Do me a favor and imagine that you are in need of suggestions for a Fourth of July party. You head to via Wikipedia

Of course, I’m not talking about snap pops, black cats, m-80s, or even those cool little paper cars that gush sparks, travel four feet, and then burn to death in a microblaze reminiscent of a 1970s action film.

I am talking about the ones that explode up there, the ones you have to tilt your head back to see. That the fireworks explode in the night sky is important because the very act of looking up immediately takes you out of the mundanity that the rest of the holiday will surely deliver – the planning, the decorating, the complications. No more overflowing trashcan with wing sauce-smeared cocktail napkins. No more ordinary stuff.

At the heart of the Fourth of July is a spirit of independence that is, actually, a big deal. When your eyes are on what’s going on at ground level, it can be hard to realize how big a deal ideas like independence and sacrifice are. Once your attention is arrested by the spectacle of fireworks happening up there in the sky, you’re taken out of the everyday and able to reflect on these things, which is important, I think.

2. They are glorious.

“And the rockets’ red glare/ The bombs bursting in air,” goes the song. Did you know that the word “rocket,” in the sense of the combustion-fueled projectile, dates all the way back to 1566? The Oxford English Dictionary notes that rockets have historically been “used for signalling, in maritime rescue, for entertainment, and as a weapon.” Fireworks symbolize communication, violence, and entertainment: A strangely fitting mix for the complex human heart.

The red glare of the rockets in “The Star-Spangled Banner” refers to the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. That the fort was not taken during the battle is indeed glorious, and fireworks are a reminder of the fortitude of the people who fought and suffered to keep America independent in 1776 and again in 1812. Boom. (Literally: boom!)

3. They are beautiful.

So, those are my three reasons that fireworks are the most important part of any holiday festivity: They happen above you; they are glorious; and they are beautiful. I think these are pretty good reasons for making sure you see some fireworks this Fourth of July.

Take a moment out of the hectic festivities to reflect on the spirit of rebellion, creativity, and inspiration that is involved in claiming and defending independence from parties eager to exploit the vulnerable. This is about more than just us. This unites us across time and space. Fireworks reflect the beauty of standing together for what is right, even when it hurts.

Electricians are often seen as professionals whose only skill set is to fix something that isn’t working, however there are many times when we can also advise on design. Our experience includes helping a many previous clients add accent lighting to their homes with the goal of creating truly beautiful and enjoyable spaces.

Accent lighting is any lighting feature that draws attention to an area or brightens up a space. Accent lighting can include any type of lighting from small pot-lights or a subtle spotlight. Accent lighting is not intended to fill an entire space with light, but just enough to put more emphasis on a piece of artwork or create a nice mood when the main room lights are turned off.

Accent lighting has a great benefit, in that it can be installed almost anywhere. If you have positioned a piece of artwork above your fireplace, you can add a couple of small accent lights to draw guests’ attention to the beautiful piece. If you have a long hallway that seems drab and dull, adding small pot lights or led lights can help guide the way and provide visual interest in the space.

Apart from the aesthetics, accent lighting can also save you money. Accent lighting can use low-voltage lights and LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs which take very little electricity to power. If it is a bright day you can turn off your main light switches and let the accent lighting do the rest of the work to light up the areas that aren’t being reached by the sunlight. If it is late at night and you want to create a nice relaxing atmosphere, using only the accent lighting will do just that. This saves you money on your monthly electrical bill, as you are not wasting money to power lighting that is not being used efficiently.

Accent lighting can be easily installed in most homes. Depending on the complexity and electrical requirement of the lighting, it can be tied into most electrical circuits around your home. When using low voltage lighting you don’t need to worry about overloading the circuit and causing your electrical breaker to trip. Have one of our Expert Electricians review your circuit where you would like to install the lighting and we can help you understand everything involved in the installation.

As we move in to the summer, now is a great time to have accent lighting installed indoors or outdoors. Save money and add aesthetics to any area in your home. Contact your local Expert Electric at 604-681-8338 and we can help you get starting on making your home efficient and beautiful.

Many of us know as the years go on families grow in number and size. Unfortunately, our homes don’t expand to make room for us all. To get that extra square footage or an extra room, a home addition is ideal. But it is important to remember that the additional room needs to be connected to the house perfectly in every way. There are many points to remember with home additions and its important that they are done right or you may need to end up redoing the room you just completed.

Whether you are looking at a kitchen expansion, a new bathroom, or a room addition, there are many things to keep in mind before you put the drywall on. The new space will new lighting, switches, outlets, and even temperature controls. Depending on the size of the space these items can require a significant amount of electricity. Adding this extra load to an existing circuit can bring that circuit over the limit. If this happens you are prone to power surges, electrical outages, and even fires. Depending on the size of your room you may need a new circuit in order to properly handle the new electrical load. This means doing an addition to your electrical panel. If not implemented properly, additions to the service panel can be messy and dangerous. Because the main service panel is the heart of your home’s electrical system you want it to be in the best shape it can be.

After reading this it can seem like a home addition is a larger undertaking than you previously imagined. That is why it is important to get professional help. There can be many code violations and hazards in your new home addition and you don’t want to close them up until you are sure you are safe. An expert electrician knows what to look for and what should be done to make everything right. And when it comes to electrical panel upgrades a professional can make sure that the panel does not become a dangerous container of wires.

If you are performing a home addition or room expansion, make sure that you are keeping your home safe and up to code. The last thing you want is to expand your home and lose most of it to an electrical fire. With an expert electrician you have peace of mind knowing that everything behind the walls is done correctly.