Regardless of whether you’re a burgeoning chef or someone who prefers to keep it simple, you rely on your stove day after day to help you prepare meals for your family or friends. Make sure your home is equipped with the right kind of stove – either gas or electric. If you grew up using only a gas or electric stove, you may be partial to that one. However, it’s important to know the difference between the two so that you can know for sure if you’re missing out on certain qualities you could benefit from.

If you have little ones, you may prefer to use an electric stove, as a gas stove produces visible flames that could harm their tiny hands. On the other hand, if you’re a cooking savant, you may prefer to use a gas stove for its accuracy and versatility. If you’re considering replacing your stove soon, take these factors into consideration.

A stove should last you on average 13 years; therefore, it’s important to invest in one that you will love. After all, you’re going to be stuck with it for quite some time. On average an electric stove will run anywhere from $450 to $2,800, while its gas counterpart will run from $400 to $2,500. The price difference between a gas stove and electric stove is close to negligible. This is why it’s important to take into account the operating costs of each type.

Consider your state’s natural gas cost and compare it to the electricity rate. In most states, natural gas costs less than electricity, which would indicate a lower operating cost.

Before purchasing a new stove, take note of what all you like to cook, as well as how often you cook. An electric stove takes longer to heat up and doesn’t respond as quickly to temperature changes. Further, if you’re a chef, you won’t be able to char, toast, or flambé your food. A gas stove reacts almost instantaneously, allowing for efficiency and accuracy. If you’re the kind of person who prefers take-out then your best option may be an electric stove.

7.  Convert the extra closet into a sewing/hobby center.  Install a custom-cut countertop and a little task light… “Viola!” You are done.

8.  Or, maybe you are not done….Why not literally “Knock Her Socks Off” and build her a bigger closet?!

Whether you are building a new closet or updating an existing one, there are specific rules for lighting an enclosed closet space.  The National Fire Protection Association’s National Electrical Code (NEC) sets standards for safety:

Because closets contain flammable material with limited ventilation, strict building codes dictate that specified lighting fixtures must be installed 18” to 24” from walls depending upon which lamp source is being used.  Surface mounted and recessed fixtures must allow for 6”-12” of clearance from any storage space, such as shelving or clothing rods.

♦Of course,these standards are not a problem for Mariah Carey whose closet is as big as a bedroom!

One of the latest changes to the NEC code is the addition of LED (light-emitting diode) fixtures.  LED lighting may cost a bit more, but energy-savings, greater illumination and safety features will prove to be well worth the investment over time.  The quality and adaptability of newer LED lighting makes it an excellent choice for closets and dressing rooms.

9.  Don’t leave Mom in the dark!  Create a cozy corner with a new den floor lamp so she may relax and read, while you watch the ball game! Try a lamp with full-spectrum lighting to elevate her spirits.

10.  Reward yourself:  Clean out the garage and carve out a space for a workshop that is all your own!

People are investing more into floor covering, cabinetry and shelving to make the most of their garage space.    Fluorescent fixtures, track lighting and simple portable lamps are making their way into upgraded organized garage systems.

The benefits of having solar panels installed in your home is well known, but few people understand the way that solar panels work. It won’t make much difference to your daily life to understand photovoltaic cells, but inquiring minds will benefit from this brief discussion. Before you invest in a solar installation, take some time to understand them.

At they’re most basic, photovoltaic cells convert the energy of ultraviolet light into electricity. The sunlight hits the atoms of a semiconductor, most often silicon mixed with a very small amount of phosphorus. The phosphorus is included in the pure silicon crystal because it has an “extra” electron. When hit by sunlight, this electron is “knocked” loose. Should it find an atom lacking an electron, it would come to rest there, but the tight, perfect crystal lattice prevents that. The electron, known as a “free carrier,” continues wandering.

All the electrons excited by sunlight in a solar panel would move around aimlessy if we didn’t provide them any direction. Placing a conductor at either end of a panel allows us to dictate the direction of the electrons away from the panel and towards the batteries that are the next step in the solar installation.

Of course, this is a great reduction of the actual process of converting solar energy into electricity. The reality involves a greater understanding of physics and chemistry. Over the years, science and industry has harnessed the power of this simple interaction between a few molecules and sunlight to greater degrees, until today, when we have a finely tuned grasp on the process. Indeed, solar panels are far more efficient today than they ever have been in the past.

And that is just one of the reasons that today is the perfect time to invest in a solar installation for your home. If you’re eager to understand the power of investing in home solar, give us a call today and let us explore the options with you.