One of the most exciting innovations in lighting in recent years has been the light emitting diode (LED) bulb, which promises to usher in a new era of energy efficiency. These bulbs use considerably less power than a traditional incandescent light and even a compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb while providing the same amount of illumination. They can also last many years longer.

But one of the most important features of LED lights is that they can be connected to a network, and with the power of the internet, your lighting can become "smart," anticipating when the house is occupied and when it is vacant, as well as adjusting brightness to better accommodate your lifestyle.

Halloween night is when ghouls and goblins hit the streets, but beware -- there are vampires already lurking inside your home. Energy vampires, that is, or electronic appliances that drain power even when turned off. If you aren't careful this wasted energy (also known as phantom loads) can turn your electricity bill into something out of a horror movie.

Energy vampires can lurk in every room. Some of your devices are designed to draw power even while off by going into standby mode, in order to receive remote control transmissions or keep digital clocks running. Portable devices that use rechargeable batteries, like laptops and phones, will also consume electricity as long as they are plugged in, even after they are fully charged. Big screen TVs with “instant on” features are also notorious energy suckers.

Any one appliance might only draw a small amount of power, but when you consider how many TVs, computers, stereos, kitchen devices and other electronic items are found in the average American home, the totals start to add up quickly. Coffee makers, electric toothbrushes, fax machines and modems all seem so innocent until it's time to write the monthly check to your power company.

In total, households in the United States consume more than $10 billion in vampire electricity annually, or about $100 per household, according to Energy Star, an energy efficiency program established by the Environmental Protection Agency. That comes to as much as 10 percent of overall home energy use. In addition to higher bills, this waste also harms the environment. Phantom loads account for about 100 billion kilowatt hours per year nationwide, adding considerably to carbon dioxide and other pollution released into the atmosphere.

That's not all: in rare cases, appliances drawing standby power can actually catch fire, especially older models that happen to be kept in damp environments.

It may not be possible to eliminate vampire energy entirely, since some devices such as answering machines, security systems and programmable thermostats rely on a continuous stream of power to perform their basic functions. However, by following a few tips you can reduce the amount of power you waste, saving money and lowering your ecological footprint at the same time:

Take the time for these basic measures and make sure the only vampires and phantoms you encounter this Halloween are the ones that knock on the door to say “trick or treat!”

As we prepare for fall and eventually winter, there are probably plenty of jobs you need to get done in the house. We often focus a lot of our time and energy on the outdoors during the spring and summer months and the indoors gets neglected. The following tasks are some things you will want to take care of with the help of an electrician in Burbank. The team at The Electric Connection will make sure your tasks are taken care quickly and professionally.

GFCIs

Ground fault control interrupters are excellent safety features to add to your kitchen and bathroom areas. The outlets prevent against electric shock when an appliance comes into contact with water. The second the circuit is interrupted by contact with water, the electricity to the circuit is automatically cut off. This can prevent the person holding the appliance from being shocked.

Smoke Detectors

The standard smoke detector you have in your home may not be quite as safe as you would think. These battery powered smoke detectors must have fresh batteries in order to work properly. There is also the risk of not hearing a smoke detector down the hall or in another room. Hard-wired smoke detectors are a better option. They are wired directly into your home’s main power and are interconnected. When one alarm is sounded, all the alarms will go off. This can add several minutes to your escape time.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are an excellent way to circulate warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer. There is some minor Burbank electrical work involved that can be taken care of by an experienced electrician. Ceiling fans are energy efficient and can save you money on your electric bill.

If you would like some help taking care of these small, but necessary upgrades around your home, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Welcome to Kolb Electric’s blog! At Kolb Electric, we want to be your number one source for residential and commercial electrical services in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC area, whether we’re on the job or not. To that end, we’ve created this blog to answer any questions you might have about your electrical system and electrical service in general!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be filling this blog with the latest tips, tricks, and trends to keep your home or building’s electrical system running smoothly, so bookmark this page and be sure to check back often!

At Kolb Electric, we’ve built our business around providing the best possible customer service to each and every commercial or residential electrical customer in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC area. If you need electrical service and want to go with the most professional company in the area, call Kolb Electric today!