So when customers ask us how many ‘Watts” do I need to replace an existing light source, we always convert them to lumens.

•  Pay special attention to the lumens per watt of a fixture. IT DOES MATTER. A LED product at 135 lumens/watt will consume far less energy than a LED product producing 97 lumens/watt. Not all LED solutions are the same. (remember, always buy on the lumens you need, never on the watts you think you need.).

•  To calculate lumens per watt, take the total number of lumens a product produces and divide it by the watts it consumes.

For indoor fixtures, figure on:

utility company. You can check if a product is DLC Qualified on the DesignLights Consortium website. DLC has rebates for Commercial LED Lighting and Industrial LED Lighting

•  Rebates with DLC Premium should be higher than rebates with DLC Standard. Your utility company is typically who provides the rebates and sets the rebate amounts.  Check their website.

•  All UL Listed or ETL Listed.

•  Replacing the light parts of an existing fixture with the a Retrofit unit will not void the UL/ETL Listing of the fixture. However, the exception to this rule are explosion proof rated fixtures (ie. Class I Div 2). Never retrofit a certified explosion proof fixture. UL1598C does not cover these types of retrofits.

•  ETL Listing is the same as UL Listing. They perform the same test, and the certification is the same. The only difference is that the company who performs the test.

Although it is an option that many homeowners choose, installing solar panels on your own can be a very time-consuming and difficult process, especially if you have never worked with solar energy before. While most panels or solar kits are not terribly difficult to connect and get working, there are many factors that can help ensure that your panels last while providing you with the maximum amount of solar energy. That being said, most areas have any number of solar installers available and ready to install your solar panels for you so that you do not need to worry about any of these issues.

For most homeowners, the largest barrier to solar panel installation is the price. Although prices have gone down a little over the last few years, buying solar panels outright can be very expensive. Even though you will typically recover your investment in just a few years, it can be very difficult for many to spend that type of money up front. Luckily, there are a variety of programs available across the country that are helping to make the amount that solar panels cost much more manageable for the average family.

Naturally, it highly benefits the solar industry to have as many panels as possible on as many roofs as possible. In order to make solar installation easier for a wider number of people, many companies have developed solar financing and solar leasing programs that can help to spread the cost over a number of months. In the case of solar leasing, you simply pay the leasing company a monthly fee. In most cases, the amount that you save on your electric bill will completely offset the cost of the lease. What this means for you is that almost anyone can install solar panels without incurring a large, unmanageable up-front cost. For more Solar Power Info, browse the resources that we have available on this website.

There are few things more chilling than a home burglary. Imagine a stranger rifling through and stealing your possessions – to say nothing of the danger if you or your family members are home at the time of the break-in. Fortunately, you can take steps to deter potential thieves by using outdoor lighting to increase the visibility around your home. Today's inexpensive LED and smart technologies mean that you can create a system that is attractive, efficient and responsive without breaking the bank. Protect your home and your family with some of these outdoor lighting ideas.

A Light in the Darkness

Your outdoor lighting system should include lights near any doors and windows where a person could enter the house. "The biggest thing for any person who can burglarize a home is the ability to secrete movements," a Chicago Police Department spokesperson told the Chicago tribune. "This means darkness.”

Many outdoor lighting systems are easy to install on your own, although a few may require the help of an electrician for new wiring. LED bulbs are an attractive option because they use only about a quarter of the energy of incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times as long. Some outdoor lights come equipped with a built-in security camera that will not only light up to scare off any would-be burglars, but also capture their image so you can notify police of the suspicious activity.

Stand-alone solar panel lights are a good option for walkways, although they shouldn't be relied on as a home security measure since variations in weather mean they might not always provide enough light to deter a prowler.

Getting Smart About Your Lighting

Smart lighting systems let you control your entire home’s lighting setup from your smartphone, even when you're away from the house. You can adjust timers, motion sensors, dimming functions or manually instruct the lights to come on or off. Certain smart lighting and security systems will automatically alert you when someone is at the door and allow you to talk to them through your phone no matter where you are in the world.

With smart technology, you can also add an extra layer of deterrence by having indoor lights come on for a period of time when you are away, giving the appearance that somebody is home. If you already have a lighting system in place, you can upgrade it to a smart system by swapping in some wireless smart switches and installing a control hub.

A Safer and More Attractive Residence

Lighting up your outdoor space is more than just a way to deter burglars. It can also make your yard look more attractive at night and help visitors safely navigate their way to your door.

If you need help planning or installing an outdoor security lighting scheme, contact your local electrician right away.