Nothing says summer like a backyard barbecue or bash with friends and family. For those times when your get-together goes on past dusk, you’ll need some outdoor lighting to keep the party lit — both literally and figuratively. Outdoor lighting can amp up the ambiance of your patio, yard or deck, but also help improve your home’s security, safety and curb appeal.

A set of string lights, hurricane lanterns or tiki torches can add some illumination to your exterior hangout spot in a pinch, but professionals offer more permanent options to take your outdoor lighting to the next level. Backyard lighting doesn’t have to be a simple bulb besides your door.

Strategically installed outdoor lighting is a great way to highlight your landscaping as well as the architectural features of your home. Consider illuminating garden areas or underlighting attractive trees or bushes on your property. Cast a light on garden structures or hardscapes.

You can also mount exterior lights on your home to highlight arches, dormers, columns or other interesting or unique design features. Some options for exterior and landscape accent lighting:

Home improvement stores sell products for DIYers, but professionals who offerOutdoor lighting improves home security

Flood lights, which are a good option for home security, can cast a beam of up to 40 degrees — just use these sparingly so as not to annoy your neighbors or contribute unnecessarily to light pollution.

Consider these options:

Continuous lighting: Keeps the lights on all night.

Motion-detected lighting: Flashes on when something or someone moves in proximity to your home — be it friendly visitors or potential thieves.

You can also install a combination of the two types of lighting. A

Have a professional install pathway lighting along your front and backyard walks to provide safe passage around your property at night. You can set your lights on a timer that corresponds to sundown and sunrise depending on the time of year so that no one even has to be home to turn on the lights.

Some ideas: Garden lights that cast a canopy of light can make great pathway markers. Downlights can be mounted on trees or structures to illuminate the ground.

Summer is not typically a season we need to worry very much about huge power outages. However, this is a good time of the year to consider what your generator needs are, before you actually do need it in the winter time. Homeowners in the Midwest are subjected to cold weather and winter storms on a yearly basis, which is made worse when severe weather knocks the power out.

Many homeowners might rely on a portable generator, but this might actually be insufficient for all the needs of your home. Additionally, they only function for a limited amount of time. For this reason, we highly recommend the installation of a whole-house standby generator.

Comfort: When winter does roll around again next year, you’ll want a reliable heating system. But most heaters won’t function with a complete loss of power—not even natural gas heaters as most require an electrical ignition these days. Huge power outages typically happen during extremely cold weather. The right standby generator can make sure that your heater is able to do its job, keeping you and your family warm.

Safety: Does anyone in your home rely on electrically powered devices for some type of medical condition? If so, it’s essential to have an effective standby generator. Should you need electricity for any medical reasons, it’s time to inquire about a whole-house standby generator.

Portable Generators are Insufficient: As we mentioned briefly above, portable generators are often insufficient for all the needs of your home. This type of system can be fine for a small camping trip, or even to keep in your car in case of emergency. But they are not designed to power an entire home, and won’t last long enough if you try to use it for such purposes.

Peace of Mind: This is perhaps the biggest benefit of having a standby generator installed. Even if you never face a significant power outage in your home, you’ll always know that you are prepared should one occur.

You aren’t blinking without realizing it; you aren’t sleepy or imagining things. Your eyes aren’t tricking you—your lights are flickering. There are a few different reasons the lights in your home might be flickering, so read on to figure out what your problem is, as well as whether it’s a simple fix, or cause to contact a professional here at Hoffman Electrical!

Our team has been providing top-class electrical services to Tampa and the surrounding areas for nearly three decades. Our team has the skill and experience needed to suss out your flickering light problems, guaranteed.

This is the second year the United States is focusing its efforts to really bring energy conservation to the forefront of conversation. We have all heard about fossil fuels being depleted and the demand each house puts on the power grid. We are constantly told we have to be more frugal with electricity. It is for the benefit of the world as well as our bank accounts. Saving energy will ultimately save money on the electric bill and make each one of our carbon footprints just a little bit smaller. Your Burbank electrician and the team at The Electric Connection wants you to know about Energy Action Month, which is this October.

Right now, the government in the United States is taking action to reduce their own energy consumption. It starts at the top and by their good influence, hopefully citizens will follow suit. An electrician in Burbank has some ways that will help you take action this October and develop new habits that will ultimately lead to less energy usage, lower electric bills and a smaller demand on today’s power sources.

Things to do right now include;

*Turn up the AC a couple degrees or turn up the heater a couple of degrees *Switch out those old bulbs with LEDs (this may require a different light fixture)

Things to Schedule

*Get a ceiling fan installed by an electrician, Burbank homeowners can really save money on their heating and cooling costs with this one device

*Schedule an energy audit to get an idea where you use the most electricity and how you can cut back

These are 4 easy, actionable steps that will help you save money and do something great for the environment. Give The Electric Connection a call if you need a new light fixture or ceiling fan installed.

By Clarissa Allison | January 6th, 2017

A new year is the perfect opportunity to achieve balance at work and at home. Many of us have big plans for 2017, and making aesthetic and practical changes to our surroundings can kick start a positive influence that lasts throughout the year. One of the ways to refresh our environment is to experiment with new lighting options in our decor choices. Read on for lighting suggestions that will keep you on trend as well as helping with energy savings!

Arc and Tripod Floor Lamps

Lighting fixtures as main focal points  and statement pieces are what’s happening now. Modern and sleek designs that that take center stage can transform an entire space. Floor lamps in unexpected silhouettes such as arcing designs, and with clean details like linen shades add a fun dimension to dark metals. Highly stylized but simple floor lamps have returned as an important design element, and arcing floor lamps complement your reading nook or living room perfectly. Likewise, tripod floor lamps offer the mid-century appeal created by the sophisticated Scandinavian designs of the 1960′s.

Industrial Lighting Fixtures

 Jewel Toned Accents

Last year, decorating in pastel shades of pink and blue were a common sight in contemporary homes, but jewel tones are now what’s in demand going forward. Look for lighting fixtures in berry hues with accents like scroll-work, chrome or rounded details. Even a lampshade in a rich tone conveys a warmth and romantic element to your surroundings. The best part? You don’t have to purchase large, expensive pieces to achieve this look. Simply add a couple of pretty table lamps to a sofa table to set the baseline for your living room’s theme.

Smart Home Lighting