A green home does not imply your home is actually the color green. It means you are doing your best to live in a home that relies on renewable sources like solar energy. Solar power is quickly growing in popularity as more people realize the extensive benefits to relying less on the power grid and more on energy that is free and readily available. There is no fear the sun is going to run out and you don’t have to worry about the sun raising its rates.

If you have ever thought about how you could do a little more for the environment while saving a few dollars, talk with your electrician. Glendale homeowners can count on The Electric Connection to provide them with valuable information and facts about solar energy.

So what is solar energy? Essentially, the sun’s rays are collected via solar panels. The energy is transformed into electricity to power your home. There are systems designed to store the energy your panels collect throughout the day. Your home will stay connected to the main power grid as a backup power source. You will not be without power, which is a misconception many people have. A basic system allows you to switch back and forth between solar energy and electricity from the main power grid.

Solar panels are not giant things that stick out like a sore thumb in your beautiful yard. They are aesthetically appealing and many are mounted right on your roof. Technology has made a lot of advancements and panels often blend right in with the rest of the roof. These are all things you can talk about with your electrician. Glendale residents have come to rely on the services of The Electric Connection for solar panel installation. If you are interested in having panels installed or would like to learn more about this energy option, give us a call today.

One of the biggest challenges faced by electrical engineers, while designing and installing circuitry, is ensuring that electrical fittings can accommodate different plugs. The terms ‘electrical outlet’ and ‘electrical receptor’ are interchangeable, and they do a lot more than just provide electrical connectors for devices to plug into.

Have you ever received a nasty shock when your electric bill arrived? Maybe the amount you owed skyrocketed when you turned on the air conditioning for the summer, or the refrigerator started breaking down and consumed an excess of electricity. No matter what the cause of your sky-high electric bill, once you use the electricity, you have to pay for it. One way you can get a heads-up on any unusually high consumption is to keep an eye on your electric meter. Read on to learn how to read the meter so you are prepared when the bill shows up at your door.

Is Your Meter Digital or Dialed?

If you're lucky, you have a newer electric meter with a digital display, making it a cinch to see how much current is coming in. Simply compare your consumption from one month to another and you'll quickly be able to figure out if you're using up more energy than normal.

Traditional electric meters are a bit trickier to read, but you don't have to be an electrician to decipher them. These older meters have dials instead of a digital display, and they don't all spin in the same direction. With a little practice, however, you can figure out how much power you are using and get a ballpark idea about what the bill will be.

Spinning Clockwise, Spinning Counterclockwise

On a traditional electric meter, there are five dials that go between 0 and 9. To read the meter, follow these steps:

There's one more twist -- if the dial is pointing exactly to a number, and the next dial to the right points to a nine, you should subtract one from the dial that points to the exact number.

Now you've got your reading, and you can simply track how much it changes from month to month to get a handle on your energy use.

Getting Smart About Your Meter

If your utility has already implemented smart electric meters, it's even easier to follow your consumption. Not only is the display in easy-to-read digital form, but the meter can provide updates on how much you're using as often as every fifteen minutes. That way, you can get an alert in real-time if your usage spikes so you can track down the culprit before you have to shell out a fortune in bills.

In addition to monitoring your own consumption, it's a good idea to watch the meter so you will know if the utility company accidentally overcharges you. If you need any help figuring out how to read your meter, contact a trusted electrician today.

Inspection is performed after job completion, and a certificate issued to confirm that the wiring meets all the regulatory and operational requirements. Building wiring will only pass when properly done. This includes items like adequate grounding, no short circuits, overloaded circuits, or ground faults.

If parts of the wiring do not function during the tests, these issues must be rectified before the utility company will connect their supply.

Once operational, it is necessary to carry out regular inspections to identify and repair potential or existing problems. Residential home wiring requires a comprehensive inspection every 10 years.

The availability of cheap electronic goods combined with our ever-advancing world of technology are rapidly creating a worldwide crisis. E-waste, or electronic waste, resulting from consumers improperly disposing of old equipment without a second glance, is taking its toll not only on the environment, but on the population as well.

The fastest growing waste stream in many countries, e-waste includes any item that utilizes a battery or plugs into an electrical outlet for operation.

Twenty five U.S. states have laws requiring e-waste recycling, which is typically free to consumers, however comprehensive federal laws have not yet been established. 15 states have landfill disposal bans on electronic waste. For information on your state, contact theNational Center for Electronics Recycling.

In cooperation with HirePatriots, a program of parent non-profit Patriotic Hearts dedicated to providing jobs for U.S. veterans and support services for their families, Mr. Electric® offers complete, professional electronic waste management solutions. As part of the Veterans Green Projects, HirePatriots is leading the way in providing safe e-waste recycling and disposal. Contact Mr. Electric today for all your e-waste management needs. With the help of HirePatriots, we can help you safely and responsibly recycle or dispose of your used electronic gadgets and appliances. Your world – and your family - is counting on you.