Having a home built from the ground up is an exciting adventure that many future homeowners dream about for years before it finally becomes a reality. In many cases, people choose to do a lot of the construction with their own two hands or with the help of some friends. This can be an extremely rewarding experience for the person who has construction know-how.

Once you get some of the basics established in your new home construction plan, you will need to call an electrician. Glendale residents can trust The Electric Connection to install new wiring, outlets, lights, and electrical panels needed in new home construction.

The electrical portion of home building should never be handled by somebody who is not a professional electrician. The potential for mistakes is too great when a non-certified person is wiring the home. This could lead to electrical fires or costly repairs in the future. Start your project the right way with a person who knows the proper way to complete the job and can adhere to strict building code guidelines.

If you have hired builders, you will still have the chance to pick your electrician. Glendale homeowners will need to pick a company who has a skilled, knowledgeable staff with a good, solid reputation. Don’t leave an important decision like this up to any contractor to decide.

Part of building your own home is having it designed to meet your specific needs. You will have the chance to talk with your home designer about where you want electrical outlets and how many you want to have. If you will be installing a hot tub or electric car charger, this is the time to do it and your electrician can ensure your electrical panel is adequate to support these needs. If you would like to learn more about hiring The Electric Connection for your new home construction project, give us a call today.

Technology giant Google made its start as a search engine, subsequently branching into email, cloud storage, advertising and so much more. Now the company from Mountain View is surging forward with a new application, promising to tell consumers if their roofs are suitable for installing solar panels. The program, called Project Sunroof, works in conjunction with Google Maps to analyze your roof's size, orientation and shade levels to tell you at a glance how much solar energy you could get from it. Read on to learn more about how this convenient software works and how it can help you.

A Mix Between a Solar Electrician and a Search Engine

The program is simple to use – all you have to do is enter your address, and Google does the rest. According to the company, the program analyzes all of the following to determine how much sunlight you can soak up:

The program also provides information about what tax credits are available in your area as well as the local rules regarding selling solar energy back to the utility company when your panels are producing more than you need. It then spits out a recommended installation size, which you can modify based on how much electricity you actually consume according to your average electricity bill.

Pay Nothing and Start Saving Today

Google's entry into the solar market comes at a time when the options for solar are expanding, including the ability to lease panels from solar companies and enjoy savings on your utility bills while paying nothing for the installation and setup. A good setup can last for 30 years or more, with little to no maintenance from an electrician once the installation is completed.

Of course, solar isn't for everybody, since many roofs might be too shaded or otherwise not suitable, and some states still don't have good solar policies. Therefore, Project Sunroof can be a good place to get started to see if your house is a prospect before you even call a solar electrician. Currently, the program is working on a trial basis in Boston, San Francisco and Fresno, with more cities sure to be on the way.

Don't Forget About Human Experts Just Yet

Of course, even a technology company as powerful and ubiquitous as Google can't fully substitute for an experienced solar technician when it comes to analyzing how you can benefit from panels. If a Google query indicates that your home is a good candidate, have a qualified electrician or solar expert make the final determination and help you decide if solar panels are right for you.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc sit amet velit non lectus ullamcorper vestibulum. Morbi semper augue vitae vulputate convallis. Morbi sed ante at leo cursus efficitur. Proin nec ante sed nunc dapibus fringilla eget finibus lorem. Vestibulum nulla urna, efficitur sed sollicitudin at, venenatis quis neque. Nulla imperdiet nibh et ex pulvinar ultricies. Ut arcu tellus, tempor ac mauris id, rhoncus pretium neque. Sed sit amet molestie mi, at maximus lacus. In sit amet risus hendrerit turpis auctor tempor.

Integer justo lectus, tempus ac faucibus in, dignissim et diam. Ut at metus non ante dignissim interdum vitae a sem. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Maecenas finibus rutrum facilisis. Integer porttitor in diam eget iaculis. Nam varius tortor vel diam aliquet consequat. Suspendisse at volutpat neque.

Vestibulum egestas lectus quis justo pulvinar blandit. Cras sit amet mattis ligula. Quisque convallis hendrerit felis, et vehicula lorem auctor eu. Fusce fermentum lacinia erat, ut iaculis sem sollicitudin at. Curabitur convallis, ipsum at viverra placerat, odio lacus commodo erat, sed tincidunt mauris massa sed mauris. Pellentesque orci urna, venenatis eget velit sit amet, blandit accumsan neque. Curabitur ultrices dui quis faucibus interdum.

Imagine a future free from electricity bills. A home where you can maintain or improve your current levels of comfort, but one that is so efficient that it costs little to nothing to power its electrical work. Someday soon, this vision could become a reality, with a combination of renewable power generation and hyper-efficient technologies allowing Americans to enjoy elevated standards of living without placing a burden on their pocketbooks or the environment. Read on to learn more about the ultimate in energy-efficient homes.

Testing the Effectiveness of New Technology

One hotbed for innovation in efficient home construction is in the Pacific Northwest. A pilot program comprised of builders and utility companies is studying new homes built in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington to discover how new technologies are functioning and which ones are most effective. The program is looking at homes that are at least 30 percent more efficient than required by local code and monitoring them for a year after they are built to ensure that their performance is living up to their promise.

Among the energy-saving features that are included in the new houses:

Filling in the Other Side of the Equation

Naturally, any modern home should also include features like LED lighting technology in lieu of incandescent bulbs and efficient Energy Star-rated appliances to keep the costs for your electrical work low. Add smart technology to the mix, which can automatically find extra savings, and you are looking at a historically low electrical bill.

Of course, it's extraordinarily rare to find an American household that gets by without electricity at all, so no matter how efficient you are, you'll still have some level of energy consumption to power your electrical work. That's where the other side of the equation comes in: personal, renewable power generation. Once you install solar panels or a wind turbine on your property, you can make your own power. Pair that with a good electricity storage option and you're well on your way to being free from electrical bills forever.

Conservation in Your Circuits and Wires

The nation hasn't realized its efficiency dreams yet, but we are well on our way. If you need electrical work in a new or existing home, call up a qualified residential electrician today.