Lighting Changes, calculate your savings, and fun LED holiday video

Incandescent light bulbs had a good run, but with the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 now fully active, you’ll  notice it’s impossible to find traditional incandescent light bulbs in stores. 

Here at Aztec Electrical, we will get your home or business lighting optimized on any new installation or remodeling projects you are considering. Ask us how to receive rebates and incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

In a nutshell, EISA has taken a three year approach to converting the United States to energy-efficient lights by prohibiting the manufacturing or importing of non-compliant incandescent light bulbs after 2014.

• January 2012 – 100-watt bulbs banned
• January 2013 – 75-watt bulbs banned
• January 2014 –60- and 40-watt bulbs banned

How much will you save when switching your household to energy-efficient bulbs?

We’ll need to begin with the amount of light bulbs in a home. According to a recent survey, the average American household uses 47 light bulbs.

Now, these bulbs might have varying wattages from 100 watts down to 25, but for the sake of easy math and comparisons, let’s assume that we are using all 60 watt bulbs.

Total Light Wattage = 47 bulbs X 60 watts = 2,820 watts

Now let’s take a look at the wattage if all 47 lights are ...
CFL bulbs .... 658 watts
LED bulbs ... 447 watts

As you can see, there is quite a difference in the wattage between energy efficient bulbs and incandescent bulbs. 

Cost Savings

The average cost of electricity in the United States is currently 11.88 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) (for a more accurate cost, you can check your last billing statement for your cost per kWh), meaning if you used 1,000 watts of electricity for an hour, it costs you 11.41 cents.

For fun, here is a holiday video boosting 65K LED lights.

Lighting Retrofit - Boston University

Over the past few months the University has been upgrading outdoor lights on buildings across campus and replacing the old metal halide bulbs with more energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. LED bulbs use less power (watts) relative to the amount of light generated (lumens) and also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by saving energy. Two-hundred A19 (typical screw-in base) LED bulbs can save enough energy per year compared to a 60W incandescent to power an entire home in the United States all year. These A19 LED bulbs can last up to 25,000 hours while metal halide bulbs usually last about 2,500 hours. The custodial staff is using the freed up labor to expedite this upgrade effort to other sections of the campus.

In addition, all new buildings on campus are being outfitted with energy efficient lighting. The use of LED lighting in the new Center for Student Services helped to reduce lighting energy consumption by 53% over a typical building of the same type. Recently the lights in the alley adjacent to the Center for Student Services were upgraded as well with fixtures that are 44% more efficient than the existing lights.  LED A19 bulbs are also being installed in boiler rooms and mechanical spaces with high ceilings, replacing the CFL lamps installed within the last two years to save even more energy.

Since the bulbs last much longer than before there is also a significant reduction in maintenance and cost as they don’t need to be replaced as often meaning in-house staff can be used more efficiently. The project has resulted synergy between environmental awareness and operational efficiency. As a result, the routine bulb replacement has drastically decreased which allows for custodial staff to provide better services in other areas. The routine building lamp replacement labor savings have also allowed custodial staff to maintain higher cleaning standards.

Aztec Electrical is a leader in Rogue Valley for optimizing #lightingdesign in both the home and work environments. Call us today, 541-245-8560, to learn more about our services. As a trade ally with the Oregon Energy Trust we can help you receive rebates and incentives on your lighting projects - ask us how.

Lighting Upgrades, Repair and Installation

Aztec Electrical is equipped to manage all of your commercial building electrical requirements at every level—from multi-million dollar new-build projects to minor electrical installations and repairs.  At the commercial level, our goal is to create an electrical system that insures safety and energy efficiency. 

In addition to providing general repair of exterior lighting, Aztec Electrical will evaluate your existing system, determine whether repair or replacement makes sense, and then design a lighting solution that is compatible with your existing facility electrical system.  These span all the modern technologies including LED lighting, compact fluorescent, HID systems, lighting retrofit, lamp upgrades, along with other developing technologies.

Aztec Electrical can turn a basic diagram of your construction site into a workable system, approved by the municipality and economically designed to provide for enhanced energy savings and quality electrical systems.

Aztec Electrical is a trade ally with the Energy Trust Of Oregon.  We’re qualified to:

• Install and certify lighting retrofit solutions approved by the Energy Trust Of Oregon
• Incentive Programs: assist you secure rebate incentives on your behalf from Energy Trust Of Oregon
• Improve lighting aesthetics and workplace and environmental quality

Light Maintenance: building, retrofits, parking lot

Aztec Electrical is equipped to manage all of your commercial building electrical requirements at every level—from multi-million dollar new-build projects to minor electrical installations and repairs.  At the commercial level, our goal is to create an electrical system that insures safety and energy efficiency. 

In addition to providing general repair of exterior lighting, Aztec Electrical will evaluate your existing system, determine whether repair or replacement makes sense, and then design a lighting solution that is compatible with your existing facility electrical system.  These span all the modern technologies including LED lighting, compact fluorescent, HID systems, lighting retrofit, lamp upgrades, along with other developing technologies.

Aztec Electrical can turn a basic diagram of your construction site into a workable system, approved by the municipality and economically designed to provide for enhanced energy savings and quality electrical systems.

Aztec Electrical is a trade ally with the Energy Trust Of Oregon.  We’re qualified to:

• Install and certify lighting retrofit solutions approved by the Energy Trust Of Oregon
• Incentive Programs: assist you secure rebate incentives on your behalf from Energy Trust Of Oregon
• Improve lighting aesthetics and workplace and environmental quality

Lighting Research: More Schools Switching To LED Lighting

Orion Energy Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance, energy-efficient retrofit lighting platforms, announced several school districts nationwide have selected their lighting solutions to reduce their maintenance costs and energy use while improving the quality of light in the classroom. Recent installations include Chula Vista School District in California, Webster Groves School District in Missouri, and the School District of Spencer in Wisconsin.

The Orion LED Troffer Retrofit suite, granted a patent earlier this year, has become a favorite in educational facilities due to the attractive design, optimized light delivery, maintenance-free performance, and under two-minute install, which provides faster overall project completion and minimizes the disruption of class activities.

The Orion Apollo LED Recessed Troffer, known as the Jetson, is an ideal upgrade for schools and other public sector facilities seeking to replace energy-consuming fluorescent troffer fixtures with high efficiency LED light sources. The Jetson is designed specifically to maximize rebate and incentive potential.

Recently a comprehensive retrofit project at the School District of Spencer, which included upgrading all of the school’s 1200 legacy T8 fluorescent troffers to the Jetson in less than five days with no disruption to class or work schedules. Spencer’s use of the Jetson also made the school eligible for higher rebates, compared to competitive retrofit products, from Focus on Energy, the Wisconsin investor-owned utilities’ statewide energy efficiency program, due to the Jetson’s patented design and UL Luminaire status.

“We were spending way too much maintaining the existing lights and needed to find a better cost alternative. The reduction in maintenance is huge for us as well as the projected energy savings. Now the maintenance crew can focus on higher-need projects in the schools. We anticipate saving 50 percent on our lighting energy usage, which is a big deal,” said Michael Enderas, Superintendent of the School District of Spencer. “We did not expect the new LED lights to get installed that quickly and we couldn’t be happier. It was painless for us, and the new fixtures look so much better. Our staff and students went home and came back to classrooms with a more alert and clean atmosphere that is more conducive to learning. Everyone was excited by the dramatic change.”

Aztec Electrical is a certified trade ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon. Give us a call, 245-8560, to discuss your home or business lighting application and how a LED retrofit will help you save money and reduce energy usage. Your project may also qualify for rebates or cash incentives using the Energy Trust.

Electrician: Reduced Energy and Maintenance Costs

Because Aztec Electrical is a certified Trade Ally, we are qualified to assist you with doing the right actions to receive cash incentives and/or rebates with the Energy Trust of Oregon.  

With lighting accounting for more than 25 percent of the energy used in most buildings, improving the lighting technology at your home or business can make a big difference to your monthly energy bill.

According to the Energy Savings Cost Council, energy-efficient lighting upgrades represent the highest return on investment of any single-technology project, with an average ROI of 45 percent. These upgrades pay for themselves in as little as 2.2 years and the payback continues over the lifetime of the system through reduced energy and maintenance costs.

Call us at 245-8560 today to learn specifics about your project.

Aztec Electrical is committed to meeting all our customers' electric needs with the highest quality products and services. We specialize in residential and commercial electrical services, and we are dedicated to setting the standard for quality and service in Medford electrical work.

Comprehensive Electrical Service Contractor In Medford

Headquartered in Medford, Oregon, Aztec Electrical has been providing electrical contracting services to commercial and industrial clients for years. Our highly-trained staff delivers a wide range of commercial electrical services. We work on large and small electrical projects; from brand new installs to retrofitting. We specialize in power upgrades and service work that includes HVAC wiring, dedicated circuits for computers, machine appliance wiring, tenant improvements, and trouble shooting. Our service area includes Medford, Ashland, Jacksonville, Grants Pass and the surrounding areas in Jackson County & Josephine County, Oregon.

Aztec Electrical is equipped to manage all of your commercial building electrical requirements at every level; from multi-million dollar new-build projects to minor electrical installations and repairs. At each and every commercial level, our goal is to create a commercial electrical system that insures safety and energy efficiency, while at the same time equipping work spaces for maximum productivity today and as needs grow over time.

Call us today at 245-8560.

Electrical & Lighting Projects: receive rebates and cash incentives

Aztec Electrical is proud to be qualified as a Trade Ally contractor with the Energy trust of Oregon. With our knowledge and services we provide you with ideas on energy efficiency and renewable energy services with products to help you use energy wisely. Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable power.

We can help you design and implement your project so that you receive cash rebates and/or incentives thought programs at the Energy Trust of Oregon. Call today for more info:  245-8560.

Electrical & Lighting Services

• Lighting Design - A crucial part of any home building, remodeling, or industrial project.
• Exterior Lighting Design - If you need outdoor designed lighting, security lights, parking lots, or walk way running lights, look no further then Aztec Electrical.
• Building remodels - Let Aztec Electric make sure that your next remodeling goes off without a hitch, with our residential electrical wiring and design services.

#electrical  #homeimprovement

Full Service Electrical Contractor For your Home or Business Electrical Needs

At Aztec Electrical it is our goal to ensure all of your electrical needs, at home and the office, are met. Our team has extensive electrical contractor experience and can provide a variety of electrical services, such as the following:

• Commercial Wiring
• Residential Wiring
• Industrial Wiring
• Energy Efficient Lighting
• Landscape Lighting
• Remodeling & Repairs
• New Construction
• High Efficiency Lighting
• Motor & Control Wiring
• Service Upgrades
• Re-Lamping
• Low Voltage Lighting
• Data & Cable Installations
  

"We want to THANK Aztec Electrical for a Amazing Job on our home. We had several can lights, track lighting and light fixtures installed in our kitchen/game room and bathroom. They were very quick to get the project done and the outcome was Amazing. We will definitely recommend Aztec Electrical. Thanks Again!"
~ Jody H, Medford

No matter how simple or complex your electrical situation may be, our professional electrical contractors can help. Our services are affordable, efficient, and can be completed within a timely manner.

Want to learn more about Aztec Electrical? Please call 245-8560 today and speak with our staff about your electrical needs.  Don't forget we are a trade ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon so we know how you can receive cash rebates and/or cash incentives on your project - at home or at work.

Commercial Electrical Services In Rogue Valley

Aztec Electrical understands the challenges that commercial facilities face with electrical installations.

No matter what size the job is, commercial electrical projects require experienced and knowledgeable electricians to get the job done right.

Our commercial electricians are skilled professionals who are dedicated to bringing professional electrical solutions to the table.

•     Preventive Maintenance
•     Wiring & Switches
•     Moves, Adds, & Changes
•     Machinery Hookup
•     Troubleshooting & Repair
•     Primary Voltage Distribution, Transformation
•     Power and Lighting Utility Services
•     Instrumentation Devices and Wiring
•     Control Panels, Control Integration
•     Programmable Logic Controllers
•     Motor Control Centers
•     Control Wiring, DC Power Wiring

As a trade ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon, we can show you how to receive cash rebates and incentives on your qualified electrical projects.  LED lighting will help you reduce your energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint. Call us today to learn more at 245-8560.

Energy efficient lighting upgrades save you money

Energy efficient lighting upgrades represent the highest return on investment (ROI) of any single-technology project, with an average ROI of 45 percent. These upgrades pay for themselves in as little as 2.2 years and the payback continues over the lifetime of the system through reduced energy and maintenance costs.

Newer lighting technologies often have better lighting-quality characteristics, such as improved color, reduced flicker and greater light output. Check out some of our lighting retrofit projects.

Reduce your carbon footprint by consuming less electricity, your facility can reduce its electrical load, thus reducing the demand and associated emissions from "off-site" power generation. Call Aztec Electrical at  245-8560 to get more detailed information today.

#lightingdesign

Electrician: home electrical services and emergency repairs

If you need an electrical repair, contact Aztec Electrical. Our licensed electricians are thoroughly trained and certified to work on every type of home electrical system. When your light fixture goes on the fritz or a light switch stops working, you want to call someone you can trust.

Our knowledgeable electricians will make the repair quickly and are available for emergency service 24/7 throughout Medford, Ashland, Jacksonville, Grants Pass and the surrounding areas in Jackson County, Oregon.

Aztec Electrical is licensed and bonded to service all of Oregon. We do installs and repairs with all types of electrical services, including low voltage systems, power distribution systems, lighting services, monitoring systems, and electrical maintenance services.

Cal Aztec Electrical today: 245-8560. We provide free estimates on your electrical work. Ask us how we can help you save money on your power bills, or receive rebates, thought the Energy Trust of Oregon.

Electricans in Medford - Residential & Commercial Services

Aztec Electrical is one of the Rogue Valley’s leading electrical service companies providing broad geographic coverage with comprehensive service throughout Jackson County and Josephine County in the Southern Oregon area. We provide commercial, residential, institutional and industrial electrical services — from lighting to connectivity to security. Every electrician is fully trained to provide you with prompt and professional service.

Commercial Electrical Contracting Services
Ask us how to save money on your power bills, or receive rebates through the Energy Trust of Oregon. Send us an email for more information - click here.

Nowadays, the decision to relight or remodel a property is no longer one of just aesthetics. With the EPAct and other tax credits and deductions available, and taking into account the reduction of energy costs over time, the potential savings are substantial. The question now is how much money do you want to save? And how do you want to save it?

Residential Electrical Services




If you need an electrical repair, contact Aztec Electrical. Our licensed electricians are thoroughly trained and certified to work on every type of home electrical system. When your light fixture goes on the fritz or a light switch stops working, you want to call someone you can trust. Our knowledgeable electricians will make the repair quickly and are available for emergency service 24/7

We look forward to hearing from you today: 245-8560.

Lighting maintenance and low voltage systems

Aztec Electrical provides professional electricians throughout Rogue Valley to homes and businesses.

An important service is lighting & fixture maintenance. This includes retrofits, along with installing interior and exterior lighting services. You can receive a safety inspection and ideas on reducing your power bills with the Energy Trust of Oregon. We are certified with that Trust to show you how to receive cash rebates.

Home and businesses have used our services to install and service low voltage systems. Typically we provide diagnosis, installation, and repair of low voltage wiring including 120V home lighting, security cameras, and alarms. We can design a low voltage system that might include computer systems, or protection systems.

LED Research: University Miami To Implement LED Lighitng

With glaring statistics pointing to humans as the cause of environmental pollution, the Energy & Conservation Organization (ECO) Agency is ready to do their part to help the university. Their initiative seeks to retrofit lighting with energy-saving light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Last week, they achieved a victory toward their goal.

Spearheaded by Senior Class Senator Melissa Wyatt and ECO Agency chair Nika Hosseini, a bill in the Student Government Senate was met with unanimous approval to have LED lights implemented in all future university construction and for retrofitting to happen as soon as possible.

“It is crucial for us as a university to lead the way in this environmental initiative,” said Wyatt, who is also an ECO Agency board member. “With how much energy LED lighting saves, it’s just incredible and something that we need.”


The LED lights would reduce light pollution and would concurrently eliminate the use of bulbs containing mercury and other metals. This makes them last 10 times longer than the existing light bulbs used by the university. They also produce a better quality of light for increased visibility and reduced maintenance costs.

Aztec Electrical provides retrofit lighting services to businesses and homes through out Southern Oregon. We are a trade ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon and will help improve your ROI with incentives and cash rebates, ask us how.

There was a 62.5 percent decrease in energy from using LED bulbs and it proved to be more cost-effective. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted that studied the energy usage and costs of current lighting across campus, showing that having LED lights installed would result in energy savings of 50 to 70 percent.

Research at benchmark institutions has shown similar benefits. There were anticipated savings of $25 million over seven years at the University of North Carolina and 66 percent energy savings at Dartmouth College. Massachusetts Institute of Technology observed an increase of 100 percent in student usage of areas on campus that had been retrofitted with LED lighting, a trend that is likely to be replicated on the University of Miami’s campus.

From article of Miami University http://www.themiamihurricane.com/2015/10/15/eco-agency-plans-to-implement-led-lighting-in-new-buildings/

Research: Dimmable LEDs Save Energy

In 2013, the University of California, Santa Barbara partnered with the SPEED team on a small-scale pilot demonstration of 27 LED streetlights with network system controls and 10 LED post-top fixtures with local and network controls. The adaptive lighting operated for an average of 12 hours each night during monitoring. The retrofit to dimmable LED lighting reduced lighting energy use where implemented 78-88%.

Using occupancy sensors and lighting controls, adaptive lighting automatically brightens when occupants approach and dims when spaces are vacant, reducing energy use without compromising safety. Network control systems make monitoring, adjusting and maintaining light fixtures easier.

Simple payback provides a quick way to estimate the cost effectiveness of a given energy-efficiency improvement project. It is calculated by dividing the project cost by the annual cost savings achieved by the project.

Aztec Electrical is a tade ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon and will design your lighting retrofit to receive the maximum rebates and incentives available.

Read the study - click here.

Energy Efficiency: Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting should direct light where it is needed, distribute it evenly, avoid glare and reduce light trespass, without putting light where it’s unnecessary or unwanted. LED fixtures are quickly becoming today’s preferred option for outdoor lighting, because they offer instant to full brightness even in cold temperatures, a long service life, minimal light trespass and flexible control options such as continuous dimming. T5HO and electronic HID (metal halide) continue to be appropriate for many applications. All of these technologies offer good color quality and superior performance compared to older technologies.

Know Your Terms

Numbers on linear fluorescent lamps refer to eighths of an inch and T stands for tubular. A T8 lamp is 1.0 inch in diameter, a T12 is 1.5 inches, and a T5 is 5/8 of an inch. HO stands for high-output.

LEDs, or light emitting diodes, produce visible light when an electrical current is passed through a semiconductor.

High Intensity Discharge, HID, lamps have an intense point source of light used in outdoor, high-bay and some retail applications. Today’s efficient electronic HIDs use metal halide lamps with electronic ballasts.

Aztec Electrical is a trade ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon. As us how you can receive rebates and cash incentives on your commercial or residential electrical projects.

Electrical: Commercial Lighting And Electrical Maintenance

At Aztec Electrical our electricians have the necessary tools, training, and expertise to energize and illuminate your Rogue Valley business. We guarantee exceptional workmanship from the beginning to end of all projects. Our relentless commitment to impress and exceed our customer’s expectations is what sets us apart. Call Aztec Electrical today and learn how we can brighten your home or business.

    Lighting Upgrades: Tired of those buzzing fluorescent lights? Sick of customers eyeing your flickering lights? Express Electric are your Los Angeles lighting upgrade experts and we can get the job done.

Parking Lot Lighting: We have many clients who own large parking lots that require extensive lighting rigs mounted on massive outdoor poles. We install, upgrade and maintain your commercial lighting poles and make sure you have abundant light to keep your property secure day and night.

Meter Panel Upgrades: We are experts in the replacement of old or broken electric meters If necessary, we are also equipped to relocate an existing meter to your preferred location.

Aztec Electrical is a certified Trade Ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon, we can assist you to receive energy rebates and reduce energy costs - click here to visit our web site.

Commerical Electricans: Superior Service In Medford or Southern Oregon

Ask us how to save money on your power bills, or receive rebates through the Energy Trust of Oregon. Send us an email for more information - click here.

Nowadays, the decision to relight or remodel a property is no longer one of just aesthetics. With the EPAct and other tax credits and deductions available, and taking into account the reduction of energy costs over time, the potential savings are substantial. The question now is how much money do you want to save? And how do you want to save it?

Aztec Electrical is equipped to manage all of your commercial building electrical requirements at every level; from multi-million dollar new-build projects to minor electrical installations and repairs. At each and every commercial level, our goal is to create a commercial electrical system that insures safety and energy efficiency, while at the same time equipping work spaces for maximum productivity today and as needs grow over time.

Don't forget that we are a Trade Ally with the Energy trust of Oregon. That means we know how to enrich your project with rebates and incentives to improve your ROI. 

Call our office, 245-8560, and we will arrange a time to discuss your project or questions.

Professional electricians serving Southern Oregon

What clients are saying ....

"We want to THANK Aztec Electrical for a Amazing Job on our home. We had several can lights, track lighting and light fixtures installed in our kitchen/game room and bathroom. They were very quick to get the project done and the outcome was Amazing. We will definitely recommend Aztec Electrical. Thanks Again!" Jody, Medford, Oregon

Three main  electrical services we provide, at your home or business, include.....

1. Electrical Contracting: full range of design and installation services. We are your reliable electrical contractor. Ask us how we can help you save money on your power bills, or receive rebates, with the Energy Trust of Oregon.

2. Lighting & Fixture Maintenance: retrofits, along with installing interior and exterior lighting services. Receive a safety inspection and ideas on reducing your power bills with the Energy Trust of Oregon.

3. Electrical Maintenance: fully capability of providing electrical contracting services on residential and commercial situations. Ask us how you can save money with the Energy Trust of Oregon.

We are professional electricians serving Southern Oregon. 
- Electrical Installations
- Panel Upgrades
- Lighting Retrofits
- Communication/Data Cabling
- Emergency Services 24/7
- Preventive Maintenance
- Fire Alarm Services
- Energy Management Systems (EMS)
- Power Quality Monitoring
- Parking Lot Lighting & Repairs
- Light Fixture Maintenance
- Cat 5 & 6 Wiring
- Equipment Hookup
- Light Fixture Maintenance
- Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)
- Add Circuits & Devices

Commercial Electrician: Bad Ass Fan Reduces Energy Use

Big Ass fans are the top of the line and highly engineered solutions to heat and cold.

We all know heat rises. Well, a Bad Ass fan is gonna change the equation.

When you use a Bad Ass fan in the colder months with its slowed technology, not reversed, it can efficiently transport large volumes of warm air off the ceiling without creating a draft.

In your business this fan is a perfect tool to balance the air flow. The steady mixing of air creates a uniform temperature throughout the room/space that supports your heating system maintaining a consistent thermostat setting. This boils down to reducing your energy costs and boosting the cozy factor.

A consistent temperature from the ceiling to floor, and from the wall to door, can also reduce corrosion, help mitigate mold, and reduce condensation.

Learn more about Bad Ass fans at our web site - click here.

Layered Interior Lighting - What Is It?

Layers of interior lighting can work together to illuminate an area according to function and style.

Ambient (top)
 – Provides overall illumination to the space.

Task (middle)
 – Provides auxiliary illumination, when needed, for specific tasks. Task  lighting should be free of glare and shadows but bright enough to avoid eye strain.

Accent (bottom)
– Provides a focal point of illumination that highlights products or features or adds drama to a space.

Vertical
– Can help balance light or provide accent lighting in some applications.

The type of lamp, fixture and amount of light can vary significantly depending on
whether it is supplying ambient, task, accent or vertical lighting.

Lighting Fixtures Need To Be Considered

Light fixtures can deliver their light downward (called direct lighting), upward (indirect),
or a combination (direct/indirect).

Direct lighting typically uses reflectors to help direct light out of the fixture. A diffuser,  lens or louver also covers the face of the fixture to help guide the light and conceal the  lamp from view. Today’s designs for lenses and louvers are more efficient than  old-technology diffusers, which caused significant light loss.

Indirect lighting can make a space feel brighter with less light because it illuminates  the ceiling and tops of walls. When these surfaces are light-colored, little light is lost  resulting in even illumination. Indirect lighting works well with a task-ambient lighting  scheme. Indirect lighting or a direct/indirect combination also offers excellent glare  control and visual comfort.

Direct/indirect lighting combines both approaches. Fixtures can be specified to  provide a given percent of both direct and indirect lighting,

This information is provided by the Energy Trust Of Oregon. Aztec Electrical is a Trade Ally Contractor with the Energy Trust. We can help you receive rebates and incentives on your lighting and electrical projects.  #lightingdesign  #lighting

Comprehensive lighting design can maximize energy savings

Comprehensive lighting design is critical to the design of new buildings and major  renovations, and it is increasingly used during lighting retrofits because it goes beyond simply replacing lamps or fixtures. Comprehensive lighting design looks holistically at the lighting in your building.

A lighting designer prepares a lighting layout and a technology and controls approach that factors in aesthetics, how lighting integrates with other building systems, light levels suitable to each application and location, uniformity of light, available daylight, glare, safety, total operating cost of the lighting system, the appropriate integration of lighting controls and more.

Comprehensive lighting design can maximize energy savings, at home or your office, and provide better comfort, health and productivity for occupants.

Think beyond first cost. With rising energy costs, the decisions you make today will affect operating costs for years. Because lighting is so visible, quality lighting influences the aesthetics of your business as well as comfort, productivity, health and safety, and profit. Today’s lighting technologies are extremely long lasting and can lower maintenance costs by drastically reducing the need to replace lamps.

Successful lighting design begins with assessing how occupants use a space and their resulting lighting needs. The lighting system should deliver the quantity and quality of  light according to those needs.

The quantity of light needed, measured in foot-candles, varies by task. For example,  lighting professionals recommend a lobby have 10 foot-candles, a classroom 40 and a  retail space 50.

Good lighting quality requires an experienced lighting professional who takes steps to maximize daylight, minimize glare, provide appropriate color quality and address other factors. The most energy-efficient light sources mounted in the best fixtures will not offer value if they are not applied correctly.

This information is provided by the Energy Trust Of Oregon. Aztec Electrical is a Trade Ally Contractor with the Energy Trust. We can help you receive rebates and incentives on your lighting and electrical projects.

Lighting Technologies For Your Business - Part I

In the typical U.S. commercial building, lighting accounts for close to 35 percent of electricity use, taking a bite out of profits.

Fortunately, recent technological  advances have launched a new era of energy-efficient lighting products. When you take advantage of the most advanced light sources, fixtures and controls, you could save up to 50 percent on lighting energy, while benefiting from the best in lighting quality.

With good design, energy-efficient lighting typically pays for itself in energy savings within a few years.

Opting for energy-efficient lighting offers additional benefits, including reducing the load lighting puts on air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration and your overall electrical system. Today’s options come in a variety of styles and functionalities, offering flexibility for your design and business.

At Aztec Electrical, we will help you design the right solution for your business lighting. We have been helping businesses in Rogue valley receive rebates and incentives to help their ROI, call today at 245-8560.

KNOW YOUR TERMS

Think lumens not watts. The total quantity of light produced by a lamp is measured in lumens.

Lumens per watt, also called lumen efficacy, measures light delivered per watt. Today’s technologies deliver more lumens per watt than incandescent bulbs.

A foot-candle is the amount of light that falls on a surface and is equal to one lumen per square foot as measured by a light meter.

Lumen maintenance is the standard lighting term for the percentage of initial lumens that a
light source maintains over time.  Lumen maintenance is often specified as L70, L80 or L90.  In eachcase, “L” stands for lumen maintenance and the number is the percentage of light output remaining.

Lighting power density  is calculated as watts per square foot and varies by how a space is used and its occupancy.

Fixture efficiency  accounts for how much of a lamp’s light gets out of the fixture. A fixture that’s 90 percent efficient delivers 50 percent more light than one that’s 60 percent efficient.

This information is provided by the Energy Trust Of Oregon. Aztec Electrical is a Trade Ally Contractor with the Energy Trust. We can help you receive rebates and incentives on your lighting and electrical projects.

#lightingdesign

Need Electrical Services? Call A Trusted Electrical Contractor

For all your electrical needs, count on an experienced, professional electrician at Aztec Electrical.

Our skilled electrical contractors are second to none, and you'll also find our rates to be surprisingly affordable. No project is too large or too small for Prestige Electric. Trust a seasoned electrical contractor and master electricians (EC0002452 and EC13003699) with all your electrical service work.

For years Aztec Electrical has been serving its' customers' electrical needs with the highest quality products and service. We specialize in residential electrical services, and we are dedicated to setting the standard for quality and service in electrical work.

From single family homes to condominium complexes, we are one of the Rogue Valley's trusted electricians. Our experience includes new construction (home or business), existing homes and businesses - along with upgrades.

• New Construction, Residential Remodels and Additions 
• Complete Solar Electric System Installation
• Electrical Panel Upgrades 
• Upgrades on Switches, Outlets 
• Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms 2-Stage 
• Whole House Surge Protection  
• Generator Installations  
• Ceiling Fan Installations 
• Complete Home High-Efficiency Bulb Installation

Call us today, 245-8560, to discuss your question or project.

Upgrade your home or office energy usage- we'll help you find the rebates and cash incentives

Aztec Electric is a Trade Ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon. This specialized training means we are current on all available cash rebates and incentives available to homeowners this fall to make energy-efficiency upgrades.

Here are some of the available energy saving programs - offering rebates and incentives ranging from $300 - $1,000:

- Gas fireplace FE 70.0-74.9
- Windows U-Value 0.25 or less
- Heat pump upgrade  HSPF 9.5+
- Heat pump replacing electric resistance heat HSPF 9.5+

There are too many programs to list here. Send us an email - click here - to receive more specific information.

LED: energy efficiency - saves energy and expense - get on board

New research at Rutgers University has shown how to slash the cost of highly efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs) and significantly reduce lighting’s energy requirements. The energy savings, however, will likely be eroded as people find new uses for the inexpensive lights.

It’s a classic example of how a solution to a problem may cause more problems, or at least nullify the solution.

"I am doubtful that we will save any energy by going to LED lights," said Thomas Theis, director of the Institute for Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

LED lights use just 10 percent of the energy of incandescent lights and less than half the energy of today’s compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs.  An LED that uses 6 watts of electricity, for example, produces the same amount of light as a 14-watt CFL bulb or a 60-watt incandescent bulb.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electricity used for artificial lighting in the U.S. could be cut nearly in half by 2030 through the adoption of high efficiency LEDs.

Aztec Electrical will help you with #lightingdesign and all your electrical needs. Give us a call today at (541) 245-8560.

LEDs help grocery stores save money reduce energy use

Lighting Design

Supermarkets use lighted refrigerator and freezer cases to display a variety of foods and beverages.

These cases account for nearly half of a supermarket’s annual electricity costs, with interior lighting systems using a quarter of the electricity required to operate the case.

Nearly all commercial refrigerators and freezers use linear fluorescent lamps. Although fluorescent lamps provide superior energy efficiency in many lighting applications, their use in commercial refrigeration is not ideal. Fluorescent lamps in this application exhibit a reduced light output of up to 25% and uneven lighting on the products. These problems are a result of ineffective lamp operation at cold temperatures, the lack of optics to direct the light, and poor configuration and mounting location within the freezers.

Average illuminances across the freezer shelves at the time of the installation.
Measurements were taken on the face of the products inside the freezers.

	LEDs at 100% light output	LEDs dimmed	Fluorescent
Average illuminance	2470 lx	2148 lx	2871 lx

 

(Shppoer Surveys)

LEDs may provide a better solution.

• LEDs do not suffer the same drop in light output under cold temperatures that fluorescent lamps do. 
• The current luminous efficacy (the amount of light per watt of energy used) of LEDs—45 lumens per watt (lm/W) in 2006—is similar to the application efficacy of fluorescent lamps in commercial refrigeration. 
• LEDs also can be customized to provide several distributions of light to provide more even lighting across freezer shelves. 

These differences mean that LEDs potentially can provide more efficient lighting.

Residential Electrical: Four Key Services In Ashland, Medford, Grants Pass

Aztec Electrical we can help you design, install, and maintain your lighting to reduce your energy expenses.  Because we are a Trade Ally with the Oregon Energy Trust, we can also help you receive cash rebates and/or incentives for your home or business lighting project. 

Call us today at 541.245-8560.  #homeimprovement

Residential Wiring

Need help adding a light fixture in your home? Need new transfer switches? At Aztec Electrical  LLC, we offer residential customers in the Rogue Valley area a wide variety of residential wiring and electrical services. We also specialize in trouble shooting any problems you may be having with your electricity!

Generators

Tired of losing power during power outages? Let the experts at Aztec Electrical  LLC in Medford, Ashland, and Grants Pass install a standby generator for your home or business so you will never have to worry about power outages again! Call today for more information.

Circuit Panels

Does your house still work with fuses? Do your circuit breakers keep tripping? The experienced team at Aztec Electrical  LLC can help troubleshoot or install a better system to correct an overload problem. Call today for a free quote!

Home Remodels

Are you remodeling your home and need electrical work? Call Aztec Electrical  LLC today. We are experienced in working on home remodeling projects including moving switches, light fixtures, installing new switches, fans and much more!

LED: lighting that is durable and saves energy

LEDs are durable and save energy. Now researchers have found a way to make LED lamps even more compact while supplying more light than commercially available models. The key to success: transistors made of the semiconductor material gallium nitride.


At Aztec Electrical we can help you design, install, and maintain LEDs to reduce your lighting expenses.  Because we are a Trade Ally with the Oregon Energy Trust, we can also help you receive cash rebates and/or incentives for your home or business lighting project. Call us today at 541.245-8560. #lightingdesign

Incandescent light bulbs are now banned in the EU, while energy-saving lamps remain a bone of contention. In 2016, it will be lights out for halogen bulbs over 10 watts as well. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) therefore have the best chance of becoming the light source of the future. Experts reckon that LED retrofit lamps for use in standard bulb fittings will overtake traditional energy-saving bulbs for the first time from 2015. By 2020 it is predicted that LEDs will have captured between 88 and 90 percent of the lighting market. The tiny diodes offer a whole host of advantages as the most environmentally friendly source of light – they contain no harmful substances, consume less energy and, with a lifetime of between 15,000 and 30,000 hours, last longer than conventional light sources. They also work at full brightness as soon as you flick the switch.

New lighting technology improved with cheaper manufacturing

New research at Rutgers University has shown how to slash the cost of highly efficient light emitting diodes (#LED) and significantly reduce lighting’s energy requirements. The energy savings, however, will likely be eroded as people find new uses for the inexpensive lights.

LED lights use just 10 percent of the energy of incandescent lights and less than half the energy of today’s compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs.  An LED that uses 6 watts of electricity, for example, produces the same amount of light as a 14-watt CFL bulb or a 60-watt incandescent bulb.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electricity used for artificial lighting in the U.S. could be cut nearly in half by 2030 through the adoption of high efficiency LEDs.  

The lights are commercially available today but haven’t been widely adopted because they are more expensive than either CFLs or incandescents. The high cost of LEDs is due in part to their reliance on rare earth elements for their phosphors, materials that shift the blue light emitted by most LEDs into a broad spectrum of white light.

A new class of phosphors made from earth-abundant materials could slash the cost of LEDs by as much as 90 percent according to their developers.

The work has been driven by a dramatic increase in the cost of rare earth elements -- by as much as 1600 percent over the past decade -- due to increased demand and decreased exportation of the materials from China, which has historically produced more than 90 percent of the world’s rare earth elements.

A 2010 study looked at lighting use around the world for the past 300 years as lighting technology improved from whale oil lamps to gas and kerosene lamps to electric incandescent bulbs. The study, conducted by researchers at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico found a direct relationship between decreased cost and increased consumption.

Looking at the current transition from incandescent lights to CFLs and ultimately LEDs, the authors concluded "there is a massive potential for growth in the consumption of light if new lighting technologies are developed with higher luminous efficacies and lower cost of light."

Aztec Electrical has helped businesses and home owners reduce their lighting expenses. Call our office today to learn more about how you can use new lighting technology to your advantage.

LED Research: LED lighting enhances mood and environment

For as long as we can recall,  #lightingdesign has focused its product placement, design, and marketing on fulfilling visual needs. In the more recent past, issues of sustainability and a need for more efficient energy sources has sparked a further interest in creating green lighting technologies, with LED technology of course at the forefront.

LED lighting technology has just bumped into an entirely new dimension of possibilities and benefits with the help of a study and other research in the field of human-centric lighting (HCL).

A recent study of Lighting Europe and the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturer's Association (ZVEI) and A.T. Kearney led to surpurising findings regarding the mass potential of LED lighting technology in the field of HCL and mood lighting which promises to gain a significant portion of the global LED illumination market by 2020.

Human-centric #LED mood lighting enhances well-being in two distinct but related ways:

#1 it can be optimized to effectively stimulate the organism biologically which leads to improved cognitive performance, which already proves itself in various educational settings such as classrooms.

#2 LED-based human centric lighting can emotionally stimulate by creating emotionally appealing and stimulating atmospheres, leading to improved positive emotions.

Aztec Electrical is a leader in Rogue Valley for optimizing #lightingdesign in both the home and work environments. Call us today, 541-245-8560, to learn more about our services.

Project Sunroof: mapping the planet’s solar energy potential, one rooftop at a time

Google's Project Sunroof is helping homeowners map the solar energy potential power to their home.

The cost of solar power is at a record low. A typical solar home can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year on their electricity bill.  But, as a volunteer with the Boston-based solar program Solarize Massachusetts and a solar homeowner myself, I’ve always been surprised at how many people I encounter who think that “my roof isn’t sunny enough for solar,” or “solar is just too expensive.” Certainly many of them are missing out on a chance to save money and be green.

Check out the blog for the project here.

Lighting Design: California DMV in Sacramento goes LED

Pre Retrofit

This project was designed to achieve significant energy savings to meet code requirements which required both the general lighting and task lighting loads be reduced without sacrificing occupant satisfaction and visual comfort.

Task-ambient lighting provides an estimated 40 – 50%  energy savings over current energy codes. It has the potential for 600 – 700 MW demand reduction statewide, and  2,000 – 3,000 GWh annually. It should provide an annual  energy savings of about 15 – 25 cents per square foot of building space, meaning  $300 million to $400 million annual energy savings for California. The simple payback is immediate  to one year when used in new construction projects. It has a four- to seven-year simple payback in retrofit projects.

Post Retrofit

Features

• High-quality ambient and task lighting for an aesthetically pleasing office environment
• Energy-efficient LED task light components that can be customized to the individual workspace
• Optional personal occupancy sensor to control  task lights

Read the study click here.

#electrician #lightingdesign

LED lighting makes all the difference in classrooms at one elementary school

How beneficial is LED lighting? At Cherokee Elementary School in Scottsdale, Ariz., new-fangled LED lighting fixtures not only save energy, they also prevent special education students with autism from being bothered by fluorescent lighting. Researchers maintain that individuals with autism are more vulnerable to the sub-visible flicker of direct fluorescent lighting, which can cause headaches, eyestrain and increased repetitive behavior. 


Call Aztec Electrical today at (541) 245-8560 to learn more about using our #lightingdesign services in conjunction with rebates and incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

In this pilot project, Scottsdale Unified School District replaced 69 2x4-foot fluorescent lighting troffers in four special education classrooms with 60 2x2-foot flat-panel LED fixtures from lighting manufacturer MaxLite. The install has the added benefit of energy savings.

The new lighitng used MLFP22D4535 2x2 Direct Lit Flat Panels. These panels each emit 3,850 lumens of brightness while using just 45 watts. The lumen power is far less than the 8,000 lumens the school’s previous fluorescent troffers offered, but those classrooms had been overly lit. 

Source: adapted from material at the K12 TD web site.

#electrician #lightingdesign

Research: dimmable lights, done correctly, save energy

Call Aztec Electrical today at (541) 245-8560 to learn how our services can assist your project with new lighting technology. 

We can assist you with understanding the available rebates and incentives to improve your lighting project ROI.

Our #electrical and #lightingdesign services include #ledlighting.

Recent studies estimate more than 800 million recessed downlights are in operation in the United States, split nearly equally between residential and commercial applications, with about 83% still using incandescent lamps. Inexpensive compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) downlights are commercially available, but most of these units are not dimmable, which is a desired attribute for many downlight applications. Therefore, energysaving CFLs often are overlooked in lieu of the functionality of incandescents.

Bidwell Mansion Visitor Center,
Chico, CA

Installation of LED downlights in retrofit and new construction situations is almost identical to typical incandescent or CFL recessed downlights. The exception is that many LED downlight housings can be in direct contact with insulation. Replacement scenarios are generally one-to-one in retrofit applications. Equipment costs range from $100 to $300 depending on the manufacturer and distributor, but costs may  be offset by maintenance savings and utility rebates. 


BENEFITS:

• The HALO LED recessed downlight is the first ENERGY STAR-rated LED downlight and exceeds the high efficacy requirements set by energy regulations
• High color rendering and warm white color temperature: 80CRI at 3045K
• Delivers light equivalent to many standard incandescent sources used in recessed downlight applications
• Dimmable to 15% of total light output with standard AC incandescent dimmers, 5% with low-end trim adjustment

Article Source: UC Davis

LED Retrofit: Local business installs new lighting tehnology (video)

The Rrrink in Medford, a popular skating rink, took advantage of rebates and incentives to install 400 watt metal halide, to LED lighting. See more information and pictures here.

New Lighting Technology: What Are Benefits To Small Business?

The owner of Mishka’s café, had two  goals for the recent lighting upgrade in his café: create a cozy, inviting  atmosphere for customers and save energy. In the main seating area  alone he was able to cut his lighting energy use 85% by upgrading to LED lighting.

Throughout the rest of the café, energy consumption for lighting  has been cut in half, reducing Mishka’s annual energy use by over 10,000 kWh and saving nearly $2,000 every year in energy  costs. The lighting upgrade will have paid for itself after just eight  months, and because LEDs last up to fifty times longer than older light sources, the lighting retrofit is producing others savings too.

“It’s not just the cost of buying the light bulb, but needing to drive to the store, spending time to install it, the inconvenience to customers...

Time and maintenance savings are vastly undervalued,” says the cafe owner.  LED lamps can last more than 50,000 hours, meaning there is less time changing lamps and more time focusing on the customers. It also means less waste sent to the landfill every year.

Call Aztec Electrical today at (541) 245-8560 to learn how our services can assist your project with new lighting technology. We can assist you with understanding the available rebates and incentives to improve your ROI.

#electrical  #lightingdesign  #ledlighting