If you’re thinking of installing solar panels for your home, you’re probably doing a lot of research to see what the costs and your options are. There is a lot to get up to speed on, so let’s start with what solar panels cost.

Solar panels have been steadily dropping in price, due to more efficient manufacturing and increased popularity. Currently, they are at an all time low, and the cost of a solar panel is around $5 per watt of output. A quick look at your monthly electric bill should help you figure out what you need, in terms of power.

That’s just part of the equation though. The main reason for installing solar panels is to save money on electricity. Depending on where you live, you may be able to make some money by selling excess electricity back to the grid. Rates vary for this, so be sure to investigate the options fully.

Buying solar panels appears to be a big investment, but most people find that they are able to pay them off in under ten years, and sometimes faster. There is a complex mix of factors that determines that timeline, including your power consumption.

There are federal tax credits available for people purchasing solar panels, and usually work out to the tune of 30 percent of the purchase price of the system, including converters and batteries. That’s a significant incentive. Between the tax credit, selling energy, and the long-term promise of energy independence, there has never been a better time to get solar panels.

Of course, it’s all a little overwhelming. What you need is someone who is familiar with the territory to walk you through all the steps. The Electric Connection has the experience and the connections to get you started on the path to energy independence. Give us a call today to get the process started.

Cities like Colorado Springs, Denver, and Pueblo are constantly expanding and urbanizing—you can always spot a new neighborhood development on your commute to work. New homes are sprouting up all the time, and people are buying. However, sometimes new isn’t always better (or cheaper). There are a lot of great, older homes throughout Colorado cities, and are often a better choice when it comes to real-estate investments. If you currently own an older home, or you are considering purchasing an older home, you’re going to want to check for these common electrical problems that could cause issues in the future in terms of both safety and money.

Generally, homes that were built after 1940 are in the clear—they are usually safe and the electrical systems were installed up to code. Homes built prior to the 1940s should be evaluated, however, as many of the electrical wiring could have deteriorated or may not be able to power a home in this era of modern day technology and appliances. Regardless of when your home was built, it might be a good idea to have an electrician come out and evaluate the wiring systems in your home and ensure that your family will be safe. Here are some things that you can look for yourself when it comes to old wiring in old homes:

Old Cables

Metal cased, fabric covered, or frayed wires are signs that your wiring is outdated and unsafe. Many times during the early 1900s, electrical wiring was “protected” by metal jackets or canvas-like cloth, which can cause problems if the insulation in your walls has been damaged or aged, or even if the metal electrical cords were placed on inadequate grounding. If the wires get exposed, or start to fray in these two locations (next to insulation or on top of a poor electrical foundation) this could be a serious fire hazard waiting to happen. You know you need to call an electrician and get your wiring replaced when you can see any scorch marks on switches or outlets, when you see torn, damaged, or missing insulation, or when you see exposed wires that could potentially cause a fire.

ZINSCO and FPE Panels

Zinsco Panels

While popular around the 1970s, Zinsco panels are almost obsolete today. However, older homes can still have these panels as a part of their home’s electrical system. Not every Zinsco panel needs to get replaced, but it would still be a good idea to get it inspected, as these panels have circuit breakers that have been known to melt into the main bus bar and cause a fire.

FPE Panels

Federal Pacific Electric panels were distributed throughout thousands of homes in the 1950s to the 1980s, and have an unfortunate reputation of being extremely hazardous to the safety of you and your home. These panels have been known for their inability to trip the circuit breaker when the circuit is overloaded or short. When the breaker doesn’t trip, it instantly puts your home at a fire risk because the circuit is taking on much more than it can handle and has no way to shut itself off.

If you recognize either two of these logos on your electric panels in your home, call an electrician immediately to get them inspected.

Old Fuse Boxes—Below 100 Amps of Power

Houses built before the late 1940s and early 1950s were not expected to handle the amount of electricity that we use in modern time. That being said, the homes were installed with a circuit box that can only power 60 amp service (four fuses), or sometimes even 30 amp service (two fuses). This means that your older home may not be able to power all of the appliances and electronics that you have in your house. If your breaker is tripping constantly, or your electric bill is through the roof, this may be a sign that your older home needs an electrical inspection to update the amp-service. Older electrical panels are also at risk of starting a fire. If you are unsure whether or not your home is experiencing this, call an electrician to be safe, and they will be able to give their expert opinion on whether or not you need to upgrade your electrical panel in your older house.

These are just a few signals of outdated electrical work in an older home, but each one is a serious risk to the safety of you and your family. If you have an older house, be sure to get it checked out and evaluated for safety. The same goes for those who are looking to buy an older home in the Colorado area, as the electrical work could be outdated and dangerous.

Remodeling lighting can be one of the most impactful elements when changing the look and feel of your home. As a Top Dallas Electrician, we know that whether you are remodeling, or starting fresh, some of the most versatile lighting options available are recessed can lighting, and pendant lighting. These types of lighting offer you the most flexibility, and the most visible improvement over unsightly light fixtures installed throughout your home.

Recessed can lighting allows you to fill a room with light, or highlight a particular area depending on your needs, and pendant lighting can accent a space beautifully such as a kitchen island, bar style counter, or eating area. Using these lighting styles in conjunction can help you recreate anything from a clean, modern kitchen, to a comfortable living room, or an elegant dining area, and anything else in between!

Want to improve your yard? One of the easiest ways to make it more beautiful is to add outdoor lighting. These multi-functional decorations can both help brighten your property and let you use it round-the-clock and make it even more beautiful by adding some soft, highlighting illumination. While outdoor lighting used to involve substantial work, including running bulky and often-ugly electrical runs, today’s homeowners have a number of new technologies that can safely and permanently run electricity without breaking their bank or compromising on beauty. Here are a few of the great options available to homeowners today.

LED lights are more affordable than ever before, and come in a massive range of styles, colors, and can be utilized for nearly any purposes. Perhaps the best part about them is that they are so small that they use very little electricity, while still offering a considerable amount of light.

LED lights come in many different forms, including spotlights, rope lights, or individual bulbs, meaning you can apply them almost anywhere. Looking to illuminate your deck? Run a few strands of LED bulbs across the top for a mood-setting glow. Want to highlight the beauty of your garden? Install a few lights around your prized plants. The possibilities for installing LED lights are endless.

Pools have had lights for many years, but a modern pool light offers extra options that were never available before. Turn the water in your pool or hot tub a fun color, or cycle through different colors quickly with color-changing bulbs. Additionally, modern pool lights need far less electricity to run and can offer even brighter solutions than ever before. Plus, a pool light can help you stay safe at night by making sure you see the water at all times.

Pathway lights can offer a lovely dressing for your existing paths as well as help you avoid any potential trip hazards. If kids leave toys out on the path, you can avoid these obstacles with a few simple pathway lights. Some models of pathway lights are even solar powered, gathering sunlight during the day to power themselves and then turning on at night with a subtle glow.

Security lights can help shine light in pivotal spots of your home during darkness hours, such as near front-facing windows or your front door. Many of these lights are motion-activated and require very little work to install, but can flood an area with bright light to help you spot and keep away potential intruders. Other types of security lights stay on all night long and offer you the peace of mind of knowing your home is not shrouded in darkness that encourages illegal activity.

I mean, this is crazy, right?! You can almost FEEL the presence of these weird light dudes as they approach you at a murderously slow pace. Are they astronauts on our own planet? Is this our planet? I was unable to locate a larger version of this photograph, but I still put it at the top because it is incredibly evocative. And that’s not even the real kicker. If you’ve read my other posts on light painting, you know that incredibly long exposure times are necessary for shots like this. So homegirl or homeboy was out in the snow, in the dark, making this thing. And she/he had the wherewithal, tromping through the icy powder, to render these human forms so very well, even making one look like he’s trudging knee-deep. So weirdly inhuman. So weirdly human. I love this photo.

2. Give Up the Ghost

I would never give you a photo of old shoes to look at unless there were something special going on in the picture. In this one, there’s a simple, appropriate message. Ready for it? LIGHT ENHANCES THINGS. Duh, right? This photo is aesthetically interesting, but more valuable to me is the way it shows the essential point of light painting: To have fun! To breathe some excitement into your photography. If your only subject is an old pair of Tims, don’t complain. Turn off the lights and bust out a “paintbrush.”

7. There Are ALMOST No Words for This

Isn’t this great? What I love most is how nonchalant and, well, normal the guy looks in this photo. See? It’s all about juxtaposition. Angel wings mixed with a loud sense of everydayness (he COULD be wearing white robes) make you take notice of the unspoken contradiction. You ask, Why this? And you are led to wonder if maybe this is saying something about how sometimes the people who are the most inconspicuous are the most angelic. See what I did there? That’s why I have chosen these photos from among the hundreds that are out there. They invite wonder and have the power to lead to new insights. I am a dork.

9. Do Not Anger Him/Her/It

* Note: I found these photos on Pinterest and was unable to confirm all of their original sources. So, if you have any information about the original sources for any of these photos, please let us know in the comments sections. We want to give credit for these fantastic light painting photos where it is very much due! Thanks!