Thunderstorms pose a safety hazard in several ways. Lightning is the most dangerous part of a thunderstorm, and it kills more people than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. Thunderstorms produce heavy rain, which can cause flash flooding. The strong winds from a thunderstorm can also cause widespread damage. Each of these components requires specific precautions to minimize their danger.

A thunderstorm typically has a diameter of 15 miles and lasts for 30 minutes, which is much smaller than a hurricane or winter storm. The National Weather Service places specific criteria on a severe thunderstorm. These include thunderstorms that produce hail with a diameter of at least ¾ inch, wind gusts of at least 58 mph or a tornado. Severe thunderstorms comprise about 10 percent of all thunderstorms.

The NWS recommends that you stay indoors for 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder when you hear thunder less than 30 seconds after the lightning. This rule is known as the 30/30 lightning safety rule.

Avoid taking emergency shelter in structures that are vulnerable to high winds, such as a mobile home. Outdoors shelters such as sheds, pavilions and golf’s typically will not protect you from flying debris and lightning. Avoid and report downed power lines. Bring pets and livestock under shelter to protect them during hailstorms.

It’s a new year, and many of us have resolved to finally do what makes us happy. To stop coming up with reasons not to do the things we want. Of course, this time of year also brings many to the crippling realization of just how much they spent over the holidays, and how much they need to save in the new year.

Good lighting, beautiful lighting, new lighting in your home can really work miracles for the space’s look and feel, and even your own well-being. But, when trying to save money, springing for new lights can feel like too much of a luxury. How do you know when it’s worth it?

We’ve put our heads together here at Pegasus Lighting to come up with the 8 best reasons you should say YES! to a lighting upgrade:

1. You’re wasting money. 

Have you thought about what more you could do to keep your family safe at home? Maybe you already have a security system and you lock your doors and windows every night, but what about dangers within the home? Sometimes, accidents just happen and there is really nothing you can do to prevent them. Home fires can happen in new homes or old homes. While wiring inspections can typically identify some problems and prevent an electrical fire, there are plenty of other things that can go wrong that can cause a fire. Your best way to keep your family safe against these kinds of accidents is by being prepared with working smoke detectors. Your electrician in Santa Monica can help you add a layer of protection in your home. You can talk with one of the team at The Electric Connection to learn more or read on.

There are two different types of smoke detectors. You are probably most familiar with the cheap battery-powered detectors that can be placed anywhere you like in the house. The other option is detectors that are hard-wired into your home’s main Santa Monica electrical. These detectors do have battery backups in case of a power outage. The biggest, and probably the best difference between the two is the reliability of the hard-wired detectors. That and the hard-wired detectors are all interconnected. Meaning, when one alarm is sounded, each detector in the house will go off alerting the occupants to the fire.

This can add minutes to a family’s escape time, which is extremely valuable in a home fire. The extra minutes can also mean the difference between saving the home or losing it to the fire. The additional minutes will give the homeowner the chance to call emergency services before the fire is out of control and if it is small enough, be able to use an extinguisher to put it out before it spreads. Call The Electric Connection today and schedule your hard-wired smoke detector installation.

Lighting designers look to nature for organic, eco-friendly and sustainable artistic inspiration. Whether they are planning for interior and exterior lighting installation, a healthy blend of natural elements is always in style.

Bring nature indoors and out and get inspired by shopping nautical inspired lighting designs at Capitol Lighting.   The sea is a wonderful, natural inspiration and Capitol Lighting has a huge selection of nautical lighting from which to choose –over 300 designs and unique accent pieces!

When it comes to nautical lighting, Capitol Lighting offers everything from outdoor wall lighting to kitchen island lights. You don’t have to live by the sea to appreciate the essence of nautical lighting design.  Trend-setting finish options and appealing blue hues incorporated into the latest nautical lighting designs.  These lamps and light fixtures are timeless and classic, and they add a casual charm to both the traditional and modern home.

Whether you are shopping for kitchen island lights, outdoor wall lighting or outdoor pier lights, find hundreds of nautical inspired lighting designs at Capitol Lighting online or in one of our retail showrooms nationwide.

Spirited lighting designs are trending toward the dark side, and that’s not just because it is Halloween.  Style spotters and top designers are embracing bold fashions and dramatic hues.  Take a look at the top three themes in the world of illumination…

1.  Deep, Dark Hues:  It is said to be a sign of the times that we are embracing rich, dark colors.  From politics to cultural rebirths, a positive vibe is in the air and we are changing it up with dramatic designs and darker hues.

“Momento De Mori” from Shannon Koszyk’s dramatic collection for Currey and Company features an Antique Nickel skull, black base and Inky Black parchment shade.

2.  A Cleaner Contemporary:   The ease of clean contemporary goes hand-in-hand with energy-efficiency and LED illumination.  From intricate geometric cutouts to textured Mercury glass compositions, the call for contemporary design has never been greater.

“Sovereign” table lamps from Dimond Lighting showcase Antique Mercury glass combined with energy-efficient LED illumination.

3.  Fearless Fashions and Surprise Twists:  Engaging new mediums run the gamut from natural palm leaf panels to a fusion of slate and metal.  Experimenting with hundreds of different textures, organic and synthetic materials, designers are coming up with new lamp shades, lamp bases and chandeliers that offer a magnificent blend of elements.  Novel lamp styles are making the A-list from designers who are not afraid to take a risk!

“Free Fall” from Kenroy Home introduces natural slate within a rugged iron lamp base for a statuesque presentation.

Lighting showrooms are abuzz with new lamps and chandeliers for the holiday season.  From High Point to Hong Kong, top lighting vendors are giving us plenty to celebrate.  Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom or 1800lighting.com to see the latest fixture fashions.