Did you know light pollution is one of the reasons why women in developed nations are 5 times more likely to get breast cancer? That’s only one of the many issues caused by the bright lights in today’s cities and towns.

This short video explores the hidden costs of light pollution:

More problems caused by light pollution include the disrupted migratory, breeding, hunting, and sleeping patterns of many animals. Far off lights can easily disorient migrating birds, making them lose their flight patterns or start their migrations too early. Bright lights along our shorelines distract sea turtle hatchlings from their natural paths to the ocean. 

Chronic fatigue in humans, along with migraines and sexual dysfunction have been linked to higher levels of light exposure.

Not to mention how much bright lights detract from the night sky. Today’s starscapes are faint and dim compared to those of yesteryear.

Usually, people hire an electrical contractor without giving it too much thought. You might assume that a professional service will know how to get the job done in quick time and you won’t have to bear any hassle. However, there is more to electrician services than meets the eye. There are a few relevant factors you should consider when selecting an electrical service for hiring. The reasons are simple: you are letting in complete strangers into your home who will be working on the electrical system. You have to be on the safe side than take any risk.

To make things a tad easier for you, here’s a look at the top 5 things to look for in electrician services:

Did you know a certified electrician adheres to the highest standards of quality and services? Don’t you want the electrician you hire to work professionally and deliver you the best possible level of service? This is why it is important to look for electrical services which are certified and have the necessary credentials. Membership of a local professional organization is an added bonus but the key factor is experience. If an electrician has been in the business for a few years, you can be certain that he will be able to get the work done without causing you any inconvenience in the process. So, ask for certifications and qualifications when you interview an electrician service.

Insurance is a must. Regardless of how qualified and experienced an electrician is, electrical systems are volatile and something or the other could go wrong. That would not only cause damage to the wiring and outlets but also connected appliances. In the worst case scenario, the problem could exacerbate to the extent that it causes damage to your property. Now, if the electrician you hire isn’t insured, you will have to pay for repairs and renovation out of pocket. This is why only hire a certified electrician that is ensured as well. In addition, also check licensing to ensure the electrician service is allowed to perform residential electrical work in your area.

There is no dearth of professional electrical services in the market so you can afford to be picky when it comes to the cost of the services. When you get a quote from an electrician, make sure you have him break it down and check how much he is charging for which service. You can also ask around and compare rates to get a better idea of how much you should be paying for the work you need to get done. Rest assured, when you hire a certified, insured and licensed electrician who offers affordable services, the lower price wouldn’t mean a compromise on quality. This is a major reason you should keep these factors in mind when making a decision. This way, you will get great value for money.

It doesn’t take much for you to be able to judge the level of professionalism you can expect from an electrician. When you talk to them on the phone and then meet face to face, get an idea of their behavior and attitude. The best electricians show genuine concern for their clients and are focused on solving your problems rather than charging you as much money as they can get out of you. Be alert and take note of the appearance and attitude of the electrician. If you feel he is friendly, courteous and professional, don’t hesitate to hire. If not, you can always find another professional certified electrician.

December is right around the corner and it looks like the temperature will continue to keep dropping. During this time of the year we all try to make our homes as comfortable as possible. Throwing on extra layers can help, but turning up the furnace is not always the best answer. If you want an efficient way to heat your home while also adding to the aesthetics of your room, an electrical fireplace is your best option.

Not only are electric fireplaces more eco-friendly than conventional gas and wood burning fireplaces, they are more economical. With their large heat output they cost just a fraction than what it costs to turn up the thermostat in your home. Additionally, electrical fireplaces require far less maintenance. You don’t need to worry about hauling around heavy wood or cleaning your chimney. With an electrical fireplace you just need to dust and clean the glass from time to time.

Because there is no real flame in an electrical fireplace, there is no need to worry about having the right connections to install the fireplace. You can install one virtually anywhere in your home. With the help of an expert electrician, we can run the electrical lines that are needed and make sure that everything is hooked up correctly.

The great thing about electrical fireplaces is that they come in a wide range of styles and designs. There are several types of electrical fireplaces:

Cleaning a crystal chandelier isn’t as daunting as it may appear. These precious fixtures require a little more love and care than a desk lamp, but you can restore and maintain your crystal’s shine with common household products and a little know-how.

Everyday Care

If your chandelier is still sparkling clean, simply dust the fixture with a lambswool or feather duster every few weeks. Keep your strokes light, since leaded crystal is softer than glass—even dust can scratch it. Be sure to walk around the fixture as you dust, rather than spinning it towards you. Twisting the fixture can strain the wiring or loosen its support.

Spring Cleaning

Eventually, the fixture will need a more thorough cleaning, especially if it’s in a high-traffic area or kitchen. Mid-size chandeliers are still manageable at this stage, provided you have some clean, lint-free rags, isopropyl alcohol, and a little elbow grease.

Before touching the chandelier, follow rule number one: turn off the power to the room when dealing with a ceiling fixture. At least flip the light switch off and tape it so no one will accidentally turn the light on while you’re working. Set up an alternative light source to aid the cleaning. Once the chandelier bulbs have cooled, cover them with plastic snack bags and secure with a rubber band.

Fill a spray bottle with one part isopropyl alcohol and three parts distilled water. Spray on one section of the chandelier at a time, then wipe off with a white cotton glove or lint-free cloth, making sure you dry the frame as well as the crystal. This solution will clarify the crystal and help remove the haze, but is gentler than ammonia on crystal with a design or edge finish. Even so, gently wipe away after spraying and don’t allow the fixture to drip dry. This will help preserve the frame.

Try cleaning your chandelier every two to six months with the alcohol solution, depending on whether the fixture is in a high-traffic area or not.

Heavy Restoration

If your fixture hasn’t been cleaned in a long time (or just needs extra attention), you can go an extra step before calling a professional. This is where a digital camera comes in handy, as you’ll need to remove individual pendants for a more thorough washing. Take pictures of the connections for reference later, then carefully remove the pendants. You may need a pair of needle-nose pliers to help disengage the pendants from the fixture.

Fill a sink with warm water and some gentle dish soap. Carefully wash each crystal piece and rinse in warm water to avoid any drastic temperature shifts. Set the pendants on a clean cloth to dry. Then simply rehang the pendants and enjoy your sparkling fixture!

This month of our LED industry link roundup is for the month of October of 2016. Also, we couldn’t forget… Happy Halloween!

This month we’ve seen lots of news about schools converting to LED and how cucumbers are seeing positive results from LED technology, along with some really great news about MyLEDLightingGuide. The news regarding the LED industry is ever increasing in excitement, and as the technology grows, expands, and simply gets better; the news will continue to be better and better.

Without further ado, here is the second addition of A Month in The LED Lighting Industry Link Roundup…

our retrofit kit LEDs without any penalty (because well, the complaint has been dismissed with prejudice by GTL). This allows us to continue selling all of our lighting fixtures as usual, and we will continue to do so with even more persistence now that this has passed.

LEDs Will Light Up Homer Harbor Next Year

Yet another city in the process of upgrading their cities lighting system over to LED technology. Next year Homer Harbor is going to be making the switch over to LED, which will surely inspire even more cities and towns to do the same.

San Francisco to install LED lights in street lamps to minimize maintenance, improve safety

Interesting enough another big city is about to convert over to LED technology. The reasoning for them is to reduce maintenance due to longer lifespans in LED technology as well as to improve safety. Read this article to discover more of the reasoning behind the conversion and what is driving this major city to make the conversion.

B.P. Schools Still Looking for Savings via LED Lighting and Solar

This school is seriously making a huge sustainable decision with LED lighting and solar. That will provide a highly sustainable situation, depending on how much of that solar power goes to powering the school lighting system. Since LED lights use much less energy to run, this could produce a very high ROI situation for this school and any others that follow suit.

Interesting Reads

Here are some interesting reads that we found this month. They aren’t exactly news we should all know about per se, but they sure are interesting for anyone interested in LEDs!

Trials see cucumbers gain from LED lighting

LED plant lighting systems are being tested and proven to show positive results to crops indoors. This post is an interesting read for anyone who’s interested in how LED technology is effecting the indoor grow industry, this one specifically with cucumbers.