The average household in Virginia pays $125 per month for electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Association. In Maryland, that number is $136 per month and in DC, it’s around $90. For commercial properties, the figure is even higher. But at Kolb Electric, we know that there are simple steps you can take to lower your electric bill—and we’re going to share a few key tips.

1. Check for gaps in windows and doors. Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to reduce your energy usage, and thus your electric bill, is to check your home at the beginning of each season for gaps around the windows and doors. It’s important to do this every six months or so, since your home can settle and shift slightly over time. It only takes a small gap for energy to escape.

2. Turn down your water heater. The standard setting on most electric water heaters is 140 degrees. Turning the heat down to 120 degrees can save you $60 or more each year in water heating costs. Save more by replacing your water tank with a tankless system.

3. Repair leaky ducts. If your ducts have holes in them or if they have come partially unattached, then you’re paying to cool and heat air that is never getting to your living spaces.

4. Have your HVAC and electrical systems serviced annually. Keeping all electrical systems, as well as HVAC products, well-maintained can not only extend their lifespans and help ensure your safety, but can save you money on your electric (and gas) bill too. Your system has to work harder and use more energy to push through an accumulation of dirt and debris. Regular electrical maintenance can also prevent the need for costly repairs.

5. Check your electric meter against your monthly statement. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your electric usage on the meter and comparing it to your statement. This allows you to easily determine whether your monthly energy bill is accurate and provides you with the information you need to monitor your usage so you can use electricity smarter in the future. Click here to learn how to read an electric meter.

At Kolb Electric, we don’t want you to pay any more than necessary for your electric usage. For more tips on how to reduce your electric bill and/or to schedule you annual service appointment today, call us at 877 287-1179. Our licensed electricians have been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners with their electrical needs since 1925.

Lately, I have been coming across lots of photos of cool applications of kitchen track lighting. So this week I thought I would share some of my favorites with you. I hope you find some inspiration below. Or, if not, I hope you at least enjoy seeing how relevant via Pinterest (Marcia Moore)

It’s not a huge, luxurious kitchen. It is something better: Real. Track lighting functions to illuminate kitchen tasks while accenting the wall. All is taken care of with one fixture. It’s the perfect solution in this kitchen full of well-used space.

2. For Gigantic Kitchens, Too

The lighting design pictured above calls attention to the right angles in the kitchen. It’s a metropolitan look that gives the room a sense of cohesion. Track lighting like this can also be used in kitchens with exposed beams. Using tracks to cross gaps or grades in the ceiling can be really cool.

4. Pendants and Spots, Spots and Pendants

Another new trend in kitchen track lighting is the flexible track. While this kind of track is generally not malleable by hand, a special track bending tool allows you to create a custom shape. I’m not sure who bent the track above into that nice curve, but it sure looks good in this real-life kitchen, which is complete with baby pictures on the fridge.

6. Wire Track Lighting

Kitchens like the one above make you see the brilliance of modern design. To put it simply, this kitchen is beautiful work of art, from the brushed metal ceiling to the glass tile to the granite to the smooth top range. To the track lighting! Can I hang out in here? FOREVER?! Muah ha ha. Ahem. Moving on.

7. Very High Ceiling

These very bright track lights look great with their blue glass shades. And they are task-oriented lights, a clear choice for the chef of the house. The aesthetic and functional dualism embodied by kitchen track lighting echoes the aesthetic/functional dualism of the culinary arts. It provides something you need and looks good while it does it.

9. Pendants Done Right

And here we have a lovely kitchen island situation. Notice that the island is dynamic. There’s a gas range for the chef and chairs for the kids. Quite a lot going on. So they had to be very deliberate and smart about the lighting. These white pendants are perfect. What was once utilitarian is now elegant – even graceful.

10. Kitchen Track Lighting Mash Up

Here we have a kitchen doing it all with track lighting. There are spot lights, pendants, and it’s even on a curved monorail. These contribute warm light to a comfortable environment, and they go well with the chandelier. Win.

11. Stunningly Wrong

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Have you ever thought about what you could do to lend a hand to our shrinking natural resources? Maybe you have cut down the amount of gas you need on a weekly basis or even switched to an electric car. You have probably noticed your pocketbook is a little fatter after cutting down on your gas bill and now that you have a little taste of what it is like to rely on other energy sources you want to learn more ways. Solar power for your home is another way you can save a little money every month while doing something good for the environment. A Pasadena electrician, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you make your home a little greener.

Modern technology has afforded us advancement in solar technology. The panels are much more neighborhood friendly and can be mounted directly on the roof of your home. They won’t take up any space in your yard. The panels are aesthetically appealing and will typically not violate any covenants that may be in your neighborhood. Because of the electrical components involved, a solar power system should only be installed by a certified electrician. Pasadena residents will want their solar power to be safe without worry an appliance will get ruined by a lack of power.

You can choose just how much solar power you want to produce by buying or leasing one or several panels. The amount of electricity you need will depend on how big your home is and how much power you need. You don’t have to worry about “running out” of electricity. When your solar power system is installed, you will still be connected to the main power grid. Your electric company will be your back up electric supply. In fact, if your solar power system produces more electricity than you use, you can typically sell it to your power company. Give The Electric Connection a call today to learn more about solar power and how it can work for you.

Electric cars are all the rage these days. They promise savings to consumers, who can install charging stations in their homes with the help of an electrician and dramatically their gasoline bills. Electric cars also give Americans a way to feel good about helping the environment, since they don't burn up petroleum or contribute to carbon emissions when they are being driven. A recent study, however, showed that we still have a long way to go when it comes to realizing the promise of electric cars – contrary to expectations, electric cars can actually create more pollution than gasoline-fueled vehicles. Read on to learn why.

The Electric Generation Conundrum

When electric vehicles are touted as emission-free, a key part of the equation is being omitted: the electricity to power them still has to be created somehow, and most of the power generation in the United States is based on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. In some areas of the country, it turns out, the pollution created by generating the electricity for electric cars actually outweighs that which would be emitted by traditional gasoline automobiles.

The study, performed by the National Bureau of Economic Research, measured carbon, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen, particulate matter and volatile organic chemicals. Through a complicated formula, they compared the output of those pollutants from regional power grids, measured for the amount of electricity it takes to power electric vehicles, compared to what would be produced by the equivalent gasoline cars.

Gasoline vs. Electricity

What researchers found was sobering – while gasoline vehicles tend to produce a lot of pollution that is concentrated in urban areas, electric vehicles create pollution spread out over entire regions. The effect is particularly acute in the Midwest and Northeastern United States, where power plants don't use as many renewable energy sources compared to those in the West. The upshot? As it stands now, we are currently creating more air pollution for large swaths of the country by driving electric cars than we are saving.

The discouraging results of this study notwithstanding, that doesn't mean that it's time to give up on electric cars altogether. After all, electricity doesn't have to be produced by fossil fuels-- the amount of solar and wind generation is only growing, for example. If you install solar panels on your own roof, you can reassure yourself that you are creating green energy to offset the electricity you use in your car.

Question Your Assumptions

If there's one thing that's clear from the study results, it's that you shouldn't just make assumptions when it comes to energy conservation and pollution – not everything is as simple as it looks at first.

If you need help determining if your home is suitable for an electric car hookup, contact an expert electrician today.