What is an Energy star rated bulb and why should I use them?

lightbulbs2

Energy Star Bulb

In follow up to my last blog regarding the phasing out of T12 fluorescent lamps, I wanted to share some brief information and a helpful link about the “new wave” of energy efficient lighting sources.

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T12 Fluorescent Lamps Burning Out and Fading Away…

Fluorescent Lamp

Fluorescent Lamp

For years, there have been rumors and missed deadlines regarding the phasing out of T-12 fluorescent lamps (the “fat” tubes as some call them).  Effective July 2012, the common 4’ T12 lamp is no longer being produced due to a mandate from the U.S. Department of Energy.

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What’s That Green Wire For?

One of the most common problems we find with electrical installations, whether it be a do it yourself renovation, or even new construction, is finding that the ground connection is not properly terminated to light fixtures, switches and outlets.  They will work without making that connection, but for devices that include a ground connection, it is very dangerous to leave it disconnected.

Replace electrical outlet in Atlanta

Replace electrical outlet in Atlanta

What does the ground connection look like?  It’s the green screw on light switches and receptacles, and it is usually a green or bare wire on light fixtures and ceiling fans.

Why is it important?  The ground wire is used to make sure that the metal surfaces a person could come in contact with in an electrical system do not become energized, creating a shock hazard.  When properly connected, the ground wire creates a “short circuit” pathway for electrical current to flow in a large enough volume to trip the circuit breaker off in the event that the “hot” wire comes in contact with any metal it is not suppose to.  Without this ground pathway, current can’t flow, and the breaker can’t trip.   The metal would then become energized, waiting for someone to touch it.  When a person touches the energized metal they become the pathway for current to flow, leading to injury and sometimes death.

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Safety Considerations with Metal Halide Fixtures

For our blog post this week, we are featuring a guest article from our commercial insurance agent, Wilson Vickers, who will discuss safety concerns regarding metal halide lighting common in many warehouse facilities.   Make sure to check out the links at the bottom of this article to find other blog articles on this subject, view a video showing before and after views of a metal halide fixture replacement in Atlanta, and learn how you can qualify for energy saving rebates in Georgia. Read more

3 Ways to Improve Parking Lot Lighting and Increase Energy Efficiency

1. Group Relamping

Discharge lamps (metal halide, high pressure sodium) degrade over time, losing up to 40 % of their light output over just a few years.  The energy consumed doesn’t change, i.e. power bill cost, but the light level lowers. Think of it like a 400-watt lamp that’s only putting out the lumens that a 250-watt lamp would. Read more

We’re Growing and Hiring

“Life Savers! On Wednesday night before Christmas a tree fell on our power lines. My husband is on dialysis and the situation was critical. Belco arrived in 45 minutes and worked diligently until Christmas Eve to restore our power. This was our first experience with Belco. We will never use anyone else and highly recommend them.”

This  recent comment from one of our customers illustrates the commitment of our electricians to providing our customers with the best electrical service in Atlanta. Read more

Surge Protection-It’s Not Just for Computers Anymore

By now most people are aware of the need for surge protection for their computers and TV’s, but is there more in the modern home that you should be concerned with when it comes to power surges? Technology is finding it’s way into more and more of the items we use everyday. Read more

When To Upgrade Your Electrical System to Current Code

The following is an excerpt from a recent complaint posted on a consumer reporting website by a homeowner regarding an electrician in Atlanta:

He told me (the electrician)  he couldn’t connect the pool pump unless he did all this work and  that the house wasn’t up to code (turns out he meant up to current code, but I later found out from a builder that houses are just suppose to be up to the code at the time they were built so he deliberately misled me). He said he had to rewire the main panel in the house and totally redo the way the pool was set up or we could get electrocuted in the pool or the house could catch on fire from the wiring. He said it would take two days and cost around $3,100. He worked about six hours and then told. me it would cost more money than he thought he said I and I had to pay him the $3,100.

The National Electrical Code is a United States construction standard and is part of the National Fire Codes series published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Read more

Outdoor Lighting Maintenance – A Facility Manager’s Guide

Parking-Lot-LtgMaintaining parking lot, building, and sign lighting is a very important part of doing business.  A well lighted facility gives customers, tenants and employees a feeling of security and confidence at night, inviting visitation and increasing revenue.   Read more

What To Do When The Lights Go Out

The loss of electrical power in our homes and business is a fairly common, and sometimes a frequent event in our daily lives.  Knowing what causes these power outages and subsequently how to correct them can make this nuisance a little less stressful to deal with.  Some outages will be out of your control and must be resolved by the utility company.  Still many will originate from within your home or business and, with a little knowledge, can often be corrected very quickly and simply. Read more