Many of us can forget about our households energy consumption in the mist of busy daily life.  However, for those who look a bit deeper into specific energy costs, families will be able to determine where their homes’ energy is going and can make adjustments to reduce their energy bills.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, as much as 45% of your homes’ energy goes towards space heating. This means your heating, cooling, and air conditioning system is going to have a huge impact on your usage. Make sure you have checked your house for any leaks and that the appropriate insulation is installed or you will be losing heat that you have paid for.

Much of your other costs are coming from appliances and lighting. Lighting costs can be controlled by using energy efficient bulbs like LEDs. Make sure you are also turning off the lights in rooms you are not using. When running your appliances, try to use them only when you have full loads. It goes without saying that running the dishwasher or washing machine at half capacity will cost you more. If you can bundle more or wait for a larger load you can keep the number of times you are running your appliances down.

One way to determine your usage is to use an energy monitor. These types of devices cost around $30 to $40. They will let you know how much energy you are using to turn on and run these appliances or electronics. BC Hydro has also supplied a calculator you can use to estimate the cost per year. Sometimes upgrading your appliances can save you hundreds per year in efficiency.

How to Choose the Right Residential Electrician Choosing a residential electrician in Chester County, PA  is a major decision. You want to make sure you get quality work done when you need and at a reasonable price. There are several things to consider when choosing an electrician to take care of your home.

Licensed, Bonded and Insured Probably the most important thing to check for when hiring an electrician is making sure they are licensed, bonded and insured. These things guarantee that the technicians have undergone the proper training, so the work will be done up to code and safely. Ask to see the documentation so you can ensure the electrician does have all of the proper documentation.

Pricing Make sure you ask for a quote before you authorize work. Ask for an itemized bill that breaks down the costs. It is also wise to get quotes from more than one electrician. You can then compare the charges and the qualifications.

Experience and Qualifications Just because an electrician is certified, it does not mean he or she has the same qualifications as other electricians. Some have additional experience or specialized training in specific areas of electrical work. There are some electricians who have accreditations. Master Electrician status guarantees, at least, three years of experience and the workmanship has a one-year warranty.

References Don’t be afraid to ask for references. Make a few calls to other customers so you can be sure that others are pleased with the work provided by this electrician or electrical team. Ask your friends and family for recommendations. You want to hire an electrician you can trust and work with for the long-term.

Work Performance and Customer Service After you have selected an electrician, take note of their behavior. You want to work long-term with an electrician who is punctual, professional and attentive. You also want him or her to be willing to communicate with you.

There are times when you plug in the toaster or try and run the vacuum cleaner and it won’t work right. You probably unplug it and try it again and it works fine. You think nothing of it and assume it was a fluke—until it happens again with another appliance with the same outlet. Now, you have to wonder, is it an electrical problem or is it really just a fluke? These situations may appear to be no big deal on the surface, but they really are and can indicate there is something going on behind the outlet cover. Something like frayed or loose wires that could create a spark and start a fire that burns slowly and becomes a serious problem before you know it. You need an electrician in Beverly Hills to investigate these little problems before they become big ones that threaten your home and your safety. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help.

Outlets that work intermittently are just one of the symptoms of a serious electrical problem. Lights that flicker or do not turn on even when a new bulb is installed are another sign of electrical trouble. The light fixture may have wiring that has deteriorated or the wiring in the ceiling could be bad. Because you can’t tell simply be looking at the light or the light switch, you need to call an electrician familiar with Beverly Hills electrical needs.

The electrician will do an inspection and thoroughly investigate the problem. If it is a wiring issue to a single outlet or light fixture, it is a fairly easy fix. If you have a breaker that trips frequently, let an electrician know. This is another sign of a problem. Never leave little electrical problems unchecked. They can quickly become serious concerns. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electric inspection.

1. President Clinton enters cyberspace when he conducts the first virtual town hall. According to an article published in SFGate)

2. Just in time for holiday shopping, Amazon announces that it will expand its offering beyond just books. They’ll be adding software, video games, home improvement products and gifts to their online offering.

3. Football hero Walter Payton (a.k.a. “Sweetness”) dies at age 45 from complications of a rare liver disease. (via EDN)

5. November 19, 1999 The Oddest Day – PGA Tour)

7. Woody and Buzz are restored to fame when Toy Story 2 debuts and becomes an even bigger success than the original. (via Legends of Hockey)

9. Pokemon: The First Movie hits the big screen raking in a whopping $31 million+ during its opening weekend.

10. Encyclopedia Britannica, which once lined the bookshelves of most US households, launches its website … and crashes after two weeks because too many people logged on to its free search. (Photo via Billboard.

1999 was a year of massive growth in the online world. The internet was here to stay, and it’s no surprise that this was the year that Pegasus Lighting took our business online. In November 1999 , the world’s greatest technology companies gathered in Las Vegas for the 20th Annual Computer Dealers Exhibition (COMDEX) to learn about the latest innovations in computing. Our last four November pop culture items were highlighted or debuted at this event.

12. Microsoft’s Bill Gates is the Keynote speaker at COMDEX and introduces Windows 2000, promising that it will be much more reliable than its predecessor, Windows 98.

13. The QBe (pronounced “Cube”) tablet is exhibited with plans to start shipping in Spring of 2000 at a price of $4,495. (via unveiled by Ericsson as a lightweight wireless headset that can work from “up to 10 metres away from phone.”