Spring is the time of year that everybody loves to spend outside. We are finally free of the freezing temperatures brought on by winter, but still have a few months before the oppressive heat of the summer rolls into town. Because people are often cooped up all winter, the desire to be outside is very strong. Spring is the perfect time to catch up on any yard work or remodeling that you have been planning, to ensure that your home is ready for hours of outdoor entertaining. But you should always be aware of the threat your electrical system could pose if you are not absolutely careful.

Here are a few tips for staying safe around your electrical systems this spring:

Homes typically have dedicated circuits that run from their breaker box to large appliances that draw a lot of power. For example, your refrigerator, washer and dryer will most likely have their own grounded circuit, built to handle the electrical load required for that particular item. Plugging too many appliances into one circuit can cause the wires to overheat, resulting in melted insulation and a fire hazard.

Just like every other industry, the electrical industry is constantly changing and improving. Sticking with out-dated practices will leave electrical contracting companies behind their competitors. A high quality, leading electrical management team stays ahead of the industry and keeps their services up-to-date and revolutionized.

As stated above, the electrical industry is changing rapidly. Just a few years ago building owners were changing their lighting from “old technology” T12 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts to T8 lamps with electronic ballasts. This resulted in more uniform lighting that was less expensive to operate. Then came the T5 lamps and now …. LED lamps and fixtures. The new LED fixtures and lamps can result in an enormous energy savings, but buyer beware. Many manufacturers and contractors have sprung up to chase the new LED lighting market. Some of them are reputable and deliver a good product, but some of them are fledging and can leave a client “in-the-dark.” Thus, if you are in the market for energy savings through lighting make sure you deal with an experienced electrical manufacture and contractor.

video in which Kathleen Packard, their Healthcare Market Development Manager, discusses how some innovations in lighting can positively affect the healing process (and save energy and money). Packard describes hospitals as being historically “institutional and very uncomfortable,” and her mission is to educate the public on the “importance of design” to patient health.

intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell in the human eye, which senses light and regulates the body’s systems, including melatonin levels, which are directly related to sleep. Visa’s Amber Night Light, she says, creates ambient light that won’t disturb the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell. This allows nurses to check on patients without disturbing their sleep.

Of course, all this valuable information leads us to the problems solved by Visa Lighting’s healthcare light fixtures. Packard calls special attention to the benefits of using LED fixtures. She reminds us that LEDs are indeed a great option for hospitals because they are energy efficient and therefore save money, reducing the cost of healthcare; they render color well, which is necessary, so that doctors and nurses can accurately assess skin pallor; and, unlike fluorescent lamps, LEDs contain no mercury.