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Generating and harnessing electricity is one of humanity’s greatest achievements, but it doesn’t come without some danger if users aren’t careful. Homeowners ignore the risks of electric fire at their peril. According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. municipal fire departments responded to an average of 45,210 home structure fires involving electrical failure or […]

If you groan every month when the power bill arrives in the mail, consider making changes that can save energy at home. Even small changes such as adjusting a thermostat by a few degrees or unplugging appliances and electronics when you’re not using them can mean big savings over time. Many energy saving strategies don’t […]

Most of us don’t think twice when we plug a device into an electrical outlet. Electrical outlets are actually marvels of technology that allow equipment to plug into the electrical grid. We don’t realize how important they are until the power goes out. Sometimes, an outlet won’t work even if the power is on in […]

Everyone in Florida had friends whose generators wouldn’t start after Hurricane Irma. You read their pleas for help at 2 a.m. on Facebook. The typical rant: “My generator won’t start, it’s so hot and my food is spoiling! Help!” Friends and loved ones purchased generators when the last major hurricane swept through Southwest Florida 12 […]

Home-improvement stores, online videos and television shows have inspired millions of homeowners to tackle home repairs by themselves. Such do-it-yourself projects are fun and can generate personal satisfaction when the job is well done. Plus, they might even save you some money. But there are risks and hazards when it comes to electrical work, from […]

Most smoke detectors need to be replaced every 10 years. Smoke detectors have an electrochemical that reacts to the presence of carbon monoxide, which diminishes over time. An outdated smoke detector may not detect a fire. How old are your smoke detectors? 

Getting zapped by static electricity is more than just a nuisance. We’ve all touched a metal door handle or other metallic object and felt the tingle of static electricity. But while it may be a small annoyance to most people, you may not be aware that this tiny current can affect your electronics in a […]

Walk into any home-improvement store and you’ll likely be bewildered by the light bulb aisle. The world of lightbulbs changed dramatically in 2007 when the federal government decided that lightbulbs had to be about 25% more efficient. These new efficiency standards were phased in from 2012 to 2014. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, […]

Few things are more frustrating than discovering that your generic generator won’t start when you need it most. Maybe a storm blew through your area just as you were preparing to entertain a big party. Or perhaps you were working on an important project just as a utility crew inadvertently cut power to your office. […]

Humans hate the dark. But a lot more than the primal fear of darkness explains the purpose of landscape lighting. Other reasons include improving visibility, extending the day, enhancing commerce, feeling safer and fear of litigation, according to the Smart Outdoor Lighting Alliance. The alliance cites statistics from the U.S. Department of Energy that states […]