aren’t aware of is that they can and should get an energy audit done too.

An electrical audit analyses the major components of the house structure; this includes:

In short, it gives you a very detailed picture about how the buildings works as a whole. For a couple of hundred dollars, you can get an energy audit done from a professional. This audit can save you a significant amount of money in the long term; it identifies the features in the house that require correction to enhance the energy-efficiency. At times, the energy audit results can play a pivotal role in your decision of whether you should invest in a particular property or not.

If you find that a house lacks in energy efficiency, but you still want to buy it, the audit results can become a bargaining tool; it may help you get the seller fix the problem, or you may be able to get the property at a much lower price. No matter which way you look at it; getting an electrical audit is a very good idea. In addition to the ones mentioned above, there are a number of other benefits to getting an electrical audit done, such as:

The simple fact is that spaces that are energy-efficient are also more comfortable to live in. Energy-efficiency upgrades will ensure that the heat will be evenly distributed across the home and your home will be warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

If the indoor air quality in your home is poor, it can cause allergies as well as other health problems. When you choose to get an electrical audit done, the professionals that are conducting the audit, carefully analyse the ventilation in your home and also recommend what can be done to improve the indoor air quality.

Energy efficiency may seem like an isolated aspect in the sustainability of your home. But when discrepancies in the building structure come to the fore during an energy audit, it’s indicative of the fact that many features are constructed poorly and that they will fail before their time. Once you have the audit results, you will get a clearer idea about what will have to do be done to improve the building envelope as a whole.

When you are hiring the services of an electrical/energy auditor, you should keep in view the fact that not every one of them uses the tools and follows the required processes while the audit is being conducted. Ideally, the auditor should use tools such as a duct blower, an infrared camera as well as a blower door.

The blower door is essentially a fan that has to be mounted on the doorframe. It efficiently depressurises & pressurises the home to measure what the air leakage is like. The duct blower performs the same function, but is attached to the ducting in the house. The infrared camera helps detect air leakage in the walls and the heat losses too.

For more information about electrical audits and the best electrical solutions, call Allround Electrical at 1300 169 263. You can also drop us a line via email or by filling out this contact form.

Thanks for reading,1300 169 263

By Clarissa Allison | April 29th, 2016

If you want to update your home to create an appeal of freshness and light, there’s no better color to use in your decorating scheme than white. Whether pure white, off white or cream – despite what you may initially think, white can add drama to your home. Read on for tips and product suggestions that will transform your abode into your own personal white palace.

The key with using white in your space is to soften your chosen items by making sure that everything isn’t overly match-y and austere. Choose distressed finishes for your furniture and items that exhibit a bit of texture and softness. In this way you will avoid severity and “coldness” while adding familiarity and comfort to your space. George Nelson  at the end of the Second World War.

reflective glare. The sculptural qualities of this lamp are truly amazing.