The only downfall to having one of the new flat panel TVs is that they can be quite complex to attach to your wall.  If you follow these steps you can hang your flat panel TV in no time. 

1. Make sure that your TV comes with the correct supplies to hang it on your wall.  In most cases the TV will come with the wall mounting supplies, however sometimes you will have to buy it separate.  If you do have to buy it separate, you will want to make sure that the mount is compatible with your brand.

2. Before even touching the TV you should install the wall mount.  If you take the TV out of the box, or try to install it at the same time as the mount you may break it. 

3. After putting up the actual mount you can place the TV on the mount.  In most cases you will just slide the TV down onto the mount, but sometimes you will have to snap it into place.

4. Check the TV and make sure that it is sturdy and will not fall of the wall. 

You do not have to attach flat panel TVs to your wall, however it is one of the more popular ways to display it.  By following the steps above you can hang your TV with ease. Make sure once you place all this effort to hang your TV, you know how to clean your LCD TV.

When using the energy efficient light bulbs it does not have to be difficult.  By following these simple steps you can install and properly use the energy efficient light bulbs.

1. Choose the proper wattage for your light and place the bulb beside the light you choose to replace.  Make sure the area in which you place the new bulb is dry.

2. Unscrew the old light bulb carefully.  When doing so you want to use dry hands and then place the bulb in a clean dry place. 

3. Have the new energy efficient bulb within reaching distance and carefully screw it into the outlet.  By screwing in the light bulb you are letting electricity reach the bulb and allowing it to light. 

Using the energy efficient light bulbs does not have to be difficult.  In reality they are practically no different from using the old fashioned light bulbs.  The only difference between the old fashioned light bulbs and the new energy efficient light bulbs are that the new ones save on energy and will save you on your energy bill.  Saving energy is extremely important in the 21^st century and the new light bulbs are one of the best ways to do so.

The first thing that you can do would be to turn off the lights, televisions and computers when you are not using them.  This sounds easy but many people forget. In most homes today there are two or even three computers.  These really do pull a lot of electricity. Therefore, it is very important to remember to turn then off when you are not using them.

The next thing that you should do is spend some time looking around your home and identifying what is currently plugged in that is not being used.  Many people do not realize it but there are a lot of home appliances that will continue to draw power even if they are not being used.  Therefore, these things may need to be completely unplugged until you are ready to use them, for example your coffee maker.

Making simple changes like this can really benefit you in the long run.  Of course, there are simple things like turning the heat down at night or washing your laundry in cold water.  However, if you do these things along with the tips mentioned above, you will be sure to see an improvement in your monthly payments. Don’t forget you can also save money in the long run by purchasing energy efficient appliances.

• While mapping out your homes main water, gases and electric controls bring labels (or duck tape and a sharpie) to mark main valves/controls such as “Main Shutoff”.
• If you find most of your controls in a basement or closet, keep a flash light near the controls in case a blackout occurs in which you need to access the control panels.

Finding the Water Supply: You should find the water meter on the outside of your home near the water supply pipe the goes into the house. In new homes you will find a Gate Valve that works like a round handle faucet. Just like a faucet you will need to turn clockwise (left turn) to turn off the water flow. Counterclockwise (right turn) will restore the water flow.  Most water supply valves are hard to turn, so you may need to use a lubricant.

If you are in an older home, you may have a Ball Valve. Although they are more difficult to operate, they are sturdier and longer lasting. When the Ball Valve handle is parallel (in line with) to the pipe your valve is open and water is running. When you want to turn the water supply off to your home, make a quarter turn so that the handle and the pipe make a 90 degree angle. The Ball Valve only turns one way, so don’t force it if the handle will not turn.

Finding the Gas Supply: You know that meter outside your home that reads the amount natural gas your household uses, that is where you will find your shutoff valve for your gas. The shutoff valve is usually a small rectangular handle.  When the handle is parallel with the gas pipe, the gas is on. To turn the gas off, simply turn the handle perpendicular to the gas pipe.

 Finding the Electric Supply: Your electrical controls are usually located in a metal box that contains fuses, this box is called an Electric Service Panel or Breaker Box. The main electrical shut off can be found in the top portion of the Breaker Box, sometimes enclosed in a small access door within the Breaker Box, above all  other fuses or circuit breakers. Simply switch the main shut off switch to the off position to stop any flow of electricity to your home.

If you have an overloaded circuit, the circuit will go dead after an appliance has been in use for a short period of time. Move some of the appliances to another circuit and replace the blown fuse or reset the circuit breaker.

If none of these signs are visual, you’ll have to trace your way through the circuit following the steps below. If following these steps dose not solves the issue, your wiring may be fluty. Call an electrician to correct the wiring. Make sure to use safety tips when working with our homes electricity.

In 2007 Congress passed the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007, which will aid the America people by transitioning to a more energy-efficient future by phasing out incandescent light bulbs between 2012 and 2014. By the removal of incandescent light bulbs from store shelves, homes and buildings within the next five years, the US will be saving billions of dollars each year of taxpayers’ money by reducing the amount of energy they consume.

This Act of Congress was designed to phase-out inefficient incandescent light bulbs to high-output, low-energy consumption bulbs like CFLs, LEDs, and halogens bulbs. Below you will find everything you will need to know about CFLs and LEDs, as well as what you need to know about the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007 and how it will apply to you.

What are CFLs? Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs or CFL differ then an incandescent light bulb by the way if produces light. An incandescent bulb uses an electric current that runs through a wire filament and heats the filament until it starts to glow. A CFL uses an electric current that drives through a tube that contains argon and a small amount of mercury vapor. This process generates invisible ultraviolet light that reacts with the fluorescent coating within the tube, which then releases visible light.

What are the benefits of CFL? CFLs uses 75 percent less energy and will lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. If every home in American replaced just one light in their home with a CFL light, enough energy would be saved to light more than 3 million homes for a year.

How do you save money with CFL? Compact fluorescent light bulbs will save you about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself within 6 months.  Although the initial price of a CFL is more expensive than an incandescent light bulb, CFLs use 1/3 of the electricity than a regular light bulb and last up to 10 times as long. A single 18 watt CFL will save you about 570 kWh over its lifetime; at 8 cents per kWh that equals a $45 savings during the life of the bulb.

Do CFLs offer high-quality light? CFLs give out a warm inviting light unlike the “cool white” light of a fluorescent light bulb. The new electronically ballasted CFLs don’t flicker or hum and come in a variety of shapes and sizes unlike the old CFLs in the classic spiral shape.

Is the mercury in CFLs hazardous to my health? Mercury is a toxic metal that can lead to adverse health effects. A CFL bulb generally contains an average of 5 mg of mercury, that is about one-fifth of what is found in the average watch battery and less than 1/100th of the mercury found in an amalgam dental filling.* While the mercury in a compact fluorescent bulbs dose not poses a threat while in the bulb, however if you break one you should follow the steps below with caution:

- Open a window to air out the room for 15 minutes or more.

- Use a wet rag and gloves to pick up the broken pieces. Make sure to dispose the gloves and the rag, with the broken CFL, into a sealed plastic bag.

- Contact your nearest recycling center to see if they can accept broken CFLs.

- Make sure to wash your hands after you have disposed the broken compact fluorescent light bulb.

Burned out CFLs can be dropped off at your local Home Depot stores.

What are LED lights? Light Emitting Diodes are a solid light bulb which are enormously energy-efficient. Older models of LEDs were limited to a single-bulb usually found in your instrument panels, electronics, and more commonly the strings of indoor and outdoor Christmas lights.

What are the benefits of LEDs? Light Emitting Diodes last up to 10 times as long as compact fluorescents light bulbs and 20 times longer than the typical incandescent bulbs. LEDs are mercury-free and LEDs do not have a filament that can normally be easily damaged within the CFLs. Because they are built as a solid, LED bulbs hold up well.

How do you save money with LED? Because LEDs last for years, not only will you save money on energy coast, but you will save in maintenance and replacement costs far beyond the purchasing coast. Because LEDs require low power to run, using solar panels throughout your home becomes more reasonable.

So what does the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007 mean to you?

•  The Act WILL NOT is requiring you to throw out your incandescent light bulbs.
•  Incandescent light bulbs between 40 and 100 watts will be phased out during 2012 and 2014.
•  The Act requires that all light bulbs sold must maintaining the same or greater light output and quality as an incandescent light bulb.
• Incandescent bulbs less than 40 watts or more than 150 watts including any appliance lamps, rough-service, 3-way bulbs, colored lamps and plant lights will be free from the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007.

For more information regarding government rules and regulations surrounding this legislation such as ways to recycle light bulbs, energy-savings tips and other key topics, please visit: http://www.geconsumerandindustrial.com/environmentalinfo/

*Resource: http://www.eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm

Preventive maintenance around your home is to keep your home in good  repair.  Such routine home maintenance will avoid major repairs in the future. Below is a list of the most common year round home maintenance work you should do around your home. The chart is simply a guide. If you notice a problem developing take action immediately.

CAUTION: Before inspecting or working on any electrical system or on any device connected to it, shut off the power and check to make sure the circuit is dead with a circuit tester. Unplug any device you plan to work on. For maintenance or repairs to plumbing fixtures or water using appliances you should shut off the water before making any repairs. Follow safety tips when on the roof.

While working with tools make sure you are wearing safety shoes and you position yourself securely while handling the tool. Wear shoes with good ankle support so you won’t slip or fall if something unexpected happens.

Cutting Tool Safety: It is much safer to use a  sharpened cutting tool instead of a dull tool due to the fact that a sharpened tool is easier to control. A dull cutting edge can caused you to apply extra pressure which may result in a dangerous slip.

Safety Equipment: Wear special safety when working with certain tools:

• A dust mask keeps your lungs safe when you’re sanding or when working with fiberglass insulation.
• A cartridge respirator (which you may rent or purchase) should be used when working with paint and solvents to give you extra provides extra poisonous fumes.
• Protect your hands from chemicals, insulation, and other abrasive or sharp objects by wearing gloves.
• Wearing  ear protection is always a good safety idea when working with any noisy power tools. Ear protection will help prevent hearing loss. 

Power Tools Safety: Work cautiously when using a power tools. Make sure to always safely unplug the tool when you are not using it or while you are adjusting the power tool. To guard against electric shock, check cords for damage. Plug three pronged tools into three pronged outlets only and never use an adapter unless its properly grounded.

Turn off an overheated tool at once and let the tool cool off before reusing the tool. Always stand on a dry surface to avoid shock. Make sure not to touch a water pipe with any part of your body or with the power tool you’re using.

Electrical Safety

Operating with electricity is one of the most dangerous activities you can undertake as home owner. If not handled properly, electricity can cause dangerous shocks and fires. Most electrical home injuries are a result of touching live wires that were thought dead. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when working with electricity.

Cut off the power. The most important thing to remember when doing electrical repairs is to cut power to your home and appliance you’re working on. Before you start to work on the wiring, always trip the circuit breaker or unscrew the fuse to the circuit. When in doubt about which circuit to switch off, you should turn off the main power supply. Make sure to unplug any appliance you’re working on.

Backup electrical safety. Once you have cut off power, there are five additional safety measures that should be carried out. Sometimes these extra steps are referred to as backup electrical safety.

1. Using a circuit tester to make sure a circuit is actually dead.
2. Use a wood or fiberglass ladder when working on ceiling fixtures such as fans and chandeliers. Aluminum ladders conduct electricity and offer a high risk to getting shocked.
3. Use a cordless drill when working on electricity outdoors.
4. Stand on a dry board and wear rubber boots when working in damp or wet conditions. Water is a conductor of electricity.
5. Always wear insulating gloves when using electrical tools.

Fire Hazards. Faulty wiring can cause fires. Restriction of a current flow through a wire or cord, such as a cord that is poorly connected to its plug, may lead to overheating and a fire. If a cord shows any wear and tear it should be replace as quickly as possible.

The “extension cord octopus” is another common cause of electrical fires. Where too many appliances are plugged into an extension cord excessive heat builds up in the cord as it extension cord tries to carry the electricity for all the appliances. The cord’s insulation melts from the heat and wires are exposed as the insulation weakens. This leads to a short circuit that sends sparks flying when the bare wires touch one another. This situation can lead to serious shocks, as well as electrical fires.

More safety precautions. In addition to the safety measures above, here are a few extra precautions to keep in mind.

• Lock or leave a note on the service panel to alert others that you are working on circuit wiring.
• Study your homes wiring and know how it works before you adjust or work on any electrical system. 
• Circuits are dead only past where they have been disconnected. Even after the circuit breakers have been turned off or the fuses removed, the lines for the utility company in the service panel are still hot.

To tell apart between an overloaded circuit and a short circuit can be difficult. Circuits well become overloaded when there are too many appliances on it than it can safely handle. When all the appliances on the circuit are turned on simultaneously, the wiring becomes overheated and causing the circuit breaker to trip or the fuse to blow. In worse cases this problem may cause the circuit to spark or start on fire.

A short circuit occurs when a bare hot wire comes in contact with a bare neutral wire or ground center. The flood of extra current trips a circuit breaker or blows a fuse.

Fuses and Circuit Breakers

*Should be done by a professional.