Making Your Home “Smart”: We Can Help
Technology is constantly changing and new devices are always emerging that make our lives better, our schedules more convenient and our tasks easier to perform. Lots of these devices can help us manage our homes more efficiently and securely and feature technology that allows us to care for our homes even while we’re away. At Corbin Electrical, we specialize in designing and installing devices and complete systems that help you take advantage of the benefits of smart home technology. Here are a few of the gadgets and devices you might want to consider if you’re interested in adding smart technology to your home:
- Smart “hubs”
If you’re interested in smart home technology for your home, it’s only appropriate that smart hubs get listed first here. That’s because a smart hub can serve as your “mission control” for multiple smart devices, making it easier for you to manage your devices both at home and remotely. If you fancy yourself Captain Kirk in charge of the Enterprise, a smart hub is probably a good choice for your home.
- Electronic thermostats
Forget about what you think an electronic thermostat is all about; these thermostats learn from your behaviors to automatically adjust heating and cooling based on your prior actions. And that’s not all – some units can also learn how long it takes for your furnace or air conditioner to reach a desired temperature so they can plan when to make adjustments to meet your anticipated temperature needs. Plus, they can let you know when you’re making a wise energy choice that can result in savings – and a lower carbon footprint.
- Smart locks
These locks use touchpads to let you control who enters your house and when they can enter, and they allow you to set specific, unique entry codes for temporary use, such as when you have a house guest, dog walker or house sitter. And, they can notify you when someone has entered your home, wherever you happen to be.
- Home security and monitoring
These systems are designed to allow you to monitor your home’s security while you’re at work, on a trip or just out shopping. Hooked up to a monitoring company, they can notify the authorities when something goes wrong so you have ultimate peace of mind.
At Corbin Electrical Services, we love helping homeowners create the smart home of their dreams. From structured wiring designed to accommodate current and future technology to installing systems that allow you to monitor and control devices in your home, whether you’re home or not, our licensed contractors can help you design a system that meets all your unique needs. Call us today at (732) 536-0444 to learn more and to schedule an evaluation of your needs.
Switching to High-Efficiency? You’ll Enjoy Lots of Benefits
Is it time to upgrade your lighting or your appliances? While less efficient options may seem like the more budget-friendly choices, there’s more at stake than just the out-of-pocket costs. Choosing energy-efficient appliances and lighting has three significant benefits that every homeowner should carefully consider before making any purchase:
- You’ll actually save money. Since high-efficiency appliances and lighting may have a higher price tag, saving money by purchasing them may seem counterintuitive – but it’s true. The real cost savings comes over time. That’s because efficient lighting and appliances use less energy and fewer other resources, like less water for high-efficiency washers and dishwashers. That means that little extra you pay when you make the initial purchase can be earned back several times over the life of your appliance or lighting fixture. For many high-efficient appliances and fixtures, the long-term savings can add up to a substantial sum.
- It’s kinder to the earth. It makes sense: When your appliance or lighting uses fewer resources, that means there’s less drain on the environment. But energy-efficient appliances and lighting add another layer of eco-friendliness through lower harmful emissions. That means that not only will you be using fewer precious natural resources to operate your lights or appliances, but you’ll also be creating far lower levels of pollution during use. It’s the same advantage offered by a fuel-efficient vehicle that uses less gas and emits fewer pollutants. Essentially, it’s like getting twice the environmental benefits from one purchase.
- You might save more through rebates. Manufacturers understand consumers may be less likely to purchase an appliance that’s a little more expensive. To do their part for energy savings, many manufacturers offer rebates to help offset that initial purchase cost. What’s more, many utility companies and government agencies offer additional incentives for energy-efficient purchases. In New Jersey, for instance, the Clean Energy program offers rebates to homeowners who select specific types of energy-efficient upgrades. Some communities even offer buy-back programs for outdated (and highly inefficient) appliances.
- You’ll have access to the newest designs. Most manufacturers today are moving to high-efficiency designs for all the products they offer. As a result, newer, improved designs and features are being offered more often in high-efficiency models. That means that to get the most convenient, cutting-edge options, high-efficiency is the way to go.
At Corbin Electric, we help homeowners and businesses in and around Marlboro Township make smart choices when it comes to energy use and savings. If you’d like to learn more about energy savings or if you’re considering upgrading or adding service, call us today at (732) 536-0444 to speak with a customer rep.
The Benefits of Outdoor Lighting
If you’ve been considering outdoor lighting but you’re not sure if it’s a good choice for you, you may not be considering all the advantages. Here are four big ones:
Security
One of the most compelling reasons to add outdoor lighting is to increase the security of your property. Whether you choose a motion-activated system that lights up only as needed or you opt for a complete outdoor lighting system that’s turned on and off by a timer, adding lighting can ensure your property is adequately lit, providing an effective deterrent for would-be burglars. Don’t limit yourself to lighting only your backyard; keeping the street side lit – even if there are street lights nearby – ensures police on patrol (or vigilant neighbors) are able to spot suspicious behavior wherever it occurs.
Safety
Navigating your yard after dark can be an accident waiting to happen, especially if your yard includes stairs, hardscaping, water features, winding paths or changes in elevation. Adding lighting along pathways can help you and your friends and loved ones avoid potential slips or falls that can cause injury.
Beauty
Lighting adds a new dimension to your landscape; in fact, if you’ve never had good outdoor lighting, you probably don’t realize how beautiful your landscape can look after dark with the addition of just a few lights. From ground-level path lights to lighting mounted under rock ledges or around ponds or waterfalls to a single spotlight illuminating a tree or architectural feature, your lawn and garden will be transformed into a new oasis of calm and beauty, right before your eyes.
Versatility
If you’re relying on the sun to light your outdoor living spaces, you’re missing out on a lot of outdoor relaxation. Outdoor lighting opens up your outdoors for evening entertaining and just plain relaxing, long after the sun sets. From enjoying a late-night dip in the pool to hosting a dinner party to just hanging out with friends and family on a Saturday night, outdoor lighting extends the usability of your yard and makes it an inviting place to gather after dark. If you’re considering extending your living space with an outdoor room, deck or cooking area, outdoor lighting is an absolute must to make sure you get the most out of your investment.
At Corbin Electric, we’ve helped hundreds of customers add lighting to their property, and we’re ready to help you. Our lighting and installation experts will work with you to help you decide what type of lighting is best for your needs, and they can even suggest lighting options you may not even have considered. To learn how we can help you shed some light on your yard and home, call us today at (732) 536-0444.
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