Gearing up for the warm weather? Excited for barbeques and bike rides? Advanced Electrical Service is here to make sure you have a perfect spring. Generators were the topic for last weeks’ post, and they are just one of the ways you can protect your family this season from inclement and unpredictable Nebraska weather.

Here are some other tips the professionals at AES use with their own families during the storm season:

–Make sure you have flashlights with LED bulbs placed throughout your home. That way if the power goes out, you know how to safely move around the house.

–Place emergency lighting along the bottom of the stairs in your home. These low lights make sure you can see down the steps in case you need to get to the basement in a hurry at night.

–Make an emergency supply kit to keep in the bathroom closet. If you don’t have a basement, this is the safest place in the house to wait out the weather. Have snacks, games, a first aid kit and flashlights on hand at all times.

What are some of your safety tips for storm season?

Spring is on its way. The snow is starting to melt and the trees are starting to bud. Being from Nebraska means more than April showers. Storm season is on its way as well, and it is not as friendly as the new flowers.

Generators are a great way to have a back up plan for your family in case of inclement weather. There are portable and standby generators available for your purchase.  Portable generators run on regular gasoline, diesel or propane, and use the power of a small engine to create electricity. Prices and sizes vary, but bring peace of mind to those who want a portable way to guarantee power.

Standby generators are permanently installed to either your natural gas line or propane fuel switch. These generators are great for a solid way to back up your home should the power go out.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you are thinking of purchasing a generator:

Thorough knowledge about residential wiring is a must. A generator must always be grounded before connecting to the building load.

Ready to take the next step to keep your family safe this storm season? Call AES for generator questions and install advice. With a perfectly installed generator, you will be ready to weather any storm this spring!

Last night I was reminded why my husband and I need to invest in some decent nighttime lighting in our kitchen. I snuck downstairs for a late night “healthy” snack when I caught my foot on the baker’s rack near the door.

(Under the counter lighting, or what could have saved my toe.)

One torn toenail later, my husband laughed as I indignantly took my jar of peanut butter and limped to bed.

Soft lighting is an important investment for more than just snacking. Advances in lighting mean ugly fluorescents will no longer be the only full room light in any room.  Options in soft, LED lighting on the tops of cabinets (known as “Over the counter” lighting) and lighting for backsplashes (“Under the counter”) mean more efficient, sustainable lighting that won’t burn a hole in your electric bill.

• One of the greenest lighting options, certain LED lamps save so much energy they pay for themselves in as little as 18 months.
• Certain LED lamps can last up to 25 years, so you replace them far less often.
• LED lamps use absolutely no hazardous materials, making them safe for any room and also easy to dispose of.

Advanced Electrical also offers xenon lighting for your home. “These lights are brighter and cooler than a halogen light,” said Tobias Sommer of AES. “These lights give you the options of dimming and using them ask task lighting so you don’t have to light up the entire house.”

Call AES today and see what lighting options are available. Your feet will thank you for it.

Valentine’s Day has passed but the passion has not dimmed. How about the lighting? Lamps, ceiling lighting and dimmers can have an incredible effect, not only in setting the mood, but also in creating space for your to relax with loved ones.

Softer light slows down your day and invites relaxation and contemplation. It opens the chance to reflect on a day’s hard work, but to also turn your focus to the most important things, namely yourself and your loved ones.

Light is an environment cue that affects the production of certain hormones that impact your mood. Softer light reduces the production of serotonin, which a 1984 National Institute of Health study shows energizes and awakens you for your day’s activities.

Softer light also boosts the production of melatonin, the close cousin of serotonin that slows the body down. Melatonin therapy is used to restore sleep patterns, fight drug addictions and mental illness and even increase fertility.

Effective use of mood lighting can help keep your body’s circadian rhythms in order, helping to insure a deep sleep and restful wakening before alternative therapies and drugs are needed.

Check out this example of exceptionally soft lighting. Any guesses on who catches zzzz’s in this room and wakes up every day ready to beat his customer’s expectations?

We all have them; a family member who forgets to turn off the lights. I often come home to the bathroom light left on, the porch light in full glare, or the kitchen bright with nothing on the stove.

Save the energy of both your frustration and electric bill by installing home dimmers.

• Because of a dimmer’s versatility and ease of use, they are usually the most common devices found in home automation systems.
• Energy savings using compact fluorescent light bulbs mirrors the level of reduction, meaning that lowering the lights by 25% results in a 25% energy savings during the time the dimmer is used.
• Dimmers replace flip-type light switches, replacing fixtures with a dial or sliding bar control. Adjusting the control adjusts the wattage output, resulting in more or less electricity and light as you need it.
• If you are not familiar with electrical work, it is wise to hire a licensed electrician to install dimmer switches.

Replacing your lighting system with a dimmer system is efficient, smart and much easier on your electric bill if “someone” should forget to hit the lights on their way out the door. As for the electrical advice? Call AES today for a quote on dimmer systems and install details!