Category Archives: Energy Savings

How to Prepare Your Colorado Home for a Power Outage

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Power outages can occur unexpectedly, leaving your Colorado home without electricity and disrupting daily life. Whether caused by severe weather, equipment failure, or scheduled maintenance, being prepared for a power outage can help you navigate through the situation more comfortably.

Licensed electrician

Assemble an Emergency Kit

Create an emergency kit that includes essential supplies such as flashlights, batteries, a battery-powered radio, a first aid kit, non-perishable food, bottled water, and any necessary medications. Store the kit in a designated location that is easily accessible to all family members.

Invest in a Backup Power Source

Consider installing a backup power source, such as a generator or uninterruptible power supply (UPS). These devices can provide temporary electricity during outages, allowing you to power essential appliances and devices. Ensure your backup power source is properly installed, regularly maintained, and fueled or charged in advance.

Maintain Adequate Lighting

Place flashlights and battery-powered lanterns in easily accessible areas throughout your home. Test them regularly to ensure they work properly and keep extra batteries on hand. Avoid using candles, as they pose a fire hazard.

Safeguard Heating and Cooling

Prepare for extreme temperatures during a power outage. In cold weather, ensure you have alternative heating sources such as a fireplace, wood stove, or portable propane heater. Make sure to follow all safety precautions when using these heating sources. In hot weather, create cross-ventilation by opening windows and using battery-operated fans to maintain airflow.

Preserve Refrigerated and Frozen Food

Minimize the frequency of opening refrigerator and freezer doors to keep the temperature as cold as possible. During a power outage, a refrigerator will typically keep food cold for about four hours, while a full freezer will maintain its temperature for about 48 hours. Consider storing perishable items in coolers with ice packs if the outage is prolonged.

The best thing you can do to safeguard and protect yourself from power outages is to reach out to a professional electrician. Contact Always On Electric at (970) 309-2616 today or visit us online for more information!

Energy Efficiency: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Electricity Consumption

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In today’s world, where energy demands are soaring and concerns about climate change are growing, adopting energy-efficient practices is crucial. By reducing your electricity consumption, not only can you contribute to a more sustainable future, but you can also save money on your utility bills.

Exterior Lighting

Upgrade to LED Lighting

One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce electricity consumption is by switching to LED lighting. LED bulbs use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and have a longer lifespan. By replacing your old bulbs with LED equivalents, you can achieve substantial energy savings while enjoying the same quality and brightness of light.

Unplug Electronics and Appliances

Even when electronics and appliances are turned off, they can still consume standby power. This is known as “vampire power” or “phantom load.” To eliminate this unnecessary electricity usage, unplug devices when not in use or use power strips with on/off switches. By cutting off the power supply, you can prevent standby power consumption and save energy.

Optimize HVAC System

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are major energy consumers. To improve energy efficiency, consider the following steps:

  • Regularly clean and replace air filters to ensure proper airflow and efficiency.
  • Use a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature settings based on occupancy patterns.
  • Seal air leaks around windows, doors, and ducts to prevent heat loss or gain.
  • Maintain regular HVAC system inspections to identify and fix any inefficiencies.

Maximize Natural Lighting and Ventilation

Utilizing natural lighting and ventilation can reduce the need for artificial lighting and air conditioning. Open curtains and blinds during the day to allow natural light to illuminate your space. Additionally, consider installing skylights or light tubes in areas with limited access to windows. For ventilation, use ceiling fans or strategically placed fans to circulate air and keep rooms cool.

Efficient Appliance Use

Appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers are essential but can consume a significant amount of electricity. Follow these tips to optimize their energy use:

  • Set your refrigerator’s temperature to the manufacturer’s recommended level and keep the coils clean.
  • Wash full loads of laundry and use cold water whenever possible.
  • Air dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s drying cycle.
  • Use energy-saving modes or timers on appliances, such as TVs and computers, to minimize their power consumption.

Insulate and Seal Your Home

Proper insulation and sealing can greatly improve energy efficiency by preventing heat transfer. Insulate your home’s walls, attic, and floors to reduce heating and cooling needs. Seal gaps and cracks around windows, doors, and electrical outlets to minimize air leakage. By enhancing insulation and sealing, you can maintain a comfortable indoor environment while minimizing energy waste.

If you’re looking for any electrical work, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Contact Always On Electric, Inc. at (970) 309-2616 today or visit us online for more information!

5 Signs Your Colorado Home Needs Electrical Upgrades

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As a homeowner in Colorado, it’s important to ensure that your electrical system is in top-notch condition to maintain the safety, efficiency, and functionality of your home. Over time, electrical systems can become outdated or experience wear and tear, posing potential risks and inconveniences.

electrical outlet in home being re-wired by professional electricians

Frequent Circuit Breaker Tripping

If your circuit breakers trip frequently, it may indicate that your electrical system is overloaded. This could be due to outdated wiring or an insufficient electrical panel. Upgrading your electrical system will provide the necessary capacity to handle your electrical demands.

Flickering or Dimming Lights

If your lights flicker or dim unexpectedly, it may be a sign of faulty wiring, loose connections, or outdated fixtures. These issues can lead to electrical hazards or insufficient lighting. Upgrading your wiring and fixtures will ensure consistent and reliable illumination.

Outdated Electrical Panel

If your home still has an old fuse box or an inadequate electrical panel, it’s time for an upgrade. Modern electrical panels are equipped with advanced safety features and can handle increased electrical loads, ensuring better protection against electrical hazards.

Non-Grounded Outlets

Older homes often have ungrounded outlets, which can be dangerous, especially in areas where electrical devices require grounding. Upgrading to grounded outlets will enhance electrical safety and provide additional protection against electrical shocks.

Inconsistent Power Supply

If you experience frequent power surges or voltage fluctuations, it’s crucial to have your electrical system assessed. Inconsistent power supply can damage sensitive electronic devices and appliances. Upgrading your electrical system will provide stable and reliable power throughout your home.

Recognizing the signs that your Colorado home needs electrical upgrades is crucial for the safety, functionality, and convenience of your property. Whether it’s addressing outdated wiring, upgrading the electrical panel, or installing additional outlets, investing in electrical upgrades will enhance your home’s electrical system and provide peace of mind.

Contact Always On Electric, Inc. at (970) 309-2616 today or visit us online for more information on how we can help you with your electrical upgrades in your home.

 

How an Agricultural Electrician Can Help Your Farm This Coming Spring

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Agricultural ElectricianIf you own a farm, it’s not a bad idea at all for you to be on a first-name basis with an agricultural electrician. This type of electrician can take on all kinds of electrical projects for you to keep your farm safe and help it operate more efficiently. Check out some of the top ways in which an agricultural electrician can help you below.

Keep Your Farm Safer and More Secure

The safety and security of your farm should be one of your top priorities. An agricultural electrician can help you in this department by helping you install the proper lighting on your property. They can also lend a hand when it comes to installing things like alarm systems and electric wire fences.

Protect and Preserve the Animals on Your Farm

Do you have animals on your farm? Protecting and preserving them will be another thing that you’ll need to worry about at almost all times. An agricultural electrician can help you in this department by installing lighting that will allow your livestock to move around. Lighting can also be installed to keep your livestock warm during the colder times of year.

Keep Your Farming Equipment Working Properly

There’s a good chance that you have quite a bit of farming equipment and systems on your farm that call for the use of electricity. If, for example, you have an irrigation system, it’s not going to run without electricity. An agricultural electrician can make sure all your various equipment works at all times. They can also run power to different parts of your farm as necessary so that you can add new equipment to your property.

Do you need to obtain the services of an agricultural electrician? Let Always on Electric provide you with the agricultural electrical services that you need. Call us at 970-309-2616 today to schedule an appointment with an electrician on your farm.

Signs You Need a Residential Electrician

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Residential ElectricianDo you have electrical circuit breakers in your home that are tripping on you all the time? This could potentially indicate a big problem with your home’s electrical system. It’s important for you to call a residential electrician right away so that they can take a closer look at the issue.

There are also other signs that you need to touch base with an electrician sooner than later. Check them out below.

Flickering lights

If the lights in your home flicker every once in a blue moon, it might not be the end of the world. Nevertheless, if you notice that your lights are flickering or even turning off completely on an almost daily basis, you shouldn’t ignore it. This is more than likely a sign that you should have a residential electrician come to evaluate your electrical system.

Warm outlets or switches

Feel the outlets and switches in your home every now and then to see if they’re warm. If they are, there is a decent chance that you have some kind of electrical issue on your hands. If the problem starts to spiral out of control, it’s not uncommon for the wall surrounding an outlet or switch to get warm, too.

Old electrical wiring

The electrical wiring that you have in your home is not supposed to last for decades and decades on end. Most electrical wiring is only designed to last for about 25 years before it needs to be replaced. It’s a good idea to have a residential electrician inspect and possibly replace old electrical wiring before it causes issues for you.

The next time you notice one of these signs of trouble, let Always on Electric come out to your home and provide you with residential electrical services. Call us at 970-309-2616 today to set up an appointment.

The Importance of Quality Exterior Lighting for Businesses

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Exterior Lighting for Commercial Businesses Whether you realize it or not, your business presents itself to the public at all hours of the day. People will pass by your business even if it is closed, so it’s important to have quality exterior lighting, especially when it’s dark outside. When your business is open after the sun goes down and it’s really dark outside, people need to be able to see it in order to find it. Even when you’re closed, leaving the lights on has numerous benefits, including free advertising for your business.

Mood Setter

Did you know there are many ways to describe light? Soft or bright are typical adjectives used when describing light, but there’s also hue (shade), colorfulness, and saturation (intensity/chroma). Lighting helps set a mood for a place. Did you know red/orange light heightens people’s appetites? Or that nightclubs will use blue/purple light to help make people feel more comfortable and ready to socialize? Light is essential to business.

Encourage Business

With exterior lighting, your business should be lit up in such a way that it encourages “walk-in” business. The light(s) should literally attract customers. A great idea is to use path lighting, which literally lights the pathway to your door so customers know exactly where to walk in order to get into your place. Pathway exterior lights will also help draw attention to your business and its doors. Meanwhile, people feel more comfortable going into a place that’s well-lit. A bright storefront, for example, has better “curb appeal” than a dark one.

A Deterrent

One of the main reasons businesses invest in quality exterior lighting is to deter thieves. Safety, with businesses, is always a concern. Criminals and people up to no good love to find dark spots to make trouble– where they can’t easily be seen. However, when a building is well-illuminated, it looks, feels and literally is safer than a building that’s dark. Also, lights help security cameras create clearer pictures of exactly what’s going on outside of a business at night, whether it’s on the sidewalk in front, in the nearby parking lot or wherever people tend to congregate.

A Touch of Panache

Finally, lights add personality to a place. Think of the unique businesses and their exterior signs that stand out in your memory. Lighting can add new decor elements to your building, making it even more attractive. Lighting can also double as signage.

Always On Electric handles exterior lighting for many businesses in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado; please call 970-309-2616 to discuss your exterior lightning needs/wants today.

4 Ways to Save on Your Electric Bills This Summer

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Summer is right around the corner, and as the heat rises, so can the cost of bills. Many people enjoy the outdoors during the summer, but for some, the only way to beat the heat is to stay inside, out of the sun. Here are some ways to ensure you can have a cool, relaxing summer, while also saving money.

Woman cooling down in home from heat of summer

1 – Swap the AC for Some Fans

It’s tempting to crank the air conditioning at the first sign of summer- but holding off and using some fans provides relief from the heat, and relief on your wallet. A box fan in a window can blow cool air in at night, or, if you prefer less wires, consider getting some ceiling fans installed to get a nice breeze throughout your home.

2 – Upgrade to Energy Efficient Appliances

It may be time to look at some of your most used appliances and see if they could be the culprit of a high bill. Is your stove Energy Star Certified? What about your AC unit? Making the switch to Energy Star Certified appliances ensures you have the most energy efficient appliance- which allows you to rest easy knowing that you’re saving money, even when using them.

3 – Invest in Light Blocking Curtains

While long hours of sunlight are a bonus of the summer, it also adds more hours of heat to your home, particularly if coming from southern and western facing windows. There are many curtains that not only block bright light, but keep rooms cool as they block heat. Consider installing these curtains and keeping them shut throughout the day- even if you keep some curtains open, it will still make a dramatic difference in the overall temperature of your house!

4 – Get an Evaluation

Above all else, safety is the most important thing when considering any upgrades or electrical changes. Always consult with professionals to ensure you’re maximizing your savings this summer. At Always On Electric, we provide evaluations, as well as assistant in repairs, or do total installations. Let us help you get ready for a relaxing summer, today! Give us a call at (970) 309-2616 for a free estimate!

 

Outdoor Lighting Maintenance Tips

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Exterior Lighting There are many benefits that come along with installing residential and commercial outdoor lighting. You can make properties safer and more attractive by doing it. However, in addition to installing outdoor lighting, you also must take steps to maintain it so that it continues to work both now and in the future. Here are some tips for doing basic outdoor lighting maintenance.

Replace any lights that have burned out immediately.

Outdoor lighting can really brighten up the exterior of a home or business. Nevertheless, it’s obviously not going to be able to do it if you have bulbs in your lighting fixtures that have burned out. You should replace any burned-out bulbs with new ones right away. You should also consider using long-lasting LED bulbs that won’t have to be replaced every few months. It might cost a little more to purchase these bulbs, but they’ll pay off in a big way when you don’t have to worry about replacing them for years to come.

Clean lighting fixtures that are covered in dirt, cobwebs, and more.

Are the lighting fixtures that you use to light the outside of your home or business filthy? If so, they might be bringing down your curb appeal significantly. You also might be putting them at risk for mechanical failure at some point in the future, and they just won’t work as well when they’re covered in gunk. Every so often, you should make it a point to sweep cobwebs away from outdoor lighting fixtures and clean your fixtures thoroughly. It will keep them shining and ensure your lights always turn on.

Fix any lighting fixtures that have been broken.

It’s not all that uncommon for a lighting fixture to break. An errant baseball or a large tree branch can come through and wreak havoc on outdoor lighting. If you ever notice that one of your lighting fixtures has broken, you should have it replaced right away. It can prevent further electrical problems and keep your outdoor lighting system up and running.

Do you need maintenance done to your outdoor lighting? Always on Electric can set you up with services that will take care of all your outdoor lighting needs. Call us at 970-309-2616 to schedule an appointment with an electrician.

Making Sure Your Electrical is Functioning Properly on Your Farm

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It’s still the winter season, whether we like it or not. Here in Colorado, the agricultural industry is extremely important. All over the country, farmers depend on their fully functional farm to earn a sustainable living and deliver food and services to the entire country. When it comes to electrical, it’s important to make sure the farm is running properly before the season begins.

Energy savings in Colorado

Before the busy season begins, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your electrical is working and functioning properly on your farm.

Energy Audit from Always On Electric

An energy audit allows a professional electrician to come in and test for energy usage on your farm. Testing your electrical equipment can determine if everything is working properly. If you notice energy bills and electric bills increase, there is a good sign it can be because some of the equipment isn’t running properly. When this happens, electrical can be working harder than usual.

Always On Electric can give you an energy audit to determine how your electrical is running.

Maintenance and Repairs

If you do notice your electrical not working properly, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

All of our Agricultural services include:

  • Trough Heaters
  • Standalone Services
  • Barn/shop Lighting & Equipment
  • Irrigation pumps, well pumps, etc.
  • Gas pumps and equipment

Don’t go this season without proper electrical function on your farm. It’s important to tackle maintenance and repairs before the busy season of farming in Rifle, Colorado. Without proper electrical equipment working on your farm, the work will suffer and cost much more than you want. Saving money on energy bills can help you focus on the agriculture and what you do best.

Contact Always On Electric at 970-309-2616 today or visit us online for more information!

 

 

Electrical Safety Tips for Kids

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Electrical Tips for Children If you have kids in the home, whether they’re always there because they’re yours or they’re just visiting, it’s a good idea to go over some electrical safety basics with them.

Electrical Safety Precautions to Share With Your Children

For instance, tell kids not to plug too many things into one outlet or overload an extension cord. As much as it seems like “no big deal” to do so, the truth is that having too many things plugged into one or two outlets can end up overwhelming the circuit. At worst a fire could result, and nobody wants that to happen.

Speaking of outlets, with kids around it makes sense to have parents or the adults-in-charge put safety caps on all unused electrical outlets. Not only does this help save energy by stopping cold drafts, but it also prevents babies and toddlers and others from sticking their fingers into the outlet area where they could get a bad shock or worse.

Teach kids not to yank cords from the wall. Instead, teach them to literally go up to the outlet and pull the cord out from it right there. If and when a cord is pulled from anywhere besides its head, damage can be done to the plug, the outlet and/or the appliance.

Another thing: cords need to be kept out of the way so people don’t trip over them. Furthermore, if a cord can be placed in such a way that a pet can’t easily get to it, that’s great– too many dogs and cats have chewed cords and gotten shocked– not good. With little kids around, too, it’s best to find ways to keep them away from cords whenever possible– they’re not toys to be played with.

Kids also need to be taught that water and electricity don’t mix. So, for instance, they have to be extra careful in the bathroom when using things like a hair dryer near the sink, toilet or bathtub.

Finally, with regards to electricity outdoors, kids should know not to play on or near electrical boxes/substations. They need to stay away from power lines. And if they fly a kite, which kids like to do, make sure they’re not flying the kite anywhere near power lines.

If you need help repairing the electrical lines in your home, contact the experts at Always on Electric, Inc. today.