Hey – we’re back!
I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year. We’re feeling refreshed from our break, and we’re ready to get back to keeping your homes and offices running smoothly and efficiently.
Summer is now in full swing. For most of us, that means finding the right balance between enjoying warmer days while trying not to get too hot.
In this newsletter, you’ll find ideas to help you minimise your electricity usage but still enjoy your pool and air conditioning. I also introduce John Caley – a sustainability engineer who specialises in residential energy use reduction.
You can rely on Ku-ring-gai Electrical for all your home and office wiring needs. Call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Cheers,
Matt Cox
6 Energy-efficient tips for keeping your cool
Swimming pools and air conditioners offer welcome relief from the heat, but their enjoyment comes at a cost.
If you have an in-ground swimming pool, did you realise your pool-maintenance equipment can be responsible for up to 30% of your energy bills? According to government website Your Energy Savings, your pool pump is probably your biggest energy guzzler.
And, did you know that running your air conditioning at lower temperatures can significantly affect your energy consumption? Turning the thermostat down by just 1° in summer can increase your energy usage by 5-10%.
Here are 6 tips for staying cool and comfortable without driving up your power bill.
Tip 1 – Maximise your solar power
If you have solar power, run your air conditioner during the day – even if you aren’t home. That way you’ll be using free power to keep your home cool while preventing heat build-up. Likewise, if you have a pool, set your timer to run during the day.
If you don’t have solar panels, run your pool pump during the off-peak period to save money. This option is only suitable for households receiving “time of use” tariffs from their electricity provider.
Tip 2 – Replace your old and inefficient, single-speed pool pump
Modern pumps are more energy efficient and feature variable speeds. When you’re replacing your swimming pool pump, choose one with a higher energy-star rating.
Tip 3 – Consider switching to LED pool lighting
Low voltage lighting in and around your pool can provide wonderful ambience for evening poolside entertaining. It will also help to reduce your power bills. We can help you with energy efficient lighting plans and installation for your garden and swimming pool. Call 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange a time for Matt to visit your home.
Tip 4 – Keep out the heat
Direct sunlight on your windows can rapidly increase the temperature of a room – especially windows facing North or West. Reduce the impact of direct sun by:
Tip 5 – Clean your air-con filter
You can maximise the efficiency of your air conditioner by regularly cleaning the filter.
Tip 6 – Live in the Ku-ring-gai Council area?
If you live within the Ku-ring-gai Council area, you may be eligible to receive a range of advice and assistance to reduce your energy costs. For example, you may be entitled to a rebate on a replacement pool pump. Check with them first before you make any changes.
Expert advice to boost your energy savings
If you’re looking for a way to take your energy savings to the next level, it could be time to speak to an expert like John Caley, from Ecological Design. John is a sustainability engineer who specialises in residential properties.
His company, Ecological Design, provides practical recommendations to lower your household costs by reducing your power and/or water consumption. Ecological Design is an independent business that doesn’t sell products or receive commissions for product recommendations.
John and I have been working together to help clients reduce their household energy consumption. He’s a great guy with a wealth of information to share. John’s website is www.ecologicaldesign.com.au. If you decide to contact him, make sure you let him know Matt sent you!
Although the higher temperatures are a welcome change for many of us, it can take a few weeks to adjust. And while it’s important to stay comfortable inside, try not to make your air conditioning settings too cool. Otherwise, you risk a big jump in your electricity bill throughout the summer months.
With this in mind, you’ll find 3 seasonal tips in this newsletter to help you manage your energy consumption as the mercury rises.
I’ve included our Christmas closure dates below and there’s good news for anyone who can wait until January for us to visit. To arrange a booking, call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Cheers,
Matt Cox
We are now fully booked throughout December but if you’re happy to wait until the new year, the team are now taking bookings for 2018. This year, we’re extending the gift-giving season with a special offer for the first 30 people booking a job in January.
To be eligible to receive our January mystery gift, get in touch now. If you’re one of the first 30 people to make a booking, you’ll receive a cool little gadget that could ‘light up’ your day. We’ll drop it off to you when we come to work at your home or office.
So, now you have another reason to plan ahead for the new year! Contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical for all your home and office wiring needs.
The Ku-ring-gai Electrical team is taking a break during the festive season.
Our last day at work is Wednesday 20 December. We reopen on Monday 8 January.
While the office is shut, you can still email info@kuring.com.au to request a visit in the new year.
Remember If you experience loss of supply, fallen wires or any other electrical emergency while we’re closed, you can call Ausgrid on 13 13 88. This is their 24-hour emergency helpline.
Tip 1 – Decorating your home with Christmas lights
If you use a power board for your outdoor Christmas lights, make sure you protect it from rain, sprinklers and dirt by housing it in a weatherproof safety box. They are not expensive and will help to keep you and your family safe. Power board safety boxes are available at hardware stores like Bunnings.
Tip 2 – Keeping the pool healthy and clean
During summer, you want your family to enjoy your swimming pool as much as possible. Your pool pump plays an essential role in keeping the water clean and healthy. But did you know you don’t need to run it 24/7? For most pools, running the pump eight hours each day should be enough.
Energy Australia suggests a simple way to test the ideal time needed to run your pump. For one week, try reducing the daily running time by half an hour. If the water quality is good, reduce the time by a further half hour the next week. Continue this process until you find the best running time for your pool pump.
Tip 3 – Watching the thermostat
Keep an eye on the thermostat! According to Your Energy Savings, setting your air conditioner’s temperature even 1° higher in summer will save 5-10% on your energy usage.
I might not see you before Christmas so, on behalf of the team at Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service, thanks for your support throughout 2017.
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
a very Happy New Year
and we look forward to seeing you in January!
If you’re like me, time always seems to speed up as Christmas approaches. So, don’t get caught out trying to organise your Christmas light displays in a rush at the last minute. After all, you want your decorations to light up your family and friend’s faces, not just your home.
In this newsletter, I’ve included some points to consider about how to use Christmas light decorations safely. Hopefully you’ll find them useful and if you need any help from me, call Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Cheers,
Matt Cox
Christmas is just around the corner and for many families, the excitement is already mounting. It’s the perfect time to make sure your Christmas lights are not only bright and festive but safe to use.
At my place, putting up the tree and the lights are activities the whole family looks forward to. Whether you’re bringing last year’s lights out of storage or buying new ones, you need to check a few things. Follow these steps and you’ll be good to go:
Step 1:
Start with a quick online search to make sure your lights haven’t been recalled due to a newly identified safety issue.
Step 2:
Check the cables are undamaged and all the globes are working. Never run your lights with some globes missing – this is a fire hazard.
Step 3:
If you’re getting new lights this year, buy them from a reputable store.
Look on the packaging for either the Australian Standards Compliance
Symbol or an approval number, e.g. N12345.
Step 4:
Make sure you choose lights that are fit for purpose. Indoor and
outdoor lights are not interchangeable.
Step 5:
Avoid using 240v lights as they can cause fires if left on too long. They also have a higher risk of electrocution, which makes them dangerous to have around small children or pets.
Instead, opt for safer, more energy-friendly LED lights. You can pick them up quite cheaply from retailers like Bunnings.
Step 6:
Once your Christmas lights are up, don’t forget to switch them off before leaving the house or going to bed.
The back patio or veranda often functions as an extra room during the summer months. If you’re regularly eating or entertaining outside, you might want to add some Christmas lights there too.
But, with kids (big or small) and sometimes pets running around playing games, cables and extension leads can ruin the fun!
Here are 4 tips for adding Christmas lights to your outdoor area so that it’s seasonal and safe.
You can have your own Christmas light spectacular at the flick of a switch!
Call or email Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au to make a time for us to install your weatherproof power points and switches at your home or business.
In this newsletter, we give you clever cabling ideas for your TV. Plus we give you 3 essential things that should be done now that daylight savings is here.
For all your home and office wiring needs contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Cheers,
Matt Cox
Large screen TVs totally change your viewing experience. The trouble is they take up a lot of space, especially if you include the area used by bulky entertainment units to store your PVR and other digital equipment.
We can help you with innovative cabling solutions
Mounting your TV is one option to save space but there’s still the challenge of hiding unsightly cables. We can help you overcome this problem by hiding the cables inside your wall.
Wall mounted TV
If you choose, we can even cable your system so the equipment can be stored in the next room. This will immediately increase your living space, improving the appearance and functionality of your room.
Equipment stored in the next room
A mounted TV works well in your living room, kitchen or home gym. You could even transform a spare room into a home theatre without compromising on space or design. In all cases, the mounted TV can blend seamlessly into each room’s décor, only becoming a focus when you choose to turn it on.
The flexibility of the brackets available for mounting TVs means it can be mounted on the wall, in a corner or on the ceiling. You can then angle the screen to better suit your viewing needs in each room.
Professional installation brings peace of mind
As a parent, it’s important for me to provide the safest home possible for my family.
Having the TV mounted eliminates the risk that a small child might pull or climb on your entertainment unit and accidentally topple the TV.
Storing the entertainment equipment in another, more secure area of your home also removes the temptation for small hands to press buttons, insert objects or pull on cables.
When you use an electrician that you trust, you will also gain extra peace of mind knowing your TV has been securely mounted and safely connected.
Would you like to explore streamlined entertainment options for your home? Contact us on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au.
Importantly: Try to avoid checking your safety switch when members of the family are online. When the power goes off, they could lose everything they have been working on.
We are here to help you with all your wiring needs. To get in touch call Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Spring is here so that means you’ll spend more time enjoying your outdoor areas. In this newsletter, I give you 4 great ways to improve your outdoor lighting.
Plus daylight savings starts on Sunday 1 October so remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.
For all your home and office wiring needs contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Cheers,
Matt Cox
Spring has arrived and for many people it’s time to start thinking about their garden. Spring also marks the beginning of more outdoor entertaining with balmy evenings spent by the barbeque with friends and family.
Great outdoor lighting can enhance the appearance and functionality of our gardens. Designing lighting plans for both indoors and outdoors is just one of the services we offer at Ku-ring-gai Electrical Services.
So ask yourself, does your garden lighting enhance or hide your outdoor living areas?
Tip 1 – Highlight garden features
Use low voltage spotlights to illuminate trees, garden beds, water features and the like to truly enhance the look and feel of your garden. This lighting style invites exploration and draws attention to areas of your garden that may be hidden at night. For a more romantic or enchanted look, consider adding strings of festoon lights to the branches of your trees.
Tip 2 – Functional areas need good lighting
It’s hard to cook a delicious barbeque if you can’t see what you’re doing! Paths, steps and driveways should also be well lit to ensure safety. Then there are the purely functional areas around your bins, clothes line, garage or tool shed. Having the right lighting in these areas can really make life easier.
Tip 3 – Love your home? Emphasise its architectural features
There are so many ways to use lighting to emphasise the architectural features of your home and increase curb appeal. These include:
There is something captivating about watching water ripple in the evening breeze and the right pool lighting can enhance this experience. But don’t forget about lighting the surrounding areas of your pool or spa. Lazing around these areas on balmy summers’ nights is one of life’s great pleasures.
The right outdoor lighting can improve the value and enjoyment of your home and now is the perfect time to get ready for the warmer months ahead.
Contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical Services for installation or design of your outdoor lighting needs. Call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Daylight savings begins on Sunday 1 October. So get ready now to change the battery on your smoke detectors.
Remember, photoelectric smoke detectors use lithium batteries which have a 10 year life span – just like your smoke detector. So instead of changing your battery every year, you simply change the entire unit every 10 years. I also believe they are safer for your family. Want to know more? Contact us on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au.
