Cost, energy savings, maintenance and aesthetics must all be taken into account to optimize your budget and bring out the best in your home with the finest lighting design.

1.   Fluorescent and CFL (compact fluorescent) lamps work well in areas that require cooler, energy-efficient general illumination, such as undercabinet lighting and cove lighting in kitchens or flush-mount ceiling fixtures in garages and basements.

2.  Low-voltage halogen lamps are best for accent lighting and to provide luxurious illumination in areas of the home that call for a more up-scaled look, such as living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and master bathrooms.

3.  For task lighting, choose LED (light-emitting diode) desk lamps, reading lamps, track lighting and mini-pendants. Bulbrite’s Generation 3 dimmable LED lamps provide great color rendering and light output, perfect for track and recessed fixtures. 

 4.  LED lamps are becoming the standard for outdoor lighting, too, due to their low-maintenance and high energy-efficiency. Although the initial cost for LED lamps is considerably higher, you will find tremendous long-term savings in energy, maintenance and replacement costs—especially in areas where illumination is frequently needed such as outdoor security lighting.

5.  Incandescent lamps are still popular for portable lighting and ceiling fixtures to provide pleasant general illumination.  Aim for energy-efficient incandescent:  Bulbrite’s Eco-Friendly Halogen A19 standard bulb is energy-saving, fully dimmable and available in clear or soft white.

Note:  Do not skimp and buy bulbs of lesser quality, because substandard bulbs may emit a poor quality of light and may burn out prematurely.  Purchase your lighting from a reputable dealer who will stand behind the quality of their merchandise.

For more information on updating your home with quality, energy-efficient lighting, visit a Capitol Lighting showroom and meet with a professional lighting consultant.

We almost all work with electricity on a day to day basis, but do you really think about the precautions that are in place to assure your safety? One of these precautionary measures is electrical grounding. Years ago, grounding was discovered as a way to protect individuals from becoming electrocuted in using normal electrical appliance. For instance, think about your refrigerator. If something went wrong and you happened to touch it, the electricity would flow through you, and you would be electrocuted.

Grounding wires the electrical item to the ground itself. So if something went wrong, the electricity is pulled away from the machine (and you) and into the ground. In the past, this had to be done individually for each item. However, technology has advanced now where grounding precautions are built into electronic devices around the home. When you plug in the device it is already essentially grounded and you are protected.

If you use any older electric products around your home, or you suspect the grounding is not working properly, you may wish to get in touch with an electrician in Beverly Hills from The Electric Connection and let him or her help you make certain the object is properly grounded and not a danger. Taking these safety precautions can make a big difference and protect you and your family from an accident involving electricity.

Spend some time looking over your electric items and make sure you are properly protected. Then call The Electric Connection an electrician Beverly Hills residents trust (Website). Not only can one of these experts help you with grounding and other safety concerns but with installation, repairs and whole-house electrical renovation too. Safety is always important when dealing with electrical implements, so choose a company that is willing to go the extra mile to protect the important people in your life. Not only can one of these experts help you with grounding and other safety concerns but with installation, repairs and whole-house electrical renovation too. Safety is always important when dealing with electrical implements, so choose a company that is willing to go the extra mile to protect the important people in your life.

There is a very dangerous myth floating around, one which could actually result in severe injury and even death – “Electricity always follows the path of least resistance”. This is one of those myths that results from a general fact being blown way out of proportion.

Forget colleges and engineering schools, most high school students learn that electricity does behave this way, as a part of the basics of electricity and resistances. Worryingly, this myth isn’t just stated as a fact, it’s a commonly followed practice in many electrical circuit designs, especially when it comes to grounding.

Walk into any industrial plant that uses motors or pumps and you’ll find they’re all connected to ground rods. Ask anyone why that’s done and you’ll likely get the same response everywhere (even from the people in charge of the electrical maintenance) – It’s to eliminate the potential differences.