DENVER, CO – Commercial property operators and homeowners alike are all looking for ways to cut energy consumption and utility bills these days without sacrificing work load or lifestyle, and they are increasingly turning to such “green” products as highly efficient lighting systems and light bulbs, EnergyStar and more efficient HVAC systems and appliances, improved insulation, newer more efficient windows, and more.

One of the more interesting “green” product developments coming into vogue are Energy Controllers, devices that regulate the flow of electricity, that can cut electrical usage – and costs – anywhere from 6% to as much as 30%. And since electrical costs the most expensive component in utility expenses any savings here can ease the burden of that monthly utility bill and add significantly to the bottom line in a commercial operation.

Energy controllers are essentially capacitors that attach near to a home’s electrical box and on the service panels at commercial facilities. The science involved is very detailed and it would take an electrical engineer from MIT to explain all the ins and outs, if that EE could be understood by the layperson.

In simple terms, however, electrical power is delivered by utility companies over lines and systems that are designed as one-size-power-for-all strength, and yet each individual user has different demand needs depending on the types of electrical devices used in the property. Also, this power from the utility company ebbs and flows as demand rises – like on a hot summer day when every air conditioner is working overtime – or falls, like in the middle of the night when businesses are closed and homeowners have darkened the house until morning. The fact is that often there is too much power feeding the electrical system in a home or commercial facility and the excess is dissipated as heat and wasted. Energy controllers manage the flow of electricity to the structure so that the right amount of power is supplied and the excess power drawn is minimized – thus, lower electrical use and lower electrical bills.

The measurement of all of this is generally conducted by licensed and qualified electricians and involves what is known in the trade as the Power Factor – and those electrical systems with a Low Power Factor can benefit more from an energy controller than those with a High Power Factor. Indeed, the idea behind an energy controller is to correct the Power Factor within a facility where the utility-supplied electricity is delivered, so that the system itself will draw less current.  

Moreover, this fluctuation in electricity being delivered to electrical devices can be hard on them, particularly on electric motors that drive such things as AC units, HVAC fan systems, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers and electric dryers, and on pumps for swimming pools, spas, French drains and septic systems. The extra power and the heat generated can and often does shorten the life of electrical devices so the use of an energy controller also delivers savings in the longevity of such equipment.

Capacitors themselves, formerly called condensers, have actually been around since the late 1700s, and they were the beginning of what we today call battery technology as those early scientists discovered that these inventions – a glass jar or Leyden jar – could store electrical charges. Capacitors are used in all kinds of electrical devices to both store and separate different types of current. To offer some practical idea of what this means is that it is a capacitor that allows such electrical devices as radios and computers to maintain information like the time of day, favorite stations and other settings for short intervals while power is out or batteries are being changed.

The savings effect of energy controllers – which must be installed by a certified electrician to guarantee proper operation – is much more pronounced on devices equipped with electric motors and on many types of lighting systems, particularly in commercial applications, so the savings derived will vary widely depending on the use and the equipment.

In a typical home, one where there is an AC unit or swap cooler running often during the summer months, estimates are that the savings in kilowatt (kW) usage can be anywhere from 6% to 15%, again depending on the size of the home, the devices used and the frequency of that use. The payback on the initial cost of the energy controller and installation and the savings realized can range from 1 year to three years. The energy controller themselves are designed for a 20-year life span.

In commercial settings – and most electricians recommend energy controllers more for industrial locations more ballast-type lighting systems and where more electric motors may be in use – the savings ranges from approximately 12% to as much as 30%, with payback periods ranging from three to six years.  Energy controllers are found very often in small manufacturing plants and shops, and also in such businesses as restaurants.

And for those concerned about the carbon footprint, energy controllers will of course reduce the amount of energy needed to be produced by the power companies so even an application on a home can reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by up to several pounds per month.

Allstar Electrical Services, serving the Denver metro residential and commercial electrical service needs since the 1990s, has fully licensed and highly experienced electricians who can perform Power Factor audits on both homes and commercial facilities and then, if called for, recommend and install the proper energy controllers. Not every home or every business can benefit much from adding an energy controller, but for those subject to a high Power Factor the savings can be immediate and substantial.

For all of your commercial and residential electric service needs, from minor repairs to full installation of electrical service, call on Allstar Electrical Services at 303-399-7420.

Allstar Electrical Services knows a thing or two about electricity – and we know how easy it is to save money without any major lifestyle changes

DENVER, CO – Everyone wants to save money, of course, and one of the easiest ways is to trim your monthly electricity bill with very simple steps that won’t disrupt your lifestyle. A little extra care with and awareness about electric use in your home can add up to significant savings, especially important in an era of rising rates.

At Allstar Electrical Services has been serving the Denver metro area for over 10 years with top-notch, licensed electricians performing the full range of electrical repair, maintenance and installation needs. As such, we see electric waste every day and have become experts in recommending ways to cut electric bills. Here’s a few simple steps that most every homeowner can take to cut electricity usage and save money:

All of us almost take electricity for granted what with its ubiquitous and safe use in so many aspects of our lives. What most people don’t realize is how much energy we waste each day that can be avoided with a few simple steps and some planning.

And when you need electrical repairs, upgrades, new plugs, lighting solutions or anything electrical, give the professional at Allstar Electrical Services a call http://www.allstarelectrical.com/

Search for an electrician online these days and chances are that you’ll notice what we did…more electrical shops have combined their services with other subcontractors to offer across-the-board repairs and remodeling.

Plumbers have aligned with Electrical Contractors and with HVAC specialists. Electrical Contractors have merged with alternative power companies. Some subcontractors are now promoting their companies as a one-stop-shop for all home repairs.

At Allstar Electrical Services Inc., we believe in doing one thing well-Electrical repair and contracting services. We don’t want to be all things to all people, insists Allstar founder and president Gary Stone.

“Decades of experience as licensed, bonded and insured master electricians has shown us that we can outshine any other electrical contractor in the Western United States because we focus on electrical contracting and repairs exclusively,” says Stone who has been in the electrical contracting business for 30 years.

Stone draws the analogy of the dentist vs. the hygienist. “Some people insist on seeing a dentist who performs routine cleanings himself. Others realize that they’re better off being treated by the hygienist because a hygienist cleans teeth all day long, every day and therefore is more expert than the dentist who does it occasionally.”

At Allstar Electrical Services, we’re experts in electrical installation for commercial and residential, indoors and outdoors. We’re expert at new construction and remodeling and repairs. We don’t pretend to do framing or drywall finish or plumbing and heating. We don’t do roofing or window installation. We do electrical work and we do it better than anyone.

We arrive on time. We respond to emergencies 24/7. We are family-owned and operated. We clean up our work area when finished. We get the job done better and quicker than companies that try to be a jack of all trades and master of none.

If you’ve got an electrical repair-no matter how minor-contact Allstar today at 303-399-7420. You’ll discover why our experi8enced, reputable company is the only one you’ll call in the future.

In our internet world, technology and relationships are often mutually exclusive.  You don’t have to talk with a retailer to make an online purchase. Even little things that used to be a time-consuming nuisance, like going to the Post Office, can be done today online, saving time and sparing you the interaction with another human being.

But when it comes to repairs, emergencies and otherwise, anonymity can leave a property owner feeling unsettled that he or she isn’t going to get the quality repair that came with old-school formalities like a handshake.

That’s the reason Allstar Electrical Services, Inc. has instituted its WINTER SECURITY BLANKET protection for its loyal and long-term residential customers. Serving all of Colorado’s Front Range, from the Denver metro area to Colorado Springs, Allstar Electrical Services wants its valued clients to know that they come first in the event of an emergency call.

By signing up for Allstar Electrical’s Winter Security Blanket Agreement, customers can rest assured that in the event of an electrical emergency Allstar’s repair crews will prioritize the customer’s call, ensuring that an electrician is on the job site before the day is out. It’s the kind of confirmation that a homeowner welcomes, especially in the case of an electrical malfunction or breakdown.

“Our customers are supremely important to us,” says Gary Stone, President of Allstar Electrical Services, Inc. “Many of our customers have been with us since the day we opened our doors. They’ve come to count on us in emergencies, and yet the construction industry has become so competitive that quick response can be a luxury. We never want a valued customer to worry that his electrical repair will have to wait more than that day to be fixed.”

To that end, Allstar Electrical Service’s Winter Security Blanket Agreement, available for an annual fee of only $95, are like an insurance policy—protecting customers against the worry that they’ll ever be left literally in the dark or without other electrical service when an emergency arises.

Contact Allstar Electrical Service, Inc. today to enroll in the Premiere Customer Service Agreement and rest assured that you’ll get priority service if and when an electrical emergency arises. Call Allstar Electrical at 303.399.7420 in Denver and 719-314-9419 in Colorado Springs. Or email President Gary Stone at gstone@allstarelectrical.com.

With the rising costs of electricity, I’m not sure I can afford to light my home as I have in the past. Is there an alternative to the traditional light bulb that will cut the cost of living in light?

In the United States alone, light bulbs make up one quarter of all electricity used but they waste nearly half of their energy. All that’s changed with the introduction of the new light-emitting diodes. According to the Department of Energy, this scientific breakthrough is able to reduce energy consumption by 29% by 2025 for a total savings of $125 billion.

According to Gary Stone, founder of Allstar Electrical Services, traditional light bulbs use 95% of their energy to generate heat and only 5% for light, while LEDs use nearly 100% of their power to directly create light, consuming much less energy and saving you money.

I am sick of the light bulbs in my home burning out after what seems like a few months. I have heard LED bulbs last longer. But I’ve also heard they are more expensive. When will there be a long lasting, economical light bulb?

The typical incandescent light bulb lasts about 850 hours and a long-life bulb can last up to 2,500 hours. Still these lengths don’t hold a candle to the new LED technology, according to Gary Stone, founder of Allstar Electrical Services serving all of metro Denver and Colorado Springs plus the Front Range. While LEDs vary in life, they can last up to 50,000 hours or nearly six years of constant use. The downfall to LED lighting, like all products that are relatively new to the market, is that they can cost up to $20 per bulb. It is important to weigh the savings in the cost of energy as well as the lifespan of LED bulbs.

If all of these numbers put you brain into a tailspin, call Stone at Allstar Electrical Services, Inc. for a review of your home’s electrical needs. Allstar Electrical Services has instituted a Premier Customer Service Agreement for customers that ensures same-day response in the event of an emergency. Loyal and long-term customers plus new customers to Allstar Electrical Service are signing up for this opportunity. For just $95 a year, you can be ensured that in the event of a lighting emergency, Stone and his team of licensed and bonded electrical contractors and electricians responds to your needs same day, before other calls. With this Service Agreement, you can rest assured that your needs will be prioritized and your service restored, repairs made, and any electrical faults repaired prior to day’s end.

Call Allstar Electrical Service today and learn more about the Premier Customer Service Agreement.  It’s a good time too to arrange for an Allstar electrician to review your home or business electrical needs.  Allstar can be reached at 303-399-7420 in Denver and 719-314-9419 in Colorado Springs.

With all of the technological advances made to conserve energy, is there a way I can help save the environment and cut my energy costs?

The new LED trend is just one part of the massive effort to conserve energy and our Planet Earth. While it seems small, The Alliance to Save Energy found that since 1973 energy efficiency technologies and conservation efforts have aided to a 40% cut in the level of energy consumed in the United States.

If the amount of energy used in the United States is not curtailed, we will be facing much higher prices if not a complete depletion of fossil fuels. While changing a light bulb seems miniscule, it’s a step to help the environment as well as cut your energy costs.  Contact Gary Stone at Allstar Electrical Service to schedule a review of your home or business today to learn what other savings you can implement into your electrical use.