More and more people are beginning to turn to solar panels as a highly effective alternative energy source. The cost to have these installed is a great investment since there are a lot of benefits. The general benefits include having a lower carbon footprint and saved utility bills. But, solar panel installation also allows you to have the energy to manage all your utilities, become independent, and have a higher home resale.

Utility Use

Most people think that solar power can only give them enough electricity to light your home at night. However, they can actually do much more than that. For example, solar panels can give you enough energy to heat your water for showers and laundry, too. It can even help to heat your house when it gets chilly. Depending on the weather you may not always have enough energy from the sun for all of these, but having solar will make a significant dent in your utility bill.

Independence

Currently, you most likely need to answer to a lot of different utility companies to power your home and pay a lot in electric, water, and/or gas company bills. You may need to buy oil to heat your home in the winters. Having solar power gives you an increased amount of independence, so you won’t need to worry so much about other corporations and paying high utility bills. In fact, you may find that you create enough stored energy that some of your utility companies will end up paying you!

Home Resale Value

Solar installation is highly sought after when home buyers are looking to purchase a house. This means that if you already have solar installed at your home, you will likely find your house will have a better resale value for you. This is definitely not a home improvement feature that you would need to question the value of, since it’s one that you’ll be able to make your money back from over time. Solar panels also require little maintenance, which is a big added bonus.

If you’re ready to start harnessing sun power, you can do a search for solar installers to find out more about Solar Panel Info. You may even find that rebates are offered in your area, which makes it much more affordable for you and your family to start enjoying the benefits of solar energy. Feel free to give us a call to find out more.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide Series. Last week we looked at great ideas for the custom bobble heads designed to look like the recipients are a fun gag gift that is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind.

If your active grandparent hasn’t discovered the outrageously fun sport that I can only describe as a cross between tennis and ping pong, then gifting them with their own bluetooth tracking tag that hooks onto your keyring (or anything you find yourself losing often) solves the problem brilliantly. Use this little gadget to locate your phone with the push of a button. Or, locate your keys using an app on your smart phone. 

But what if your grandparent doesn’t have a smart phone or device? Get them one! My parents love to sit down with their tablet and look at photos of my children that we send them digitally. You can find tablets and e-readers for less than $100 these days.   

As we age, eyesight diminishes and adequate lighting becomes more important than ever. If your grandparent enjoys curling up with a good book, reading the morning newspaper, or knitting sweaters, a stylish night lights that match their decor or motion activated this one in the shape of a tree ring. There are a number of online resources that will help you uncover your ancestry. Once you’re finished, a battery operated Blurb.com or head down to your local drugstore to have your book made.

Do you have an epic entertainer in your family or circle of friends? Come back next week to get great ideas on holiday gifts for your favorite host or hostess.

*Prices and availability are subject to change.

Each and every household has at least one reason to conserve energy. This is a very basic idea, and should be important for everyone in all classes of society. By conserving energy you are being less wasteful, which can have a positive impact both on the environment and on your monthly energy bills. In most areas, electrical utility companies still use fossil fuels to provide our homes with the electricity that we use on a daily basis. This includes materials such as natural gas, coal and oil. The exhaust and other by-products of burning these fuels can be very harmful to the environment. Furthermore, they all have a limited supply that is rapidly declining due to the increased demand placed by humans.

What can you do to conserve energy at home?

One of the best places to start is to use your appliances mindfully. By this, we mean turning them off when they are not in use. For further power savings, you can even unplug them or turn an attached power strip off to avoid losing any “standby” power.

Your large home appliances, such as washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners and heaters can account for up to two-thirds of the energy that you use at home. By unplugging them when not in use, or ensuring that they are only being used when necessary, you can make a significant dent in your electric bill. Take important steps such as turning your thermostat up when you leave the house, or improving your insulation. You can have your electrician in Los Angeles install time-saving devices such as programmable thermostats and dimmer switches to make this job even easier for you.

The bottom line is that everyone should be doing their best to conserve as much electricity as possible. While the effects may seem small, they truly add up and can benefit you both personally and everyone around you. For more ideas about energy conservation or help with an electrical installation or repair project, contact The Electric Connection. (Click Here).