83.6 million sleep deprived people are shuffling around the U.S. at any given moment – so it makes sense that businesses are investing in products and technologies that focus on ways to get a good night’s rest.

When recent update to iOS 9.3 introduced Night Shift, a feature that takes its cues from the sun (or more specifically, your device’s clock and geolocation) to gently shift the color temperature of your display to the warmer end of the light spectrum at night which may help you get a better night’s sleep.

If you use a standby generator for your home or business, you know how valuable it can be during a big storm or any time when your power supply is uncertain. We tend to get a lot of big summer and winter storms in the DC Metro area, so having a standby generator is crucial for things like keeping food safe and keeping lights on. So if you want to make sure your generator works smoothly when you need it to, it’s important that you keep it well maintained!

After a major storm knocks out power, your generator could be running 24/7 for a few days. To prepare for times like this, here are some ways you can keep your generator in good shape:

In addition to these checks you can do on your own, it’s important to have your standby generator inspected by an authorized sales and service dealer. Remember—many home and commercial generators have a limited warranty and require service from a licensed technician in order to make sure the warranty can be honored.

Standby generator repair and maintenance requirements may vary significantly based on the type of generator you are dealing with. For instance, commercial generators are primarily the alternator type of generators. Alternators have stationary windings (which create the alternating current) and rotating windings (which create direct current). Since rotating windings usually go through a significant amount of friction when working, regular tune ups and electrical repair will see them needing to be replaced every once in a while.

Kolb Electric is one of the largest Generac generator dealers in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC are and we are fully certified to service Generac generators. This winter, prepare your home for any major snow storms by calling Kolb Electric for generator service today!

There is something for everyone with Lighting Designs from Lite Source Inc. newly available at  1800lighting.com!

Get the lighting that grows with you!  Lite Source Inc. is the source for classic styling and fashion forward lighting designs for the entire family.  Maybe you are looking for sleek LED adjustable bedside reading lamps, or novelty theme-based lamps for your child’s bedroom—Lite Source Inc. has got you covered!

Perhaps you are searching for the perfect Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift? Check out new magnifying/reading lamps from Lite Source Inc.’s outstanding desk/task lamp collections.  If you are thinking about updating your den or family room, you will find unique table lamps that are affordable and superbly crafted.

New lighting concepts from Lite Source include classic chandeliers for your dining area, fabulous accent lamps for your night tables, and whimsical bedroom lighting to deliver that personalized touch to your child’s bedroom.

Browse a remarkable selection of lighting, including Classic, Elite and Kids styled lighting categories.  Portable lamps, ceiling light fixtures, wall lamps, clip-on lights, adjustable table and floor lamps—fulfill all your lighting needs with marvelous finds from Lite Source at 1800lighting.com.

Styles include traditional, contemporary and transitional, as well as, accent and office/task lighting compositions.  The finest materials-ceramic, crystal, glass, metal and wood-are combined in artfully captivating lighting designs from Lite Source.

Lite Source maintains a large headquarters in California and has showrooms in major US cities, including Dallas, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Lite Source team works hard to bring you the best in novel lighting designs and the ultimate in easy and affordable task and accent lamps.

Dynamic designs, outstanding functional lighting compositions, the latest in lighting technology—you get it all from Lite Source Inc. On board with state-of-the art lighting styles, lamps from Lite Source include LED (light emitting diode), CFL (compact fluorescent) and energy-efficient halogen.  With a myriad of illuminating choices combined with advanced performance, you will find exactly what you are looking for to complete your lighting design.

Lite Source remains true to its commitment to provide you the largest selection of fashion forward lighting that is timeless, top quality and always in style.  See for yourself—visit 1800lighting.com and enjoy the fabulous Lite Source line of lighting products designed with something for everyone from the very young to the fashion conscious mature adult!

Update your den or living room with the contemporary geometric LS-22078 “Nizanna” table lamp featuring a Polished Steel/ Dark Walnut finish and White Fabric Shade.

Illuminate your room with the attractive two-tone LS-5750 “Relaxar” flushmount fixture.

See these lighting designs and browse the entire collection of Lite Source Inc. at 1800lighting.com.

If you are planning on renovating or sprucing-up your kitchen, it’s probably a good idea to map out a detailed lighting plan as well. Most people find this a little strange as they feel that lighting in a kitchen isn’t something that needs too much of consideration or planning. It’s just a place where you cook and probably where you have an informal meal after all.

However, the fact is that it’s important to plan kitchen illumination well if you want to make optimal use of your kitchen spaces. Here, we would like to share some basic lighting ideas to create the right balance of functionality and aesthetics.

If you want to get a better idea about what type of lighting would work best for your kitchen, it’s vital to understand how your kitchen spaces relate to the different type of lighting. Let’s start off with understanding what type of bulbs you can use for the best effects:

These bulbs emit a yellowish light and you will now find many artistic versions of these on the market today.

These bulbs throw off a flat, cold light that has a bluish tinge, which lends a very harsh effect to the room.

These have a warm light that makes the place look very inviting and comfortable

These are the latest in light bulb technology and are available in a range of effects including white, cool daylight, warm light, yellow and a range of other colours and hues. Aside from this, LED bulbs are also 80% more energy-efficient than standard bulbs; and most property owners are now opting for these fixtures.

In addition to the types of bulbs used, the style of lighting or the lighting effects are what impact the ambience and appearance of a room. With this in view, here we discuss the different lighting effects that can be used in your kitchen:

This is one of the simplest ways to create the right lighting effect in your kitchen. This type of lighting is designed to help you move comfortably around the room. In most instances this type of lighting comes from grid-style can lighting, widely-spaced, wall and ceiling lamps, semi-translucent skylights or even the natural light that streams in through glass windows and doors. This is the base layer of any lighting plan.

In your kitchen, task lighting would be required to illuminate kitchen counters and food preparation spaces. Since you will be cooking in your kitchen every day, it’s important that the task lighting be planned and installed well. If you have only recessed lighting fixtures in your kitchen, you will feel the lack of focused light when you are cleaning, cooking or prepping in that space.

If you install one-dimensional lighting in the kitchen, it creates unsightly shadows in different areas of the room, while ceiling lighting is ineffective in illuminating spaces like sinks, under counter or cabinet areas etc. On the other hand, if you add special pendant lamps over the counters or even your kitchen island it can prove to be a more practical solution. Under-cabinet lighting can also help in illuminating the cabinets that are positioned there.

This effect doesn’t seem as necessary as ambient or task lighting does in a kitchen space, as the illumination it provides isn’t as functional as the first two. However, it can have a significant impact on the way your kitchen spaces look. If you want to enhance the appeal of your kitchen (regardless of whether you are getting it entirely renovated or are opting for a lighting upgrade), it’s important that you plan your accent lighting well.

Smart technology is poised to take over the home appliance market. We already have smart thermostats, smart lighting and even smart refrigerators. If that's not enough for you, there are some new contenders on the market that allow you to turn any electrical device in the home into a smart item. The best part is that it's a simple DIY experience – no need to find an electrician to hook it up. It’s the smart plug, a small box that you plug into your home's outlets. From there, you can use your smart phone to control whatever light, television or other electronic appliance routed through the smart plug. Read on to learn more about these remarkable efficiency devices.

Control and Monitor Your Electronics

There are a variety of smart plug options on the market: The Satechi IQ Plug, the Belkin WeMo Insight Switch, the D-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug and the Valta Starter Kit, among others. The cost and functionality of the different brands vary, but they all operate on a similar principle – allowing you to set schedules and remotely control whatever device you choose.

The smart plugs connect to your phone via Bluetooth or wireless Internet, so you can switch them on or off from anywhere in the home – or even from the other side of the country if you have an internet-optimized model. You can also program schedules so the plug automatically activates an appliance at appointed times – turning a coffee maker on first thing in the morning, for example, or switching on a space heater before you go to bed in a chilly part of the house.

Retro Meets Modern

The upshot is that there's no need to wait for cutting-edge smart devices to come out to keep your home on the cutting edge of technology. Imagine impressing your neighbor by demonstrating the new smart functionality of a retro 1950s television, or your old Victrola vinyl player.

Smart plugs also monitor how much electricity a given device uses and when, so you can make informed choices about increasing your energy efficiency though disaggregation, breaking it down appliance by appliance. You can also save energy by using the smart plug to turn off the power to devices when you aren't actively using them, preventing your electricity bills from skyrocketing due to always-on settings or “energy vampires.”

Savings and Control All at Once

If you have additional questions about smart plugs and how they work, find an electrician who can show you their utility and functionality. With surprisingly little effort, you can harness their power to save energy and control devices all throughout your home.