Thirty Percent Solution | Professional Electricians

Want to jump onto the energy saving drive but don’t know how? Aside from purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances and implementing energy conservation strategies at home, what else can you do to boost the energy efficiency of your home or workplace? In these situations, you may want to look at hiring a professional.

There are just some types of household work that not everybody is qualified to do, and that includes electrical work, maintenance, or upgrades. And while you may usually call on the services of your regular electrician, you might also want to look into the feasibility of hiring a “green” electrician in Tulsa, or an electrician that has had specialized training and experience in energy efficiency and energy conservation.

Who doesn’t want to reduce the cost of their monthly electrical bills? And while most of us can cut down on our power usage by cutting down our energy consumption and being smarter in our purchase and use of electronic equipment and appliances, we can take this a bit further by hiring a professional. Not only will we contribute to energy conservation and the reduction of emissions in the environment, we also reduce our costs in monthly bills. And when it comes to the field of electronics and electrical systems, you would certainly want a fully trained and experienced professional who can advise you on what to do in this specialized field, who can recommend energy efficient systems that you may not yet be aware of, and still do everything competently in what is potentially a dangerous field for most people.  Even when trying to go “green,” it is always wise to be prudent and safe when dealing with electricity.

A fully trained commercial electrician can help you to understand the energy labels on various appliances before you purchase them, and what those numbers can ultimately mean in terms of the numbers on your wattage and bill. They can give you a good background on energy-efficient products, and perhaps recommend other equipment or products that you may not have even heard of, but can certainly utilize in turning your home into a more energy efficient household. And last but not the least, they can help you in the installation and access to alternative and renewable energy systems such as the installation and use of solar panels in your home.

With the growth of industries, the trend towards sustainability and cost reduction in terms of energy consumption, there is a progressive need for electricians familiar with and proficient in delivering electrical repair and wiring services that maximize technological developments in energy conservation and energy efficiency.  There are new and continuous developments in the field of sustainable energy systems, and they are becoming more and more sophisticated every day, so you would want to hire a professional who is not only updated with these developments, but who, on a very basic level, is still a skilled and competent electrician who practices basic safety and productivity in delivering electrical services.

That said, there are still many things that you can do, as a homeowner or business owner, to make sure that your home or place of business is as energy efficient as possible. Small things like making sure that your electronic equipment and appliances are well-maintained, clean, and up-to-date, and that you are minimizing the instances of energy wastage by not leaving various items plugged in and/or running even when you are not really using them.

Even if you don’t overhaul your entire electrical system to modernize and upgrade it to more energy efficient equipment and devices, you can …

One of the most common ways by which homes are encouraged to save on energy consumption is by making the shift to energy efficient light bulbs. All houses use light, and while it is estimated that a large number of households worldwide are still making use of the older incandescent light bulbs, the move is gradually being heard for a shift to the more modern and energy efficient light bulbs. But with the growth and continued innovations and developments in this industry, there are now different types of what are touted to be “energy saving” light bulbs, using various acronyms, names and jargon that not everyone may understand.

In this article, we take a closer look at the different types of energy efficient light bulbs currently available on the market, and how they work. To be able to get a good understanding of the different types of light bulbs below, we also need to have a thorough grasp of two crucial concepts: Lumens, which indicates the brightness of any light source, and wattage, which indicates the amount of electricity to power a light bulb for it to be operational.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs or CFLs

CFLs originated from the Geissler tube that was first developed by Heinrich Geissler in the 19th century. To generate light, they would extract the air from a long glass tube while an electrical current coursed through it. Later on, phosphors were introduced that utilized ultraviolet light, which made the light coming from the tubes whiter than those that came from traditional light sources. The result was a more energy efficient light source.

CFLs were not always so popular with the consuming public because of their prohibitive cost. Nowadays, however, CFLs are widely available and made more affordable. One of the most recognizable CFLs these days is the CFL bulb that is comprised of a long tube or tubes twisted or bent around in the shape of a traditional light bulb, the smaller version of the older, full-sized fluorescents. Despite its often-diminutive size, this little CFL bulb packs quite a punch, which you will recognize when you turn on the light and an entire room is flooded with its strong, white light.

Some of the advantages of CFLs is that it consumes at least 75 less energy than older incandescent bulbs, and can also last up to 10 times longer. On the other hand, you do need to dispose of old CFL bulbs carefully because they contain small amounts of mercury that may potentially be toxic.

Light-Emitting Diode or LED Light Bulbs

LED lights were an offshoot from the development of red, yellow and green diodes by Nick Holonyak, Jr. In 2009, these LED light bulbs were the winner of a competition launched by the Energy Department for energy efficient light bulbs. Philips Lighting North America’s LED light bulb was awarded the first prize. Since then, LED lights have entered the marketplace worldwide, and are popular because of its adaptability to different types of environments and fixture designs.

A diode, upon which LED lights to work, is a two-terminal device that allows the flow of current, generating light in only one direction. This is opposed to more traditional light bulbs which produce both heat and light that spread out in every direction. The use of diodes is comparatively more energy efficient, and LED bulbs also have a longer lifespan. And it’s most notable redeeming factor, when compared to CFLs, is that LED light bulbs do not contain any hazardous or toxic substances that make disposing of them such a concern.

LED bulbs have a …

These days, almost everything is powered by electricity: gadgets, appliances, lights, heat, and now, even bikes and cars. While it is true that using electricity instead of gas is cleaner and better for the environment, the downside is that with more electricity that we consume, the higher our electricity bill is. It is, therefore, a good idea to arm yourself with tips and tricks on reducing energy consumption and boosting energy efficiency around the house. Not only will you be utilizing energy efficient products and lowering your electricity bill, you will also be contributing to energy conservation.

Below are a few tips and tricks to boost energy efficiency around your home. Energy efficiency means that you will be utilizing less energy to produce the same results. Having an energy efficient home is a wonderful way to contribute to safeguarding the environment because it reduces the amount of CO2 emissions, not to mention reducing the cost of your electricity bill.

Tips and Tricks:

• Switch off and unplug appliances and electronics that are not being used.

Apart from the obvious like turning the lights, air conditioner, or heater off in a room when no one is there, many people do tend to leave things plugged in and on “standby” even when those appliances or gadgets are not being used.  But even on standby, these gadgets and appliances and other electrical equipment can still consume electricity. A laptop on standby, for instance, can consume around 70 watts per second. A plugged-in phone charger, even when the phone isn’t attached, still uses electricity. As much as ten percent of your electricity usage could be traced to plugged in electrical equipment that is on standby.

• Purchase and use energy-efficient items.

It may seem counter-intuitive to save money by purchasing energy-efficient products, but because of how much electricity we consume on a daily basis, purchasing these energy-efficient products will help you save on your electricity bill in the long run. There are now plenty of energy-efficient light bulbs and globes in the market. Other energy-efficient products you can look at include refrigerators and water heaters. When you shift to energy-efficient products and appliances, particularly those that are used and turned on daily, if not continuously, shifting to lower energy consumption products can yield high savings when your electrical bill becomes due.

• Make sure that you use your appliances and electronic equipment efficiently.

Sometimes, it may be as much about how you use your gadgets and appliances as to how much energy they consume. There are plenty of ways by which you can save on energy and electricity, simply by changing the way you use your appliances. For instance, make sure that the refrigerator door is sealed tight and that it is set at optimal temperatures (usually 4 or 5 degrees). You can also save energy by always washing a full load when using the dishwasher, as well as the washing machine. Finally, making sure that your air conditioner is kept clean and well-maintained not only prolongs its life but also cuts down on electrical consumption and boosts its efficiency by at least five percent. Don’t use an air conditioner or heater if you don’t really need to. Use fans instead, open windows, wear the right clothing for the weather and temperature. By doing these things, you can reduce the amount of time that the heater or the air conditioner is plugged in and operating, and this can potentially lead to huge savings on your next electrical bill.

• Only pay for energy that you use.

Aside from unplugging devices you aren’t using, you can take …

Broadly stated, energy efficiency means the reduction of energy used in products and services. This is accomplished by the use or adoption of more efficient products and technologies that deliver the same goods and services while consuming less energy or electricity.

People aim to achieve energy efficiency in their homes or industrial spaces for a variety of reasons, including cost-cutting (on electrical expenses and consumption), as well as to support the move towards environmental protection and sustainability. The former can be achieved through lower electrical consumption, whether through the use of energy-saving products or by practicing energy-saving methods around the house or workplace. On the other hand, environmental protection and sustainability is an integral part of energy efficiency because, with the reduction of energy use, we also reduce the greenhouse gases that are regularly emitted into the earth’s atmosphere.

These days, many modern products, appliances, electronics and electrical equipment are built with this ultimate goal in mind. Many new products now out in the market boast lower energy consumption and lower carbon dioxide emissions when compared to older appliances and products. On a more macroscopic scale, large commercial buildings, which have often been heavy consumers of energy to sustain the internal environment of the building, can also attempt energy efficiency by streamlining and modernizing the entire building’s heating, air conditioning, and light systems by implementing both renewable energy and efficiency. Buildings and homes nowadays are often also constructed with this end in view –  thus, compact windows, maximizing natural light, advanced systems in air conditioning and heating, electrical, and even water systems – all these things together contribute to a more energy efficient environment and construction. Doing all the installation, and maintenance of electrical systems for making your home more energy efficient can be done by most licensed electricians

One of the easiest ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home or working space is through the use and purchase of energy-efficient products. This will, of course, require some monetary investment on your part, but as with most things, the long-term savings will far outweigh the short-term costs. Of course, energy efficient products should always go hand in hand with energy efficient practices such as energy conservation and the use of renewable sources of energy. Many of the energy efficient practices are actually things that we normally already do at home: making sure that our appliances and electronic equipment are clean and well-maintained, making sure that our windows are sealed during the winter months to minimize heat loss, as well as the use of rugs, carpets, and window coverings to add more heat to your home. Conversely, during the summer months, open windows, fans instead of air conditioners, and proper ventilation and air circulation can all help to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Outside the home, there are also some ways to improve energy efficiency. Modern vehicles, for instance, have been designed and built with energy efficiency in mind, including improvement in the engines and the vehicle’s overall design. Such improvements to a car’s efficient functioning and energy consumption could translate to a huge decrease in CO2 emissions worldwide.

Commercial industries have also continuously made improvements to their processes and equipment to minimize energy consumption and cost, and this can be seen in ventilation and air-conditioning systems, lighting and heating, and a way of reusing waste heat, particularly in manufacturing plants where hot temperatures are the norm.

Taken all together, these various methods of boosting energy efficiency all contribute to environmental protection in terms of combating climate change, reducing carbon pollution and thus improving the …