The majority of contractors and building owners are creating networks that interconnect all the components. These provide a single point of monitoring and control the different types of devices, sensors, and equipment.

While wiring the building during the construction phase is the ideal situation, modifying or upgrading existing systems can be challenging.

As the building gets bigger and more complex, so does its automation, making it a real task to interconnect all components. It may require hybrid systems consisting of the UTP, RS-232/RS-485, wired and wireless networks, and a variety of protocols. However, there is still a need to unify all these. It’s best to have a single point of managing and controlling the devices regardless of the style, location, function, and type of network.

As building automation evolves, there are now industry standard network protocols that allow people to interconnect components from different manufacturers. The three most commonly used interoperable protocols in use today include:

Building automation enables efficient control of the various systems and conditions in the building. This allows the occupants and owners to save costs, while improving comfort and living conditions. It adds the ability to automatically monitor and adjust the lighting, air conditioning, heating, ventilation, security and other parameters. Specific benefits include:

Building automation offers several benefits to the owners and occupants of the facilities. It allows the savings of resources such as energy and water while improving the conditions and comfort of the space.

As building automation networking evolves, equipment and applications from different manufacturers are able to work together via standard interfaces and protocols. This allows consumers to benefit from the latest technology and decreases our ecological footprint.

A well thought out lighting plan can really add a lot of interest and atmosphere to your home. And, if that plan is made with careful consideration of the way you use the various rooms in your house, it can provide light in just the right places to make household tasks and activities easier. With the help of an experienced professional electrician in Glendale, you can create a lighting design plan that is both pleasing to the eye and practical.

If your kitchen is due for a lighting makeover, with dark corners and shadowed work areas, a combination of lighting options can help create a space that is versatile and functional. Bright task lighting over work areas, such as counters, sinks and oven ranges, can make food preparation more convenient, while softer light can be more pleasant over dining areas.

Bathroom lighting plans should include bright lights for personal care areas, such as mirrors used for shaving or makeup. Softer lighting around the shower or bath can create a relaxing atmosphere to help you wind down after a long and stressful day at the office. Living room and bedroom lighting should be soft and relaxing, with a few strategically placed areas of task lighting for reading or other activities. The particular fixtures should be chosen with the help of your electrician, who can help you determine which options will work best with your home’s electrical system.

The Electric Connection has a reputation as being a top electrician in Glendale, earned with quality craftsmanship and an unswerving dedication to exceptional customer service. Give us a call for a free consultation and an estimate on your new lighting design plan. We can help you determine whether you’ll need electrical upgrades to make your remodeling plans feasible. You can do a fast Internet search for electrician Glendale and you’ll easily us, and then you can give us a call for suggestions on the best lighting fixtures to suit your kitchen or other home lighting needs.

Click here to read more.

Are you curious about solar energy, but scared away by the up-front costs? It's an understandable concern. Although going solar can dramatically reduce or even eliminate your electricity bill, the initial installation of the panels can cost between $15,000 and $30,000, far beyond the reach of many homeowners. However, a shift in the market means that solar energy isn't just a luxury product anymore – it's now within the financial reach of families across America.

Cheaper Parts and New Leasing Models

There are several factors at play that make solar energy more accessible to middle and working class families:

But How Does it Work?

Most solar systems don't actually power your house directly from the solar panels. Instead, the panels are hooked into the electricity grid, and the utility company purchases whatever energy you produce. Normally, a home will still consume more electricity than it produces, so the homeowner will owe the utility some amount of money – but a sum much lower than that of a normal electricity bill. For homes that are perfectly positioned, it is possible to produce more electricity than you use, and therefore cancel out the bill entirely.

For a more off-the-grid option, some people hook their solar panels up to batteries and power their homes directly. However, under this setup, you have to carefully limit your consumption so you don't drain the batteries prematurely. You also won't be eligible for a no-cost-up-front leasing program either.

Will Solar Work for Me?

There are several factors that determine the suitability of your home for solar panels. Among others, the size and orientation of your roof and how much shade it receives play a big role. The sunniness of your climate is also an important consideration. If you want to investigate going solar, you can have technicians come to your house to measure the roof and give you an estimate of how much power you can produce on-site.

Partnering with a company like Direct Energy Solar comes with other benefits as well. If you opt for the free installation model, you don't own the panels, so the company takes care of all necessary repairs and maintenance. The company also handles all the red tape and paperwork, so all you have to do is sit back and feel good about helping the environment while saving money on utility bills thanks to the enduring power of the sun.