Rising energy costs have been a major news story lately and rightly so. Over the past few years, the NSW government has provided financial incentives to businesses and households through the Energy Savings Scheme (ESS). It’s a bit complicated but may be worth considering. Read my simplified explanation below.
But first, let’s start with a home safety tip you may not be aware of.
Cheers,
Matt Cox
When there aren’t enough powerpoints in a room, it’s tempting to grab a double adapter or powerboard. But they aren’t suitable for all appliances. In fact, they can be a fire hazard in many common applications.
Double adapters and powerboards are rated at 10 amps. Your kettle, toaster, microwave, clothes dryer – in fact any heating appliance – are all rated at 10 amps each.
We frequently see home and office kitchens run their kettle and toaster or microwave off the same powerboard or double adapter. This is really dangerous if you use both appliances at once because you are overloading the board or adapter and in serious risk of starting a fire.
The same holds true for running:
It’s usually quite easy to retro-fit a multi-outlet powerpoint to an existing powerpoint.
Don’t risk it! Call us today to arrange a time for us to add more power outlets where you need them most. In the meantime, remove that powerboard or double adapter and only use 1 appliance at a time.
For all your home and office wiring needs contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au
A few years ago, the NSW government introduced an energy saving scheme to encourage homes and businesses to swap energy guzzling equipment, appliances and lighting to energy saving options.
The scheme is known as ESS (or the Energy Savings Scheme).
Unlike other programs, ESS is not a rebate scheme. Instead it uses Energy Savings Certificates as “currency”. This is what makes it complicated to understand. However it is a worthwhile scheme which is drawing to a close.
If your strata scheme or workplace uses old lighting technology (e.g. fluorescent tubes) to provide 24/7 lighting (e.g. in an underground carpark) you may be eligible to apply for ESS Certificates.
To be eligible, you need to:
The same applies to any energy inefficient equipment or machinery where investment in better technology reduces energy use. The more money you can prove you are saving, the more ESS Certificates you could be eligible for.
If you believe your home or workplace may be eligible for ESS, contact us for more information or pass this newsletter onto others e.g. business owners, strata managers or building managers.
To get in touch, call Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
One of the things I love about being an electrician is the way technology is constantly developing new products for our home. Clipsal recently introduced the Iconic range of light switches and power points that have revolutionised these basic household items.
In this newsletter, I’ll explain what’s possible with a simple power point as well as a couple of tips to keep you safe and warm over winter.
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
The humble power point is now a lot smarter with the launch of the Clipsal Iconic range.
Not only are the sockets thinner and less obtrusive aesthetically, they also come with the option of installing a static night light or a motion-sensor night light.
This socket is particularly useful for people who need to get up in the middle of the night to care for young children or family members with health issues. It’s also a great option for low light areas such as walk in pantries and cupboards.
How it works
The Iconic power points come with interchangeable faces (called skins) so once installed, you don’t need an electrician to convert them into a motion sensor night light. If you no longer need a night light (e.g. your children get older), the switch can be converted back into a double power point.
The sensor faces upwards so it will not detect wandering pets and emits a soft light so it doesn’t disturb other members of the household. It uses energy efficient LEDs and automatically turns off after 2 minutes. My youngest daughter loves it!
Other smart products in the range
The Clipsal Iconic range includes other innovative products such as USB chargers with a built-in shelf and light switches with the option of Bluetooth operation. For more information on the Iconic range, visit the Clipsal website here.
For installation and advice, call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Over winter, there is a big spike in the number of house fires across Australia. These fires are often triggered by using electric heaters incorrectly. So for the safety of you and your family, please take notice of these safety tips.
Tip 1: Never plug an electric heater into a power board or double adapter. They are not designed to take the power load and could start a fire. Instead, plug your electric heater directly into a power point.
Tip 2: If you must use an extension cord for your portable or fan heater, make sure it is fully unwound to prevent a fire.
Tip 3: Surprisingly, your ceiling fan can help to keep your home warmer in winter. You may have noticed a switch on the base above the blades. That converts your ceiling fan from summer to winter mode. Just remember to switch it back once the warmer weather begins.
We are now in the last month of autumn and the nights are getting cool.
If you haven’t started using your heating yet, you know it won’t be long before you do. In this month’s newsletter, I have 7 budget friendly, practical tips to help you reduce your winter heating costs.
For all your home and office wiring needs, call Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Cheers,
Matt Cox
There are lots of options to help you keep your home warm. Some help to prevent heat transfer between your home and the outside (e.g. insulation) while others have a lifestyle focus.
We provide Energy Audits for households looking for significant year-round savings. But for simple, easy to implement solutions, here are my 7 favourite tips.
When you need an electrician, call the team at Ku-ring-gai Electrical Services on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
The days are certainly getting shorter now that we’re mid-way through autumn.
This month we are launching a new pricing and quoting system that’s designed to give you certainty before we begin work. You’ll see the details below.
We also explain why you can always feel confident your safety is our priority.
As always, if you have any home or office wiring requirements, please get in touch by calling 0418 442 578 or emailing info@kuring.com.au
I hope to speak with you soon.
Cheers,
Matt Cox
Until now, we were not set up to provide an upfront price for our work – especially for general electrical problems or in emergency situations. From Monday 3 April, this has changed
We are now able to provide you with an upfront price before we begin work.
When you book an appointment with us, we will allow time to quote and perform the work. That means you will know how much it will cost before we unload our tools. If you are happy, we’ll do the job straight away.
Not only that, we will never charge you a call out fee – even if you decide not to proceed.
Of course for bigger projects (like the electricals for a kitchen or bathroom renovation), we will still need to provide you with a separate quote. But for your everyday electrical requirements, we will tell you how much it will cost when we arrive.
For all your home and office wiring needs, think Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service. Call 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au
The problem with electrical wiring is that it’s tucked inside your wall cavities, under your roof or beneath your floors. So once it is installed, it’s difficult for you to check on the quality of the wiring and if it meets Australian standards.
And that’s a problem.
We want you to know Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service will never cut corners or use inferior materials. The risk to you and your family is too serious.
Next time you are comparing electrical quotes, don’t compare on price. Choose the electrician you feel you can trust.
At Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service, we believe your safety is important. That’s why we only use high quality materials that meet Australian Standards. We will always invest in your safety. That’s our promise to you.
No doubt those of you with air conditioning have been running it non-stop these past few months. As a result, you may now be preparing yourself for a nasty shock when your electricity bill rolls around!
While your AC is pretty much an essential item in this heat, there are other ways to reduce your energy costs and improve the efficiency of your home.
To help you, I’m offering a very special deal for March only.
As the days get shorter you’ll be turning your lights on earlier and they’ll stay on for longer. So I’d like to help you take control of your power bills by upgrading your old ceiling lights to LED oyster lights. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE.
Changing your current light fittings to these LED oyster options would normally cost you $96.25 GST incl. For the month of March we can offer this to you for only $80* flat GST incl. *Please note conditions apply
There are several benefits to upgrading your lights to LED ones (see below). If you would like to take advantage of this very special offer please get in touch. Call 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
Cheers,
Matt Cox
Here are 5 great reasons.
1. Less power
LED uses far less power than standard halogen lamps and slightly less than your existing compact fluros. An equivalent halogen lamp running at 42W could be replaced with an LED lamp of only 8W. If you currently have a compact fluro of 15W, it could also be replaced with an 8W LED.
2. Less heat
LED produces minimal heat, reducing the costs of keeping your home cool over summer. It will also help to prolong the life of your wiring and the light fittings themselves.
3. Massive life expectancy
The average running time of a halogen lamp is between 2000 – 5000 hours, whereas LED has an average life of 20,000 – 50,000 hours!
4. Instant on
Compact fluros take approximately 2 minutes to reach full brightness, making them inappropriate for many areas of your home such as cupboards and hallways. LEDs instantly switch on to maximum brightness so they are perfect for any area.
5. Dimmable
Unlike fluorescent lamps, LEDs are dimmable and will be compatible with most dimmers produced in the last 10 years.
*This special price is for a minimum of 3 lights per visit unless other work is being carried out at the same time. This offer only applies to internal light fittings.
Click here to download the brochure.
For all your home and office power needs contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service.
