Blog – Page 6 – Dan the Sparky Man

Dan Carpenter has built his business to be one of the most successful and trusted electrical businesses on the Gold Coast. He completed his apprenticeship in Adelaide at a young age. With a passion for self-driven success, he established his own enterprise on the Gold Coast at 22, quickly becoming a leader in the local building and solar industries. His dedication led him to win the Gold Coast Small Business Award and earn the title of Accredited Master Electrician.

Keeping Safe this Storm Season

by Dan Carpenter | Nov 21, 2013 | 2013, Blog

When we are busy having fun in the sun, it’s easy to forget that our beautiful summer is also our storm season until it’s too late. All too often, we are approached after a severe thunderstorm has resulted in costly appliance damage, switchboard destruction or water damage in and around lights especially. To keep your home and more importantly your family safe during the impending storm season, there are a number of measures that Gold Coast residents can take.

Firstly, ensure that you have a Mains Surge Protector installed in your switchboard. This protects your appliances in the event of a power surge. If you don’t have one of these, unplug all appliances from the wall. It is not enough protection to simply turn them off.

Secondly, it is absolutely critical to have a Safety Switch installed in your switchboard – this protects you and your family from electric shocks and electrocution. Safety switches also minimise the risk of electricity-related fires. Moreover, it is now a legal requirement for all new homes to have safety switches protecting both power points and lighting circuits.

In the event that you suffer water damage, particularly in or around your lights, switches and powerpoints, do not touch them. Ensure you get them tested and checked by a licensed electrician as soon as possible. Also consider having a roof inspection prior to storm season if you think it could let water in or is prone to damage during a storm.

Another more general tip to consider is that in the event of a storm warning, you should make sure all mobile phones and tablets are fully charged ready in case of a blackout as even cordless home phones don’t work without power. Also remember to have a torch in a location known to all family members ready in the event of a blackout. And don’t forget to check the batteries!

It’s also a good idea to make certain that your pets’ registration and tags are current before storm season hits. Many dogs especially experience high stress and anxiety levels during storms and become more likely to run away or get lost, so assuring they are wearing their collar and their registration is up-to-date is vital.

Lastly, although we are all told time and time again, it is so important to remember to not touch or go anywhere near fallen power lines. It is also critical to walk carefully after a storm has taken place as power lines could be hiding among grass and debris. If you see a fallen power line contact Energex immediately.

For more tips on how you can stay safe this storm season, you can contact us on info@danthesparkyman.com.au

You can also visit the Queensland Government Electrical Safety page for more information on electrical safety in both storms and floods.

Dan Carpenter

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Energy Efficient Acreage

by Dan Carpenter | Nov 6, 2013 | 2013, Blog

Our business was created on the premise that energy efficient solutions are the way of the future. That’s why we love nothing more than working to transform houses, businesses or estates to be as energy efficient as possible. Recently, we completed a project in Jimboomba where the outcome was a 6 star energy efficient rated boutique acreage property.

This stunning house is truly a labour of love for the home owners, who were the builders themselves. The owner/builders did not just want a visually appealing home, however – they wanted it to be energy efficient, which would allow them to save substantial costs and reduce their impact on the environment.

We were called in to consult with the owners prior and during the construction of the new home, to create and implement the electrical and lighting plans. Firstly, I worked closely with the homeowners to design a lighting plan that would give the house ambience and atmosphere. A key element to the plan was LED lighting technology which you can’t go past if you’re wanting energy efficient lighting for your home.

Both the indoor and outdoor features of the home were highlighted with LED lighting, giving their house that show home appeal. We also took advantage of pendant lights and installed these cleverly throughout the house. We used them as features, installing them on either side of the bed in the master bedroom to replace the traditional bedside table lamp. This worked well and gave this bedroom the wow factor the owners were after. We also used gimble LED downlights to highlight the feature walls in the home.

To further the energy efficiency, the owners also wanted solar power. We installed a 5kW Solar System which didn’t detract from the appearance of the roof.

In addition, the house was topped off with ceiling fans throughout and appliances were strategically connected to off peak tariffs.

If you love this Jimboomba house and would also like to make your home energy efficient, please do not hesitate to give us a call today.

Dan Carpenter

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The Pines Project

by Dan Carpenter | Oct 23, 2013 | 2013, Blog

At Dan the Sparky Man, we love nothing more than working with our great partners at Sunland Group to bring a dream energy-efficient estate to life. We have recently completed a major project entitled The Pines; a world-class residential development on the Gold Coast.

This residential townhouse development, which we began working on September 2012, was one of the largest under construction on the Gold Coast. After 11 months, 1,700 power points, and 61 kilometres of cable, we completed the 81 dwellings at The Pines in Pacific Pines on the Gold Coast in August this year. It was certainly very fulfilling to see the end result after almost a year of hard work. I had the opportunity to work with a number of great people and be a part of the project’s transition from concept to completion.

Sunland Group is an Australian development company based in Royal Pines on the Gold Coast. Design is paramount in everything they create as evidenced from their first residential home in 1983 to their iconic developments such as Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast and the landmark Q1, the World’s tallest residential tower. Their motto is “Creating Art Through Architecture”, which is very fitting for their residential development, The Pines at Pacific Pines.

Here is more information on what The Pines has to offers it’s residents.

The Pines features an exquisite collection of modern townhomes that satisfy all the demands of family life without compromising style. Immediately notable is the way the homes are attuned to their environment, with striking feature windows that capture the sun and bathe the entries in light. The front exterior contrast of dark grey and off-white gives the homes unique character and hints at the impressive design quality to be found inside. Carefully considered landscaping is present throughout the community, with homes enhanced by special touches such as ornamental trees and richly textured sculptural rock walls.

Every desirable element has been included, such as expansive, open-plan living spaces, three generous bedrooms, superior fixtures and fittings, and large bathrooms. High ceilings and a soaring double-storey void at the entrance create an enhanced sense of space, and set the tone for relaxed, luxury living.

For residents, the green spaces of The Pines will become a treasured feature, providing a welcome expanse for both recreation and relaxation. Two barbeque pavilions will provide the perfect opportunity for friends and neighbours to gather.

Residents can also enjoy the 68ha of open parkland within Pacific Pines, traversed by wide walking tracks and cycling trails, including lakes and wetlands, playgrounds and many other sporting facilities.

I am proud to have been involved with this Sunland Group development and those lucky enough to own one of these now outstanding energy efficient homes were happy with the end result too.

Our company is committed to furthering our social responsibility to the environment and is passionate about helping home & business owners to reduce their carbon footprint. If you love our work at The Pines and want to know more about energy efficiency, come down to our Gold Coast showroom and speak to me or one of my fantastic team members today.

Photos courtesy of Sunland Group.

Dan Carpenter

Dan the Sparky Man

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Payment Plan Now Available

by Dan Carpenter | Oct 9, 2013 | 2013, Blog

We are very pleased to announce that we are now offering the Certegy Ezi-Pay Express payment plan to our customers.

This payment plan is perfect for those who are looking to invest in solar for their new home or renovation project, but don’t want to pay for it all upfront.

There may be many reasons why you are considering moving to a more environmentally friendly energy or product solution. Perhaps it’s to help the environment. Maybe it’s to reduce the impact of the ever escalating rises in energy costs. But “going green” is more than just a statement, it’s a financial and lifestyle commitment as well.

So that’s why we have decided to offer the option of taking out a payment plan for your solar installation. And we have chosen nothing but the best when it comes to the plan – Certegy is the preferred supplier of payment solutions to help meet the environmental needs of consumers across Australia.

Spreading the cost of your solar panels or other energy efficient solutions over a period of time makes sense – it gives you the best chance of enjoying the benefits whilst easing the financial commitment upfront. And best of all, Certegy Ezi-Pay Express has no interest ever.

The plan works as a “revolving credit account” that allows you to purchase goods or services today from participating businesses by paying an initial deposit, with the remaining balance conveniently direct debited fortnightly. The application is simple with no invasive questions and fast approval times. You will only need to make a once-off account establishment fee between $35 and $90, which is payable over the term of the purchase plan, and you’re good to go.

Your account will provide you with access to online information about your purchases, credit schedules, and available credit. There is a small monthly account keeping fee of just $3.50 which will be direct debited while your account remains active.

We are so happy to now be a participating business in the Certegy Ezi-Pay Express payment plan and we hope it convinces are few more people on the fence about solar to jump on board. Please do not hesitate to phone, email or make an appointment with us at our Gold Coast showroom if you would like more information on the payment plan.

Dan Carpenter

Dan the Sparky Man

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Pool Pumps

by Dan Carpenter | Sep 15, 2013 | 2013, Blog

With the days getting warmer and warmer as we quickly approach the summer months, now is the perfect time to have us install an energy efficient pool pump for you. And with up to 70% lower power usage than traditional single speed pool pumps, you’d be crazy not to!

When working out why their power bills are skyrocketing, many forget to consider if their pool pump could be contributing to the increase. But in fact, pool pumps are a major culprit when it comes to high electricity use, with the average pump costing pool owners $640 annually. To reduce this cost, there are several things that you can do.

Firstly, you can get us to install the Australian designed and engineered Davey PowerMaster ECO 8-star energy efficient pool pump for you. This pool pump, which was one of the most popular items at our booth at this year’s Home Show, is one of the best on the market and even won the Product of the Year Award and the Energy Saving Award at the Splash Awards 2012. The whisper quiet pump has a three speed, brushless DC motor which you can set to ECO Flow, Mid Flow or High Flow. It also comes with a three-year warranty and is made with strong corrosion resistant UV stabilised materials.

Source: Davey

What’s more, we are extending our Home Show special and offering free installation for all of the quality pool pumps we supply. This great offer will be valid until the end of October and will save you $120!

Energex also offers a ‘Positive Payback’ of $250 for people who connect their pump to the Economy Tariff 33. The company also offers a $150 reward for those who install a minimum 5-star energy efficient pump or aftermarket drive. You can apply online for these rewards or read more about them here.

If you are interested in having an energy efficient pool pump installed or just want to know more about how much you can save, you can speak to me or one of the team on (07) 5578 3481 or at info@danthesparkyman.com.au. Alternatively, you can arrange a consultation or drop by our Gold Coast showroom. You can also use the pool pump calculator pictured below by clicking here to calculate your savings.

Dan Carpenter

Dan the Sparky Man

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