High school graduation has come and gone, and now graduates are left with the tough decision of where they want to go and what they want to do with their lives. Enrolling in college, beginning a career or attending trade school are the usual options students choose from. With so many potential directions to go, Mr. Electric wants to power students’ tomorrow by giving graduates reasons to become an electrician. Take a look and see for yourself – you just might be convinced that becoming an electrician is meant for you.

Students who pursue a career as an electrician earn money while receiving on-the-job training. Most trades require you to complete an apprenticeship program before you are allowed to be licensed and work on your own. This allows you to work, learn, and get paid.

In an ever-competitive job market, it is nice to know you can always find work. Skilled electricians are always in demand.

Because it is not your regular suit and tie job, most people don’t consider the monetary benefits of becoming an electrician.  The pay is good and there are opportunities for pay increases the longer you are in the trade. Master electricians can make $100,000 a year.

Everyday as an electrician is different. It is a job suited for someone who wants to learn a trade, work in different locations on a daily basis, and learn how to use many types of equipment. If you're convinced your next career is as an electrician, contact Mr. Electric to ask about positions available in your area!  

Today’s technology offers a great deal of convenience, but it's also capable of taking quite an environmental toll through increased electrical consumption, greenhouse gases, and electronic waste. How does one upgrade responsibly? Install long-lasting, easily recyclable, energy-efficient appliances capable of reducing your monthly utility bills. How much are my kitchen appliances really costing me? For the average homeowner, large appliances such as your refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer, account for around 13 percent of monthly utility costs. Add on your hot water heater, and you’re looking at another 15 percent of your bill. Plus, usage costs can vary drastically depending on the age of your appliances. Appliances older than 10 years old are simply screaming for retirement –nearly doubling energy usage. Energy efficiency: learning the lingo Advances in today’s appliance technology adds up to savings for you, but only if you understand what you’re looking at. What’s the big deal about ENERGY STAR? The program was established by the EPA as part of the Clean Air Act to preserve the environment, as well as help individuals save on energy expenses. EPA labs test and certify ENERGY STAR appliances to signify equipment that perform above and beyond standard models. Top-of-the-line ENERGY STAR equipment bears the newly introduced “Most Efficient” label. Kitchen appliances that give you the most bang for your buck:

STOP! Don't just toss that old appliance! Electronic waste, or e-waste, is quickly becoming a global crisis. As the fastest growing waste stream in many countries, e-waste results in the release of extremely toxic substances that are contaminating both the Earth and our bodies. At this time, only 11 to 14 percent of US electronic waste is properly recycled and reused. Please dispose of your old appliances responsibly, as safe e-waste disposal is essential to preserving not only the environment, but your health as well. How to do I responsibly dispose of my family’s e-waste? There are many safe and responsible e-waste disposal and recycling options. If your retailer does not provide a free pickup service with the upgrade of your new appliance, Mr. Electric®, in cooperation with the non-profit organization HirePatriots, offers e-waste disposal solutions as well, including responsible recycling, e-waste packaging, pickup, and removal, secure data destruction, accredited repair and refurbishment, and more. Improve your efficiency and responsibly manage your e-waste with the help of Mr. Electric. The professionals at Mr. Electric have what it takes to handle all of your appliance upgrade and e-waste recycling needs.

It’s incredible the way lighting can change outdoor spaces. As is the case with indoor spaces, spending comparatively little on lighting can produce dramatic results. A DIY outdoor lighting project might be just the thing to make you fall in love with your home all over again. But before you begin an outdoor lighting project, it’s important to think about your options. Here are 10 tips for 10 approaches to outdoor lighting.

1. Using Outdoor String Lights

Outdoor string lights are just great. But there are so many different kinds! Some have bare bulbs; some have lanterns. Some are LED; some incandescent. Some are white; some are colored. Make sure you research your options and choose the ones that are right for YOU!

2. Taking DIY Outdoor Lighting to the Next Level

Sure, you can install a standard low voltage lighting fixture and be justified when you say you Did It Yourself, but have you ever considered making your own DIY outdoor lighting fixtures? Mason jars seem to be the ingredient of choice when constructing your own outdoor lights. The internet is full of instructions for making DIY outdoor lighting fixtures, so do your homework and find the perfect project to make your outdoor area more luminous.

3 . Making it Modern

Let’s get weird! Isn’t that what modern outdoor lighting seems to say? I guess it depends on whom you ask. Modern outdoor lighting usually consists of interesting light fixtures with unusual, playful designs, and they can really make your outdoor vibe more interesting and thought-provoking.

4. Showing Off Textures

Sometimes you start with a particular light source in mind. These days, that light source is often LED. If you’re sure you want to use outdoor LED lights, you have a wide variety of outdoor LED light fixture types, from LED rope to LED tape to LED path lights, step lights, puck lights, recessed lights, and string lights. LED outdoor lights are highly efficient and look great. And some, like the one above, run on solar power! That means free!

8. Decking Out the Deck

If you are focused specifically on outdoor deck lighting, make sure you think about caution. Outdoor deck lighting should entail step lights if there are steps and should include lights around the perimeter of the deck. LED tape or rope, colored or white, are often great for running on the underside of deck railings.

9. Using Timers

If your job involves you working in an office every day, have you considered working from home either on a full time or part time basis? With gas prices rising, more people are choosing to work from home and telecommute rather than pay the money for gas and deal with the frustration of sitting in traffic. There are plenty of other benefits from working out of your own home along with a few tax breaks. You will need an electrician in Los Angeles to help you make the transition from driving to work every day to walking across the hall to your office. The team at The Electric Connection is ready to help you make that happen.

If you already have a spare room you can transfer into your workspace, you are already halfway there. Your initial investment will be fairly low. If you need to add on an additional room to your home or build a separate structure, your initial investment will be a little higher, but in the end you can rest easy knowing you have made an investment in your home.

Part of the renovation process will include adding additional outlets, phone lines and installing a light fixture that is suitable for office work. This will all need to be handled by an electrician. Los Angeles residents will have the ability to decide where the outlets will be placed. Sometimes, it is convenient to have outlets placed higher up on the wall rather than common placement near the floor. You will also have the ability to decide where the data lines will be located. Your electrician will complete the install and leave your new work space looking like a professional office that you will feel comfortable working out of. Give The Electric Connection a call today and get started on your home office.