The average household in Virginia pays $125 per month for electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Association. In Maryland, that number is $136 per month and in DC, it’s around $90. For commercial properties, the figure is even higher. But at Kolb Electric, we know that there are simple steps you can take to lower your electric bill—and we’re going to share a few key tips.

1. Check for gaps in windows and doors. Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to reduce your energy usage, and thus your electric bill, is to check your home at the beginning of each season for gaps around the windows and doors. It’s important to do this every six months or so, since your home can settle and shift slightly over time. It only takes a small gap for energy to escape.

2. Turn down your water heater. The standard setting on most electric water heaters is 140 degrees. Turning the heat down to 120 degrees can save you $60 or more each year in water heating costs. Save more by replacing your water tank with a tankless system.

3. Repair leaky ducts. If your ducts have holes in them or if they have come partially unattached, then you’re paying to cool and heat air that is never getting to your living spaces.

4. Have your HVAC and electrical systems serviced annually. Keeping all electrical systems, as well as HVAC products, well-maintained can not only extend their lifespans and help ensure your safety, but can save you money on your electric (and gas) bill too. Your system has to work harder and use more energy to push through an accumulation of dirt and debris. Regular electrical maintenance can also prevent the need for costly repairs.

5. Check your electric meter against your monthly statement. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your electric usage on the meter and comparing it to your statement. This allows you to easily determine whether your monthly energy bill is accurate and provides you with the information you need to monitor your usage so you can use electricity smarter in the future. Click here to learn how to read an electric meter.

At Kolb Electric, we don’t want you to pay any more than necessary for your electric usage. For more tips on how to reduce your electric bill and/or to schedule you annual service appointment today, call us at 877 287-1179. Our licensed electricians have been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners with their electrical needs since 1925.

If you have gotten that first heating bill this winter, you are probably considering the options available to reducing your electric bill. It may not only be about saving money for you. Maybe you are concerned about the strain on our natural resources and the devastating affect it is having on our environment. Whatever your reasons, solar panel installation may be the answer you are looking for. The Electric Connection can help you learn more about making the move to solar energy.

One of the biggest concerns people have with moving to solar energy is solar panels cost. Fortunately, it isn’t quite as expensive as you would think. While a complete system that will fully sustain a typical home can be as much as $20,000, you don’t have to pay that much. You can augment your current energy needs with solar installation. You can keep your home connected to the grid as a backup source. Solar installers will take care of hooking up your electric panel to the solar energy system.

There are plenty of companies who are willing to offer solar panels and the necessary components to homeowners on a lease arrangement. You can make monthly payments for the panels, which makes it much easier to afford. You will get the luxury of trying out solar energy and learning the quirks and if it is right for you and your family. There is definitely a bit of a learning curve when it comes to relying on the sun for your electricity instead of the main power grid. The entire family will have to make energy conservation a priority. Wasting the electricity you capture from the sun will leave you without or being forced to tap into the main power grid. Give The Electric Connection a call today to learn more about solar energy and how it can benefit you.

What is a spotlight? What is a floodlight? Knowing the difference between the two is important for properly lighting any application. Before you can understand the difference, you must know what a beam pattern is. Beam angle or pattern is a measurement of the angles that are formed between a cone of light’s brightest point (the center) and the points on both sides of the center where the light’s intensity is 50 percent as bright.

PAR30 bulb that is available with a spot or flood beam pattern.

Fixtures, such as retrofit LED can lights may also look similar to one another while functioning as either spotlights or floodlights. Some light bars are even capable of emitting flood, spot, or combination beams. There are, however, certain fixtures that we imagine when we think of floodlights and spotlights.