It's no mirage – energy efficiency is gaining traction. Whether people are concerned about contributing to climate change by burning fossil fuels or saving money on their utility bills, there is rising demand for homes that can do more with less. Home builders are paying attention, and the new house of today is demonstrating different priorities from the residential construction of the past few decades. Among the ways that efficiency trends are playing out are an increase in low-maintenance yards, modern lighting and multi-generational living.

A Watershed Year for Efficiency

People really are paying more attention to their energy consumption these days. A study by Johnson Controls found that interest in energy efficiency had risen across North America by 116 percent between 2010 and 2014. The report called 2014 a “watershed year for energy efficiency” and that “strong improvements in key indicators signal major commitments to energy efficiency, high performance buildings, distributed energy systems and smart building technologies.”

Contractors are taking note of the heightened focus on efficiency and are adjusting their building components accordingly. "Being more energy efficient is extremely important to our home buyers,” Anthony Natale, co-founder and president of Grenadier Homes in Texas, said in a press release. “They're fiscally and environmentally responsible – savvy, sophisticated buyers who want to save money on utility costs while helping to save the planet for their children, grandchildren and beyond."

Keep an Eye on Water and Electricity

One aspect that Natale highlights is a move toward low-maintenance yards that need little in the way of irrigation or other care. A key component of these yards is using native plants, which are accustomed to the local climate and don't need much help to thrive. Another strategy is to integrate rain collection systems so you have water on hand when you need it without breaking out the hose. Also, efficiency-minded homeowners design landscaping in a way that reduces runoff and takes advantage of plants' natural preferences for shady or sunny areas.

In addition to conserving water, homeowners are also reducing their electric bills with LED lighting technology. LED lights last up to 25 times as long and only use 25 percent as much electricity as those old-timey incandescent bulbs. Initially, some consumers shied away from LEDs because of their high initial cost and limited utility, but technological advances mean that you can now find affordable LED solutions to just about any lighting setup you can think of.

Sharing Space with Grandma and Grandpa

One more recent trend in efficiency is a bit more surprising – a rise in multi-generational households. A 2014 study by the National Association of Realtors Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends found that households that included some combination of parents, adult children, adult siblings and grandparents comprised 14 percent of sales.

The savings are clear – fewer homes means less redundancy in heating, cooling, lighting and other energy-consuming necessities. New homes built to take advantage of this trend can offer separate entrances and suite-like setups in different areas of the house so residents can maintain their privacy while still sharing the structure.

If you want to cut back on your own energy usage but aren't prepared to invite grandma and grandpa home just yet, have a home services professional conduct an energy audit and create a tailored efficiency plan that's right for you.

Have you ever noticed a small spark when you plug an appliance into an outlet? This may be normal or it could be cause for concern, depending on the size and frequency of the electrical outlet sparking. It’s important to recognize the difference between a normal spark and a dangerous one—as well as possible causes for outlet sparking—so you can pursue an electrical repair if necessary.

The supply line that carries electricity through your home measures about 115 to 240 volts with a frequency of 60 hertz. In layman’s terms, this means the flow of electricity runs very fast and hot through the wires behind your walls.

Electrical outlets tap into this fast-flowing stream of electricity, powering everything from your lamps to your laptops to your coffee maker. A small blue spark arcing from the outlet to the plug can occur as the appliance suddenly draws amperage and electrons begin to flow through the cord. Once the flow steadies, the spark should disappear. This type of electrical outlet sparking is completely normal and comparable to static electricity.

Electricity generates heat as it travels through wires. Insulation surrounding a wire may begin to melt, exposing the bare wire. If it comes in contact with the metal outlet casing or even another wire, electrons can leap out of the wire and create a dangerous spark. This is called short circuiting and could cause an electrical fire if not repaired promptly.

Short circuits may be caused by a number of things, including old outlets with loose connections and too many appliances being plugged into the same outlet via a power strip or extension cord.

Water and electricity don’t mix. That’s why bathrooms should have special outlets called ground fault circuit interrupters (GCFIs). These outlets automatically shut down the circuit when they detect water, which can help prevent electrocution and house fires. If the bathrooms in your home have ordinary outlets, you should have an electrician replace them with GCFIs.

If you’ve had an electrical problem in the past, you may have attempted to perform a repair yourself or used a cheap electrician. Electrical wiring can be extremely dangerous if you don’t the proper licensing and qualifications and lead to potentially serious issues, electrical outlet sparking being just one of them. Fortunately, a professional electrician can undo the damage and make your outlets safe to use once again.

When you need a repair for electrical outlet sparking, Kolb Electric is the company for the job. We hire only licensed, fully qualified electricians to handle important outlet wiring repairs in your Maryland, Virginia or Washington DC home.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment or call 877-287-1179 to have an emergency electrician sent straight to your home.

More and more homeowners are becoming more energy conscious. Concerns about energy use affects everyone. Whether you simply want to save money or you want to reduce your carbon footprint, energy conservation is on everyone’s mind.

One of the biggest ways you can reduce your energy consumption is to install solar panels. Solar panels convert solar energy into usable energy for your home. Powered by solar energy, you can reduce your electricity bills and operate a household that is nearly green.

You may have never consider it, but your electronic devices that are plugged into you wall socket still use energy when they are off. Although these devices consume less energy when they are off, the fact that they are consuming energy means you are wasting money. We can help you develop a strategy by measuring energy use within your house. Based on that assessment, you can prioritize the best use of energy for your family.

Are you living in a home that was built before 1950? If so, you may have a potential fire hazard on your hands that you cannot see. Wiring in older homes is often an antiquated system know as insulated cloth wiring. While it may be perfectly safe in some houses, it can lead to problems down the road. If you are not sure if you have cloth wiring, you will want to call an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners can rely on The Electric Connection to provide prompt service.

An electrical safety inspection will determine whether your home has cloth wiring and whether or not it should be replaced. If you are noticing problems with the power in your home, like lights flickering, outlets not working and etc…it may be an indication the protective cloth around the wires is fraying. Overtime, the cloth becomes brittle and decays. This ends up leaving bare wires that can certainly become a major risk.

Your electrician in Los Angeles will be able to advise you the best course of action to take. If you are planning to do any remodeling or upgrading light fixtures, it is highly recommended you replace the old wiring in your home. During the inspection, the electrician can also check for the old knob-and-tube wiring. This is more common in homes built before 1935. This type of wiring involved the use of ceramic tubes and knobs. It is not safe and is not allowed in new construction anymore.

If you suspect your older home may have either one of these types of wiring, it is certainly better to be safe than sorry. Home fires started by faulty wiring are a preventable tragedy. The professionals at The Electric Connection are ready to help you make this big decision. Give us a call today to schedule your inspection.