Prisons and correctional facilities are full of security threats, it’s just common sense.

That is why it’s a major task and a seemingly forever ongoing one to try everything in the book to reduce threats and increase security for everyone in, near, or even outside the facility.

Today we wanted to address how we can solve 2 major correctional lighting system and things you should look out for when finding fixtures perfect for your building and budget.

Firstly, a LED prison lighting system will reduce indirect stress and irritability in both inmates and staff.

Secondly, LEDs within correctional buildings will improve detection of movement, which we all know is crucial.

How you ask? Well, lets talk about each one individually and break it down a bit more than just one sentence. From there, we will talk about how to go about making the conversion over to LED, like we mentioned at the start.

Have you ever been around a light that was flickering and or buzzing? It can get annoying, and fast. Imagine living under these conditions, everyday all day; no break other than a few hours when you go outside. Sounds like no fun, and it can lead to some serious stress and irritability issues for both inmates and staff.

For obvious reasons, additional stress on inmates will never produce a good outcome for anyone. But, another important point is that this can effect your staff and guards too. It can affect their ability to perform at full capacity, which in combination with highly irritable inmates is not a good mix whatsoever.

With LED technology, they will never be susceptible to flickering nor buzzing. Not even near the end of the lights lifespan will they flicker or buzz, unlike other technologies commonly still used in such facilities. Thus, you can avoid any stress or irritability which may be caused from flickering / buzzing lights.

If you can’t tell where everyone is at every second, you’ve got an issue. This is especially important for outdoors during the time when it is dark out. Sure, some light is better than none; but why jeopardize your operations with a flickering light when you could upgrade to LED and get rid of the issue entirely?

As you may or may not know, flickering lights make it harder to not only detect movement, but also identify humans. Think of a strobe light, it’s a bit harder to actually make out what is going on entirely. This holds true with a flickering light, even if it isn’t as bad as a strobe light is.

Here we are going to list a couple of the other major general benefits that LED technology offers over other technologies such as metal halide, HPS, fluorescent, and similar.

There are really only two routes you can take, LED retrofit lighting kit will work perfectly. On top of that, retrofitting is a much cheaper option (typically) then a full replacement is. So, if you don’t need to fully replace then stick with retrofit kit LEDs and you will save a lot on your lighting system investment.

Conclusion

Flaws can always be picked at, especially in such tedious and unpredictable environments like the one we are discussing in this topic.

Is it only the astronomers and avid stargazers who seem to have noticed that our night sky is being swallowed up in a cloud of artificial light?

Glaring streetlights, flashy billboards, automobile headlamps, overly bright landscape and outdoor lighting…. all of these factors have had devastating consequences on our environment.

“Parking lots and gas stations, for example, are now often 10 times brighter than they were just 20 years ago and light pollution continues to grow at 6 percent every year.” Paul Bogart for The Sunday Star-Ledger, A bright idea whose time has come: Turning down city lights. March 3, 2013, P6

Not only does this wasteful illumination block our view of the stars and planets, this overabundance of nightlight disrupts circadian rhythms and negatively affects all life on earth.

“Fatal light attraction” -which is produced by excessive outdoor lighting-is deadly for migratory birds, causing over 100 million bird fatalities across the United States.–www.enlightenmentmag.com, Feb. 2015

So, what can YOU do to make your home more “Dark-Sky” friendly and stop the proliferation of profuse and destructive lighting design?

1.  Become a partner with the International Dark Sky Association.  The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) is a US-based non-profit organization devoted to preserving the natural splendor and beauty of the nighttime sky.  Membership includes all 50 states in the USA and over 70 countries worldwide.

• Contact ida@darksky.org to learn more about Dark Sky awareness and support efforts to preserve and protect the nighttime environment with good outdoor and landscape lighting plans.

2.  Check around your home at dusk and after sunset.

•Make sure outdoor light fixtures are shielded and angled downward to minimize “light trespass” beyond your property.

•Install motion sensors and automated controls on outdoor security lights so they will shut off when not in use.

3.  Talk to your neighbors.

•Educate them about Dark Sky laws and help each other to light responsibly.

4.  Upgrade your home with “Dark Sky”compliant fixtures.

• These outdoor and landscape lighting fixtures are shielded to focus light downward.

•The latest Dark Sky outdoor lighting fixtures are eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

5.  Throw a Star Party

•Enjoy a view of the nighttime sky with friends.

The latest Dark Sky outdoor and landscape lighting fixtures make it easy to get on board with the International Dark Sky movement.

Check out the latest Dark Sky outdoor wall lights from Modern Forms;

“Origami” WS-W27515

“Balthus” WS-W28514

“Kyoto” WS-W22520

For more information:

International Dark Sky Association

3223 North First Avenue

Tucson, Arizona 85719

Electrical contractors and electricians work with electrical wire color codes on a daily basis. But if you’re not one of these professionals, you might be wondering what the different colors of electrical wiring signify.

The simple explanation is that every color used for electrical wiring has a specific meaning, with different colors indicating different circuit types and purposes. Electrical contractors and electricians understand the color codes, but a simple guide can help you understand their significance.

Before beginning, though, it’s important to realize that different countries use different wiring color codes. In some countries, all permissible wiring colors are specified by the applicable governing body, but in others only a few specific types of wiring are required to have specific colors. In those countries, the colors used for some types of wiring are simply established by local practices followed by electrical contractors and electricians. Again, electrical contractors and electricians will be familiar with the wiring colors used in their localities.

So, the meaning of any given wiring color may vary from country to country. It can all get a bit complicated, but here’s a helpful guide to the significance of various colors used for common types of AC (alternating current) electrical wiring in different parts of the world.

American electrical contractors and electricians are required to follow the National Electrical Code (“NEC”) with regard to wiring colors. NEC imposes the following electrical wiring color standards:

In theory, wiring conducting live current in the U.S. is permitted to be any other color, although in practice, electrical contractors and electricians follow these local conventions:

Most countries in Europe, including the U.K., now follow the color conventions established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (“IEC”). These color conventions are as follows:

Electrical wiring in Canada is governed by the Canadian Electric Code (“CEC”). The following wiring color requirements apply in Canada:

It’s important to remember that the above color information applies only to AC circuits. Completely different color standards apply to wiring used in DC circuits.

Looking to buy or rent the perfect vehicle for your summer vacation? You might want to consider going electric. From reducing carbon emissions to improving air quality and limiting noise pollution, electric cars are a great alternative to regular vehicles and can save you money on gas! The benefits of an electric car surpass the benefits of other vehicles while helping the environment. Here are a few reasons why using an electric car will be great for your summer vacation!

Greener Alternative

According to EPA estimates, transportation accounts for 28 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, 80 percent of that belonging to automobiles and trucks. How much are you contributing? While electric cars produce slightly higher manufacturing emissions than traditional vehicles, after you consider vehicle manufacturing, fuel combustion and fuel production, the carbon footprint of an electric vehicle is nearly half that of its gas-powered cousin – 300g CO2e/km for the average gas vehicle versus 180g CO2e/km for electric. This protects not only the environment, but your wallet as well!

Increase in Charging Stations

The number of charging stations available for electric cars across the U.S. is increasing in response to the surge in popularity of electric cars. More than 9,500 electric stations and over 24,000 charging outlets are available across the country, searchable by zip code. Since 2010, more than 18,000 stations have been added, including free, pay-as-you-go and monthly subscription style services. Many states are also rolling out tax incentives to increase accessibility to charging stations at home and during travel.

Electric vs. Gas Power

Powering electric cars is cheaper than fueling cars that operate on gasoline. Solar and time-of-use (off-peak) electricity pricing also decreases the costs of operating electric vehicles, and available government grants and tax incentives can greatly reduce the sticker price. Add to that the fact that electric vehicle prices are continuing to fall while gasoline prices continue to rise, and you’ve got a recipe for some serious saving!

No Tailpipe Emissions

Nearly all credible researchers believe that electric cars, even in coal-dependent regions, have a smaller environmental impact than conventional vehicles. In regions with a strong grid mix of renewables—such as hydro, wind and solar—or for electric car drivers with home solar, the emissions benefits are dramatic. You can expect some analysts to argue the opposite. But it’s undeniable that electric cars don’t have a tailpipe, and therefore provide a real benefit to improving air quality for you, your family, and your community.

Home Recharging

If you decide to purchase an electric vehicle, there’s a good chance you’ll never have to go to the gas station again. All you have to do is pull into your garage or driveway, reach over for a plug, and push it into the charging inlet. It’s very convenient and takes all of about 15 seconds. Wake up the next morning, and you have a car ready to go another 80 to 100 miles—or double that, depending on the model. That’s plenty for everybody except interstate travelers. (The charging task can be more difficult for people living in condos and apartments, but access to multi-family and workplace charging is improving every day.)

Renting an electric vehicle for your summer vacation could save you a lot of money and trips to the gas station. This will leave extra money in your pocket for other fun things to cross off your vacation bucket list. Who knows? You may end up loving your experience with an electric vehicle that you’ll probably buy one when you get back from your vacation!

Wind power is electricity-generating technology that is very similar to hydroelectric power and burning fossil fuels. In all three cases, something is being used to spin a turbine, which then converts that energy into electricity. In the case of fossil fuels, the fuel is burned, which converts water to steam, which then spins the turbine. Hydroelectric power generators use the force of flowing or falling water to turn their turbines. Wind turbines are turned by the power of the wind, making them an ideal source of energy for places with high wind, such as the Great Plains. While the idea of wind power conjures up images of fields full of spinning turbines, it is not hard to find an electrician in Santa Monica who can help you to install one on your own land.

Wind Farms

The majority of all wind power is generated on huge wind farms. Each wind farm typically maintains and operates hundreds of wind turbines, which in turn connect to local electrical circuits that eventually funnel them into the main electricity pool. Your local utility company most often runs these energy operations as a secondary source of electricity. In fact, many companies give you the option to guarantee that some or all of the electricity that you use each month comes from their wind farm operations. In the event that you are unable to install your own wind turbine, this is a great way to contribute and further investment into wind power.

Residential Wind Turbines

As the call for more renewable electricity sources has grown more popular, so has the use of residential wind turbines. In conjunction with other small-scale energy sources such as geo-thermal and solar, wind turbines can be a great electrical upgrade to any home. One caveat is that you must have a small amount of land in order for it to be an ideal fit for you. Talk to a local electrician Santa Monica CA, The Electric Connection for example, to determine whether or not one will work for you.

Installing a Residential Wind Turbine

Although a wind turbine generates electricity for your home and community, its installation is not typically completed by a Santa Monica electrician alone. Because of the complexity of the installation, it is best to find a company that specializes in their application. In most cases, this company will complete the erection and initial setup of the turbine, and then turn it over to an electrician Santa Monica, such as The Electric Connection, to complete the tethering to your home and power grid. This ensures that both the turbine installation and the electrical work is done in the safest, most complete manner possible.

In addition to connecting your new turbine to your home, your electrician may also need to perform a panel upgrade, and small amount of home rewiring. While this is typically not extensive, it is slightly more involved than having electrical outlets replaced. For the best outcome, you should always have someone conduct his or her electrical estimates before the work is started so that you know what to expect.

In regards to small-scale renewable energy sources, wind and solar power are by far the most popular, approachable options. Although many see them as unsightly, most believe that the benefits outweigh the costs. After their initial installation, these electrical upgrades require very little maintenance, provide clean consistent energy and rely on a 100% renewable source. If you have any questions about whether or not you should look into wind power, or other alternative energy sources, don’t hesitate to call or visit our website at www.theelectricconnection.com.