Many of us can forget about our households energy consumption in the mist of busy daily life.  However, for those who look a bit deeper into specific energy costs, families will be able to determine where their homes’ energy is going and can make adjustments to reduce their energy bills.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, as much as 45% of your homes’ energy goes towards space heating. This means your heating, cooling, and air conditioning system is going to have a huge impact on your usage. Make sure you have checked your house for any leaks and that the appropriate insulation is installed or you will be losing heat that you have paid for.

Much of your other costs are coming from appliances and lighting. Lighting costs can be controlled by using energy efficient bulbs like LEDs. Make sure you are also turning off the lights in rooms you are not using. When running your appliances, try to use them only when you have full loads. It goes without saying that running the dishwasher or washing machine at half capacity will cost you more. If you can bundle more or wait for a larger load you can keep the number of times you are running your appliances down.

One way to determine your usage is to use an energy monitor. These types of devices cost around $30 to $40. They will let you know how much energy you are using to turn on and run these appliances or electronics. BC Hydro has also supplied a calculator you can use to estimate the cost per year. Sometimes upgrading your appliances can save you hundreds per year in efficiency.

Give your home or office environment a lift with new white lighting designs.  Bring in clean sophistication and timeless style: White on white illumination is perfect for the holiday season!  See the latest floor lamps, table lamps, wall lighting, chandeliers and home decor in a hue that looks fresh year-round…

1.  “Around the World” floor lamp from Van Teal, a striking 77-inch tall decorative tripod composition

2.  “Atilius” table lamp from Uttermost, tailored and elegant in Gloss White glass on crystal foot with a double-backed rectangular box shade

3.  “Spago” mini pendant from Fredrick Ramond, an artistic handcrafted woven metal orb of “Cloud” white surrounding an opal-etched glass shade

4.  “Cove Neck” White outdoor wall light from Nuvo Lighting, a handsomely combined mix of Asian and American style with textured glass

5.  “Walker” table lamp from Chelsea House, a dynamic white ceramic with Silk Egg shade

6.  “Sancerre” chandelier from Golden Lighting, stately in a White Gold finish with strands of delicately draped crystal beads

7.  “2 Seventy Series” island light from Nuvo Lighting, frosted acrylic spirals encase energy-efficient LED

Lighten up on Black Friday with new white lighting designs, chandeliers, lamps and home decor.  Visit 1800lighting.com for the best and brightest ideas in home decorating and illumination for the holiday season.

While many home improvements are well-suited for DIY projects, electrical work requires the skill and experience of a fully licensed electrician. The potential for injury and damage to your home from improperly-installed electrical circuits and fixtures is too great to risk doing the work yourself. In fact, we’ve written about the many dangers of DIY electrical wiring before.

To avoid issues and keep your home running properly, you’ll need to hire a qualified Maryland electrician. Experienced electrical contractors can help you properly install new outlets, wire a new addition or remodeled room, install a ceiling fan, and so much more.

Finding a qualified electrician among the large number of choices in the Maryland can seem daunting. However, there are several good places to look for Maryland electricians whose work you’ll be happy with.

Once you’ve found a few qualified electricians, you can narrow down your list by looking at only those who are licensed in the State of Maryland. You’ll also want to check out ratings on review sites, how many years the company has been in business, and available service offerings—such as 24-hour electrical service.

At Kolb Electric, we have a full staff of licensed Maryland electricians with experience in a variety of home repair and construction projects. To learn more about finding a qualified electrician in Maryland and/or to schedule an appointment with our experts, call us at 877 287-1179 or fill out an online contact form today. Check out our reviews to see what makes us a great choice for any project!