Stretch Code

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Ed Teehan

Many towns in Massachusetts adhere to the Massachusetts Building “Stretch Code”, an optional appendix to the Massachusetts Building Energy Code that allows cities and towns to choose to increase the energy efficiency requirements for all new homes, additions and renovations. This means that for these types of jobs, a certain percentage of the lighting needs to be either compact florescent or LED (light emitting diode). One thing that I always take into consideration in these situations is whether you want fixtures that are dimmable. If so, I’ll make sure the fixtures I recommend to you have dimming capable ballasts that are designed for compact florescent bulbs.

Switches, Details Count

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Ed Teehan

Before I begin a job, I work closely with my customers to determine the colors and styles of the plates and fixtures they want to use. When I started in the eighties, a high percentage of décor was ivory. Soon after, white became more popular. Now people use multiple colors and styles. As the electrician, I need to know this information up front so I can give you a true estimate of the total expense, and you don’t get hit with any hidden costs.