Are you looking for energy saving tips to help your business reduce annual energy costs? Businesses consume far more lighting energy than homes, so if you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective place to start, addressing your business’s lighting solutions offers ample opportunity.

“Out with the old” should be your mantra here. Incandescent light bulbs are far from efficient, emitting 90 percent of energy as heat – not light.

The curly cousin of long-tube fluorescents, CFLs can be used in place of incandescents in standard light sockets. They contain mercury and should be handled with care; however, they use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescents.

Lasting 25 times longer than incandescents and using 75-80 percent less energy, LED lighting options have recently come down significantly in price. To get the most bang for your energy buck, LEDs are a top choice.

High intensity discharge lights are extremely efficient at producing large quantities of very bright light and are an excellent choice for warehouse and commercial settings. Be sure to talk to an electrician to get the best color spectrum to suit your needs.

Using 1/5 to 1/3 the energy as incandescents and lasting 10 times longer, these fluorescents offer flexibility in various commercial settings.

Twice as efficient as incandescents, halogens produce a very bright white light that is well-suited for outdoor applications such as security and stadium lighting.

Light dimmers and timers deliver just the right amount of light just when you need it, reducing energy use and costs. They also improve security while you are away and can enhance the functionality and ambiance of your business.

The future of lighting, we’re not talking battery-operated, but fully automated lighting powered by remote control and smart device applications. The technology of this solution offers you the capability to monitor usage and costs, with the added convenience of on-site and remote functionality.

Mr. Electric® will perform a complimentary evaluation of your current setup, analyzing for efficiency and function and offering lighting options that can lower your operating costs significantly.

Designed to your specifications, our experts can design custom lighting solutions that perform well and look great – all while keeping energy costs under control.

Security, landscaping, parking, retail – you name it! Whatever your lighting needs, Mr. Electric will spotlight your perfect solution.

Schedule a commercial electric energy audit today. A commercial energy audit can offer even more energy savings tips for the benefit of your bottom line. Mr. Electric can:

Don’t let excess energy costs drag your business down, get the energy saving tips you need with the help of Mr. Electric today!

We all want the best for our children, and one of the most important ways we can help the next generation is by ensuring that they are receiving the highest quality education they can. But what if I told you there is an element to education that most people overlook when discussing ways to change education, even though it has been proven to improve behavior and focus, reduce disruptions and increase reading speed and learning capacity?

Though often overlooked, Research has shown that full-spectrum, cool white light is best for encouraging concentration in a classroom, so swapping out outdated fixtures for newer technology could be a great start to better classroom lighting.

Although fluorescent fixtures are popular in schools, the way they flicker (often imperceptibly) especially if a child has a visual impairment that necessitates a brighter environment. Try to position the lights (or the students) so that the task lighting is on the opposite side of their dominant (writing) side. This ensures that their writing arm won’t block the light, and distracting shadows won’t affect their work.

Teachers should try to avoid standing in front of lights or windows when talking, because these can easily distract or bother students. Though it can be difficult, students will focus and learn better when the teacher eliminates as many distractions as possible. And who among us hasn’t caught themselves drifting in a daydream out a window, whether interested in the topic at hand or not?

There are many programs and initiatives for better classroom lighting in place, though many are local to specific regions. Have you heard of any neat programs geared towards smart classroom lighting? Let us know in the comments!

One of the best ways to relax outdoors is by sitting in your own private hot tub. After a long hard day at work, a soak in the hot tub can help rinse away all the stresses of work and life in general. A hot tub is also a great way to entertain a few friends on the weekend. Once you have picked out the tub that you have been dreaming of, the next step is getting it set up and ready for you to enjoy.

Setup

Although you may be extremely excited to start filling your new toy up with water for that first use, hot tubs require an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners will need an electrician to help wire the hot tub to the home. These wonderful devices are not something you can simply plug into the patio outlet.

The tub or sauna will need to be hard-wired into the home’s power. Typically, because of the electric requirements, a dedicated breaker will be needed. Depending on the available service, you may need an additional breaker installed.

It is not uncommon for permits to be required for the setup and installation of a hot tub. An inspection may also be needed. A qualified professional will need to make sure the hot tub is wired correctly and safely. These are all things that will need to be handled by an electrician. Santa Monica residents can call The Electric Connection to discuss the setup of their new hot tub.

Maintenance

Like anything that is run by electricity, there are times when the unit will fail. Never try and fix the hot tub yourself. In many cases, you could end up voiding your warranty by doing so. If you ever run into trouble with your hot tub, call an electrician to take a look and save yourself time and money from a voided warranty. The Electric Connection is here to help you get your hot tub up and running.