There are many electrical certification programs designed to protect customers and identify high-quality and safe products. This article explains the DLC rating system for lighting products, which is of special interest for commercial lighting projects.

DLC applies to fixtures and LED tubes, which are not covered by the Energy Star label. Most utility companies require fixtures to be DLC rated in order to qualify for rebates, which are often an important part of creating a retrofit program that makes financial sense.

Read the rest of this article at regencylighting.com

Whole house fans are a great way to cool your house down this summer. They pull fresh cool air in from outside the house and push it through the attic and then back outside, cooling the attic at the same time.

Whole house fans can save you money on your electric bills by lowering your air conditioning usage. This Tamerack HV 1600 pictured here was installed in Lancaster and it has powerful energy efficient fan motors and comes with a two speed remote control.

This Generac 8000 watt portable generator was installed in West Chester, PA

We just had our first ice storm of the season, and fortunately it wasn’t as bad as ice storms from the past. However, don’t let old man winter sneak up on you next time. Get prepared with a portable generator!

For most homes we recommend the Generac 8000 watt portable generator. This unit has what it takes to keep the important things working during a power outage, and it also won’t break the bank. Your refrigerators, sump pump, well pump, heater and lights can be wired into a transfer panel to make it easy.

Once it’s set up, there will be no need to run a bunch of dangerous extension cords throughout the house. Just roll out the generator and plug in one cord, then hit the transfer panel switches.

The hot summer sun beating down on your roof can cause your attic to reach temperatures up to 130 degrees. These high temperatures can transfer down into the living space of your home causing your A/C to run more than it should.

Solar attic ventilator fans make great sense here; powered by the sun, they can move hot air out of the attic and pull in cooler air from outside. Keeping the air flowing thru your attic will help lower your energy bills and also reduce moisture build-up and can prolong the life of your roofing shingles.
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Ambiance under-cabinet lighting by Seagull is a great way to add light to the kitchen. The lights are low profile and are neatly installed under the cabinets.

They put the light right where needed, on the counter tops. These low voltage lights can be dimmed and the festoon bulbs are easy to replace.

Whole house fans can save you on your utility bills by by lowering your electric usage. These fans pull cool air in through your house and push the hot air out through the attic. This process will cool your attic, once attic is cooler the second floor of your house will be cooler.

This first picture shows the low profile vent intake of a Tamarack whole house fan installed in Oxford Chester County PA. No noisy or rattling louvers to worry about. (more…)

Ceiling fans can save you money on your electric bill all year long. In both winter and summer, ceiling fans help circulate the air in the house allowing your heating and cooling systems to run less.

With your heating and cooling running less, you can save money on your monthly electric bills. Most ceiling fans use about the same energy as a 100 watt bulb and they come in many different varieties. Southern Chester County Electric can install the ceiling fan that fits your style quickly and without hassle. (more…)

Going ‘green’ and installing renewable energy systems, such as solar and wind power, are great investments for the future. Unfortunately many can’t afford to install a these types of systems.

But you don’t have to be a millionaire or refinance your house to go green. There are small changes that can make a big difference. Changing your energy consumption by using more energy efficient lighting and appliances is one example.

Another easy way to go green is to change to a energy supplier that invests in green energy. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission offers tips for comparing and choosing a better energy provider on their website (papowerswitch.com). You can also go with the renewable energy add-on option to your current energy suppler and support local renewable energy like PPL Energy Plus. Feel free to contact us for more info.

We recently installed a roof-mount system of solar panels using Enphase micro-inverters. The micro-inverters we installed connect directly to each solar panel changing DC to AC power for a quicker, safer installation and also makes your panels more productive and more reliable. (more…)

Sun Frost refrigerators and freezers are so outstandingly energy-efficient, powering a home with solar power or other low output energy sources is both feasible and affordable.

Refrigerators are usually responsible for a large part of your electric bill, especially if you have an older model that may not be energy efficient. They run non stop, around the clock, keeping our food cold and frozen. (more…)