Have you ever wondered what would actually change if you switched to LED? You are probably too accustomed to the CFLs or tungsten lights you use right now, never done a long-term cost analysis and do not really imagine what kind of changes switching to LEDs will bring.

Let`s do a general cost analysis and compare the results of LEDs, CFLs and tungsten bulbs. I will take an electricity cost of 10 cents/KW and an average of 4 hours of light on per day, which means about 15000 hours of operating hours in ten years.

Let`s take the common tungsten lights first. If you have 10 incandescent bulbs in your small office, you will spend about $7.50 to purchase them and have an annual operating cost of approximately $84. Take into consideration that incandescent bulbs will be around for only 1000 hours (500 hours if you are lucky). There is also the additional cost generated by the fact that the air-conditioners will work harder to compensate for the heat emitted by the bulbs. Let`s see what happens in 10 years. In ten years, you will need to replace the light bulbs each year so in total you will spend $75 on the purchase and $840 on the bill, so $915 in total plus maintenance costs.

If you have 10 CFL`s in your small office you will spend about $110 to purchase them and have an annual operating cost of approximately $23. CFL`s will last for almost 10000 hours but they contain mercury and that could be a problem if you have people working for you and a hazard for the environment. If it is very cold or the lights are placed outside in the cold, they will need a couple of minutes to turn on and in some cases, they might not even work. Let`s see what happens in 10 years. In ten years, you will need to replace the light bulbs once and in total, you will spend $220 on the purchase and $230 on the bill so $450 in total plus considerable maintenance costs.

Now let`s see what happens if you have LED instead of CFL or Tungsten bulbs. If you have 10 LEDs in your small office you will spend about $390 to purchase them and have an annual operating cost of approximately $80. LEDs last will last for at least 50000 hours in any environment, whether is cold or warm, whether they suffer physical shocks or vibrations. Let`s see what happens in 10 years. In ten years you will not need to replace the LEDs and in total  you will spend $390 on the purchase and $80 on the bill, so $470 in total, but you will have no maintenance cost.

As you can see, it seems that incandescent bulbs are no option as they are the most expensive ones on the long term.

The first impression is that CFLs might be a little bit better than LEDs as the overall cost is a little bit lower (not counting maintenance costs).  The thing is that CFL will need another two or three replacements in the next years, while the LEDs will work just fine. In addition the maintenance cost will rise with the CFLs. CFLs are also a bio-hazard, they do not work always, take up a lot of space and give an unnatural light, so there are quite numerous advantages to LEDs when we compare them to CFLs so the slight disadvantage of LEDs in the first years can be easily ignored. Moreover, in 12 or 15 years the LEDs will prove to be more economical than all the other options.

Today’s technology offers a great deal of convenience, but it's also capable of taking quite an environmental toll through increased electrical consumption, greenhouse gases, and electronic waste. How does one upgrade responsibly? Install long-lasting, easily recyclable, energy-efficient appliances capable of reducing your monthly utility bills. How much are my kitchen appliances really costing me? For the average homeowner, large appliances such as your refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer, account for around 13 percent of monthly utility costs. Add on your hot water heater, and you’re looking at another 15 percent of your bill. Plus, usage costs can vary drastically depending on the age of your appliances. Appliances older than 10 years old are simply screaming for retirement –nearly doubling energy usage. Energy efficiency: learning the lingo Advances in today’s appliance technology adds up to savings for you, but only if you understand what you’re looking at. What’s the big deal about ENERGY STAR? The program was established by the EPA as part of the Clean Air Act to preserve the environment, as well as help individuals save on energy expenses. EPA labs test and certify ENERGY STAR appliances to signify equipment that perform above and beyond standard models. Top-of-the-line ENERGY STAR equipment bears the newly introduced “Most Efficient” label. Kitchen appliances that give you the most bang for your buck:

STOP! Don't just toss that old appliance! Electronic waste, or e-waste, is quickly becoming a global crisis. As the fastest growing waste stream in many countries, e-waste results in the release of extremely toxic substances that are contaminating both the Earth and our bodies. At this time, only 11 to 14 percent of US electronic waste is properly recycled and reused. Please dispose of your old appliances responsibly, as safe e-waste disposal is essential to preserving not only the environment, but your health as well. How to do I responsibly dispose of my family’s e-waste? There are many safe and responsible e-waste disposal and recycling options. If your retailer does not provide a free pickup service with the upgrade of your new appliance, Mr. Electric®, in cooperation with the non-profit organization HirePatriots, offers e-waste disposal solutions as well, including responsible recycling, e-waste packaging, pickup, and removal, secure data destruction, accredited repair and refurbishment, and more. Improve your efficiency and responsibly manage your e-waste with the help of Mr. Electric. The professionals at Mr. Electric have what it takes to handle all of your appliance upgrade and e-waste recycling needs.

Let’s say your teen is using an electric drill outside and standing with bare feet in a puddle. Not a good idea. Let’s say the drill malfunctions and leaks electricity out of its proper circuitry. Electricity takes the path of least resistance, which just might be from the drill, along arms and legs, and into the puddle. If the drill were plugged into an ordinary outlet, this could be a fatal accident.

In recent years, the National Electric Code has included requirements for special safety outlets where such accidents could happen. These special outlets are called “GFIs” (Ground Fault Interrupters) or “GFCIs” (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) — two different names for the same thing. They are required by the National Electric Code in garages, kitchens, bathrooms, pools, spas, and in some other outdoor areas where water could be present. The Electric Connection, your local Glendale electrician, can check all of your outlets for you and replace or install new GFCI’s.

A GFI, or safety outlet, detects that the current in an appliance is no longer flowing in its proper circuit. It shuts off the current within milliseconds. In the case of our teen, if the drill were plugged into a safety outlet, electrocution would be avoided — a life saved.

GFIs look different from ordinary outlets. They have two buttons labeled “Test” and “Reset.” You can check that the outlet will cut off current when needed for safety by pressing “Test.” Test should shut off current to the outlet so that the outlet no longer provides power. After the test, you can restore current to the outlet by pressing “Reset.”

Newer GFIs also have a tiny green indicator light that tells you that it’s providing power. This is a handy feature when you conduct your test. It’s also handy because from time to time, safety outlets may be triggered without your knowledge and may no longer be providing power. The absence of the green light will alert you to this situation.

A Downside

This is the downside of safety outlets — they can be tripped without your realizing, or they can become faulty and can trip repeatedly for no reason. Let’s say you have an electric toothbrush charger plugged into a safety outlet in your bathroom. The outlet has somehow been tripped and no longer provides power. If it’s equipped with a green indicator light, the light will be off. In any case, if it’s lost power, press “Reset” and power should be restored.

Another possibility is that an outlet in a kitchen, bathroom, garage, or outdoor area is not a safety outlet but is “protected” by a GFI elsewhere in the circuitry. If a non-safety outlet in your house has lost power, you can check for this situation by making sure that all the GFIs in your kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas have not been tripped and are still providing power.

Home Safety Check

Check that your kitchens, bathrooms, garage, and outdoor areas are equipped with working GFIs. (Refrigerators are incompatible with safety outlets and should not be plugged into one nor protected by safety outlets elsewhere in the circuitry.) If you have GFIs, remember that they have a limited lifespan, so press the Test button of each at least once a month to check that they shut off power as designed.

If your home doesn’t have safety outlets or they are no longer working, call a qualified electrician to get an estimate for installation. GFIs are a relatively inexpensive investment in your family’s safety.

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When you’re getting ready for bed, do you worry about the security of your home? Would you like to be able to better control the security of your home for when you go away on business or vacation? Feeling secure while you’re in your own home is important for most folks. For many, the home is a sanctuary, a resting spot, and a place where the family comes together on a daily basis. It’s where we eat, bathe, and hang out with friends. You want to make sure that your home security system is in good working order at all times so that you can be confident and at ease when under your roof.

Whether you currently have a basic home security system or not, there are some great options out there to help improve your home.

The key to any security system is hiring a professional who can advise you on the latest technological innovations in the industry as well as what products would work best for your home.