Hubbell Wiring Systems
Manufacturers Are Turning up the Heat on Thermostat Intelligence
I thought programmable thermostats were a brilliant invention when I
bought my first one back in 2003. That’s when I moved out of my Chicago
condo, with its centrally controlled boiler, and into a single-family
home. I liked the set-it-and-forget-it convenience of programing a
week’s-worth of morning, evening and weekend temperature changes that
just happened automatically.
Hubbell Wiring Systems
Plugging Into Control and Savings With New Smart Outlets
When they were first launched several years ago, smart plugs seemed like
just another new toy for the tech-obsessed. But, over time, many
consumers have come to appreciate the convenience they can offer. For
example, combined with a mobile app, they can take the place of the
complicated timers you might have used to turn lights on and off when
you’ve been away.
Intermatic, Inc.
Shining a Light on Occupancy and Vacancy Sensors
If you grew up like I did, in a home where thriftiness was highly
valued, you likely heard the phrase “Turn off those lights!” on a
regular basis. Leaving lights on in empty rooms was seen as a sign of
laziness and wastefulness. Over the past decade, a number of energy
codes have picked up on this message, with mandates for sensing and
controls to help reduce electricity use and the greenhouse gas emissions
that might be related to its production.
Intermatic, Inc.
How to Ensure Lighting Controls Match the Longevity of Today’s LEDs
I’m currently in the process of planning a kitchen remodeling project
and learning even more about LED lighting in the process. For example,
one of the electricians looking over the room for an estimate noted that
his company pretty much only works with dedicated LED downlights, now –
in other words, fixtures that work with embedded LEDs, rather than more
generic units that would work with LED bulbs – or any other kind of
bulb, for that matter.
Leviton Manufacturing Company
Smart Panelboards – Making Smart Homes Even Smarter
I'm not a spring chicken by any stretch of the imagination. But I'm not
technology challenged, either. Fired up my first computer in the '80s,
and I've had a love affair with tech ever since. Don't tell my wife,
okay?
Seriously though, I do like my tech and use it to make life
easier for me. I have high-speed internet in the 1 gigabyte range,
flying over fiber optics supplied by my electric company.
Arlington Industries, Inc.
Have a Tricky Fixture Installation? There’s a Box for That.
There’s a lot of electrical work that goes on in our ceilings. Light fixtures, fans, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – all of these devices often find a home above our heads. The trick for electrical contractors can lie in how to mount these products, given the broad array of ceiling conditions they can encounter.