This year I’m seriously jazzed about the 2012 Emmy nominees – especially for Outstanding Lighting Design. Admittedly, I’m a sucker for theatrics (dating back to long before those college stage makeup classes and my Cirque du Soilel-level Halloween costumes) but honestly, these nominees are amazing. Here’s what the Academy has laid out for us this year:

Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety Series

So You Think You Can Dance

Last year’s winner is at it again, producing number after flashy number. Lighting designer Robert Barnhart along with lighting directors Matt Firestone, Pete Radice, and Patrick Boozer are ones to beat, for sure. Check out this dramatic jazz piece from the Season 8 finale, it’s truly unforgettable:

Dancing With The Stars

This show is a first time nominee in the category, but lighting designer Simon Miles and lighting directors Matthew Cotter and Suzanne Sotello are definitely ones to watch out for. Check out this Halloween-themed Paso Doble featuring Ricki Lake, and you’ll understand why this lighting team has earned a coveted nomination:

American Idol

This program won the title in 2009, and this year the same team of lighting designer Kieran Healy, and lighting directors Joshua Hutchings, George Harvey, and Matthew McAdam are at it again. This highly talented group might just have what it takes to win again. See for yourself in this clip of Phillip Phillips (season 11 winner) singing at the Idol finale:

The Voice

Another newcomer in the category, The Voice has really made a splash in its second season. Lighting team Oscar Dominguez (designer) and Daniel K. Boland (director) have made sure that the voices aren’t the only remarkable thing about this show. Check out this video of season 2 winner Jermaine Paul (from team Blake) and you’ll see what I mean:

LED cove lighting is a great way to add accent lighting or color to any room, and LED strip lights are the perfect product for the job. LED strip lights can be used for any type of RGB LED strip lights, you can choose from a ton of dynamic color-changing and single-color modes with adjustable brightness and speed control. variable color temperature strips are also available and can be used with a compatible controller and remote. Installing LED cove lighting is easy, and we’ve provided basic instructions for a standard L cove, recessed ceiling/tray ceiling cove, or crown molding cove in a 16-by-16-foot room. We recommend that you have a certified electrician wire your strip lights to power.

Tools and Optional Materials:

The way you install the strips or even the number of strips used might vary depending on the room size or the style, shape, and size of your cove. The steps and materials needed for this particular installation could be used in a room with a standard L cove, crown molding cove, or recessed ceiling/tray ceiling cove. The photos below show several different cove types.

DIY “L” Cove

Valence Cove

Crown Molding Cove

8) If desired, use a double-sided 3M foam pad to mount the amplifier in the middle of strips 1 and 3. Cut the foam pad, and use it for both amplifiers.

9) Repeat steps 6-8 for strips 2 and 4.

10) If you are experienced, connect your power supply to power. Otherwise, hire a certified electrician to set up power for your new LED cove lighting.

You may not be aware, but you can have Lower Electric Bills by changing how and when you use electricity during times that the electric company considers “peak demand” or “peak usage” hours.  Electric companies have been initiating peak usage fees for some time now, essentially charging customers more to use electricity when the demand is higher.  This is usually when more people are at home and actively operating appliances, for instance, during a hot summer month when everyone’s air conditioning is running, or around dinner time when TV’s and ovens are working along with the air conditioners. This allows the electric company to make more profit and increase revenues when most people can’t help but use more electricity as a part of their daily life. Luckily, licensed Top Dallas Electrician, ElectricMan Inc. can offer a way to avoid these charges, and Lower Electric Bills by making sure that you are using the least amount of electric company power as possible during peak times.

An Indoor Generator is a unique solution that allows you to store power, either from your power grid when it is cheaper, or utilizing other renewable energy sources, and decide when you want to use it. This highly intelligent equipment allows you to program when and where you get your electricity, providing incredible independence and capabilities for Lower Electric Bills.

Take this as an example.  One local electric company uses a general rule of enforcing peak usage fees between 4pm and 8pm, so programming your system to use power stored during off peak hours at these times will allow you to stop paying these peak usage fees, and only pay the standard rate for electricity during normal usage hours.  This is a far more effective solution, since it is impractical for most home owners to change their schedule and stop using power during these times.

Once you have an Indoor Generator system in place and programmed, the system will automatically switch to your stored power during the times that you have chosen, leaving you worry free about when you are using your electricity!

For more energy saving tips on how to Lower Electric Bills,  information on an Indoor Generator for your home, or any other services provided by Top Dallas Electrician, ElectricMan Inc. visit our website at www.electricmaninc.com, or give us a call at 972-792-7270 to talk about how we can help!

LEDs are at the forefront of light industry discussion because they are such a gamechanger when it comes to energy efficiency and lifespan. But how do recent developments to LED technology affect the everyday consumer? What’s the simplest way to navigate this uncharted territory when shopping for LED light bulbs? The very recent availability of an LED replacement for the common household incandescent lamp has created a world of new potential, and along with it a whole new set of standards. In this post, we will be discussing the various ways to distinguish between the different LED options.