Saving on electricity is always the smart way to go, and you’ll find that you can keep monthly bills way down if you just do a few smart things to cut back on your electric power consumption:

Use Fans instead of AC – Winters in Texas may be warm, but the summers are comparable to sitting in the desert. You’ll find that using your AC is the only thing keeping you alive, so the thought of turning them down may be making you sweat. Turn down the AC a few degrees, and turn on some fans around the house. The breeze will cool off the home, and it will blow the cool air around nicely.

Switch Out Light Bulbs – One great way to save on electricity around your home is to use energy saving bulbs. An 18W power saver will produce as much light as a 60W regular bulb, but only use 18W. It will be a steep initial investment to replace all of the light bulbs – the power saver ones are costly – but it will cut your electric bill dramatically.

Use Power Strips – Your TV, DVD player, radio, Xbox, and other devices all use power when they’re turned off, as they’re in standby mode. You should consider plugging all of these devices into a power strip, and just turn off the power strip at night. It will cut down the amount of energy that’s used, and you’ll never know the difference.

Reduce Appliances — Do you really need a toaster, microwave, dishwasher, blender, food processor, juicer, two coffee machines, an espresso maker, and a coffee grinder? You probably need some of these appliances, but you can probably eliminate a few of the ones mentioned above. Use more gas-powered appliances, as gas is cheaper than electricity.

Replace Old Appliances – Did you know that older appliances tend to use a lot more electricity than newer ones? Newer appliances are made according to Energy Star regulations and standards, so they’ll be cheaper in terms of energy consumption. Replacing them will cost you a bit, but you’ll recoup your investment within a year or two.

Turn Down the Heater – If you are using an electric boiler to heat your water, chances are you’ve got it set too high. You probably want to enjoy a nice shower in scalding water, but most people have to turn on the cold water when they shower. If you want to save on electricity, turn down the heater until it’s just nicely hot instead of scalding. You won’t have to turn on the cold water to shower, and you’ll still be able to enjoy a nice hot shower!

Saving electricity isn’t just smart – it’s cost-effective and wallet-friendly as well!

Give your home or office environment a lift with new white lighting designs.  Bring in clean sophistication and timeless style: White on white illumination is perfect for the holiday season!  See the latest floor lamps, table lamps, wall lighting, chandeliers and home decor in a hue that looks fresh year-round…

1.  “Around the World” floor lamp from Van Teal, a striking 77-inch tall decorative tripod composition

2.  “Atilius” table lamp from Uttermost, tailored and elegant in Gloss White glass on crystal foot with a double-backed rectangular box shade

3.  “Spago” mini pendant from Fredrick Ramond, an artistic handcrafted woven metal orb of “Cloud” white surrounding an opal-etched glass shade

4.  “Cove Neck” White outdoor wall light from Nuvo Lighting, a handsomely combined mix of Asian and American style with textured glass

5.  “Walker” table lamp from Chelsea House, a dynamic white ceramic with Silk Egg shade

6.  “Sancerre” chandelier from Golden Lighting, stately in a White Gold finish with strands of delicately draped crystal beads

7.  “2 Seventy Series” island light from Nuvo Lighting, frosted acrylic spirals encase energy-efficient LED

Lighten up on Black Friday with new white lighting designs, chandeliers, lamps and home decor.  Visit 1800lighting.com for the best and brightest ideas in home decorating and illumination for the holiday season.

Does it feel like there’s never enough outlets in your home? If your guests always ask where they can charge their phones or your family has hardly enough space to charge all your smartphones, tablets, and laptops, you’re not alone. This is a problem many homeowners face as they rely on technology more and more to keep up with work, in case of emergencies, and to look up recipes, directions, and more.

Fortunately there’s a simple solution: installing a USB port hub. Electrical outlet ports, or USB hubs, can be installed in convenient parts of your home, like your kitchen, as an easy way to keep all your devices plugged in, close by, and all in the same place.

The USB port hub allows you to keep pace with the ever-growing demand for access to technology; your cables can be plugged directly into the port without the need for an extension cord. They are ideal in key areas of your home that are used often or where you require access to multiple technologies at once.

We recommend installing your USB port hub in your:

Installing a USB port hub in your DC-area home allows for smarter electrical outlet placement. Consider the many benefits:

If you need help making smarter decisions about electrical outlet placement or installing outlets in a USB port hub, call Kolb Electric. We have a full staff of licensed electricians with experience in a variety of home wiring projects throughout the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC areas, including installing USB port hubs. In fact, we’ve been helping area homeowners with their electrical outlet placement needs since 1925.

Call us at 877 287-1179 or click here to schedule an appointment today!

Low-energy LED lighting technology is the wave of the future. Are you still in the dark? Let us help you separate the facts from the hype surrounding this increasingly popular lighting option.

LEDs Last Forever

Like all light sources, LEDs will fade slowly over time. Depending on operating conditions, well-designed fixtures can retain 70 percent of their initial light output for 6 years, or 50,000 hours or more. If you run them 24/7, they'll last you twice as long as fluorescents and many times longer than incandescents.

The total cost of LED lighting over time can be significantly lower than conventional systems. Though initial fixture costs may be higher, LED fixtures have a longer useful life, are more durable and reliable requiring less maintenance and material costs, and use far less energy than their fluorescent and incandescent cousins. Annual lighting costs can be reduced by up to 80 percent, and payback on your investment can often be achieved in less than three years.

Waiting will cost you more in the long run. Lighting is often one of the greatest energy expenses of a business. Incremental price declines in LED technology will be more than offset by paybacks in energy savings. It does not pay to wait.

LEDs have been in widespread use for over a decade. LEDs have earned their place as a reliable lighting technology, having been used in critical safety applications and rapidly gaining popularity for industrial use thanks to their cost effective, efficient, sustainable, high quality light. Their impressive durability makes them a top choice for high intensity industrial applications such as manufacturing operations, warehousing, maintenance, and more.

LED lighting does not contain mercury. However, fluorescents and compact fluorescents (CFLs) contain hazardous mercury.

Thanks to advancements in technology, LEDs are ideal for these applications. A wide range of fixtures – from low to high lumen outputs – are available today, allowing for the selection of lighting perfectly matched to suit your specific business needs. Placement is essential to proper optics, so be sure to consult a professional to plan effective light placement.

LED lighting is “cooler” than other lighting colors.The blue hue of LEDs does vary from the yellow tones of traditional lighting. However, customers frequently cite an improvement in lighting quality and effectiveness following upgrades. If you have concerns, consider another hue in the ever-expanding variety of LED colors now available.

Well-designed LEDs offer convenient, targeted dimming settings. Quality matters. Well-designed LEDs can provide gradual dimming across many more increment than their competitors, offering targeted settings for the perfect combination of convenience, ambiance and energy savings.

LEDs don’t use magnetic ballasts – they use electronic drivers. Well-designed drivers don’t require replacement. Light bulbs, like incandescents, fluorescents, and halides, use magnetic ballasts that wear out over time, particularly with frequent on and off switching. LEDs do not share these characteristics because LEDs are semiconductors, not light bulbs. They require electronic drivers for managing power delivery. Look for electronic drivers with well-designed, integrated control features for the maximum in efficiency and functionalities - like dimming, sensing, and auto on and off capability.

Well-designed LEDs function beautifully in a wide range of temperatures. LEDs performed at least as well as fluorescents and HIDs in temperature tests conducted by independent labs, particularly in cold environments where other lighting technology suffers. However, quality matters. Opt for lighting that is carefully designed to manage heat dissipation – regardless of the climate you will operate them in.  

Well-designed LEDs manage glare and light placement with optics. Well-designed optics minimizes a direct sightline to LEDs, as well as glare, and color temperature for these applications is also excellent.

Don’t let old lighting technology leave your business burned out. Upgrade to LED lighting with the help of Mr. Electric® today.