Through this networking and referral approach to marketing we have achieved a slow but steady growth in business over the past several years of economic turmoil. I believe we are likely to see a continued growth over the next few years even if the economy remains sluggish. And if we see a major economic recovery – all the better. The point is that we are seeking and finding ways to strengthen and grow our business that are not dependent on a quick economic recovery. I think this approach could be beneficial to many other small businesses who want to survive and even prosper in these challenging times.

The key to success with this marketing approach is to create real relationships with real people. If you join a business network thinking only about what you’re going to get out of it – you’re not likely to get far. But if you build relationships with people that you truly enjoy working with and if you genuinely have their interests in mind as much as your own – those relationships are bound to be fruitful over time. We need to create networks of like minded business professionals – people who are striving to be the best in their fields; then we must endeavor to support the growth of each business in that network. Each relationship must be beneficial to all parties involved.

This brings us to the most important factor of all. If we are not offering the best products and services possible; our customers are not going to recommend us to anyone, nor are we going to attract the professional partnerships we need. Why not strive to be the best we can be? It makes life more meaningful and it makes our work more exciting. By pursuing a path of excellence and by cultivating a genuine desire to be of service to our clients and associates we create a magnetism that will attract our industry’s brightest men and women into our professional networks.

“When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.”

– Hellen Keller

Joel Holliman, owner of Archetype Electrical Services at the LeTip International power event in Everett Washington. LeTip is an organization of business professionals whose purpose is the exchange of business referrals.

2. Unplug all appliances and electronics when they are not being used. Phone chargers, computers and televisions generally use power when they are turned off or in standby mode. Many kitchen appliances do so as well. Consider putting your appliances on power strips that can be turned off when your equipment is not in use.

3. Lower your hot water temperature settings to 60° C. This will reduce your energy consumption while providing enough hot water for most families. You could also consider replacing your conventional water heater with an “on-demand” water heater.

4. Install a programmable thermostat. These can be purchased from your local hardware store and are easy for most homeowners to install. This will help to make sure the heat is off when you are not home. You can also program the heat to be lower while you are sleeping, and come back up to a comfortable temperature before you awake.

5. Replace your shower head with a low-flow one. These are available at all hardware stores and are easy to replace.

6. Replace your appliances with Energy Star qualified products. The cost for Energy Star is only a little higher than for standard appliances, and you can replace your appliances one at a time as they wear out.

7. Replace your bathroom switches with timers. Bathroom lights and fans are often left on by family members. Timers with settings for 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes can be purchased at your local hardware store. These timers can easily be installed by most homeowners. Make sure you turn the circuit breaker off first! You can call an electrical contractor if you are not comfortable with doing this on your own.

8. Leave your blinds and curtains closed while you are away. This will help to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Even in the summer it’s usually best to leave the windows closed until you get home in the afternoon, especially if your windows are facing north or west.

9. Consider becoming a vegetarian or vegan. Ok, I admit that this isn’t necessarily easy, and it may not reduce your utility bills. But it is one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Since a vegetarian diet isn’t for everyone, you could consider reducing your meat intake by 1 or 2 meals a week.

2. Unplug all appliances and electronics when they are not being used. Phone chargers, computers and televisions generally use power when they are turned off or in standby mode. Many kitchen appliances do so as well. Consider putting your appliances on power strips that can be turned off when your equipment is not in use.

3. Lower your hot water temperature settings to 60° C. This will reduce your energy consumption while providing enough hot water for most families. You could also consider replacing your conventional water heater with an “on-demand” water heater.

4. Install a programmable thermostat. These can be purchased from your local hardware store and are easy for most homeowners to install. This will help to make sure the heat is off when you are not home. You can also program the heat to be lower while you are sleeping, and come back up to a comfortable temperature before you awake.

5. Replace your shower head with a low-flow one. These are available at all hardware stores and are easy to replace.

6. Replace your appliances with Energy Star qualified products. The cost for Energy Star is only a little higher than for standard appliances, and you can replace your appliances one at a time as they wear out.

7. Replace your bathroom switches with timers. Bathroom lights and fans are often left on by family members. Timers with settings for 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes can be purchased at your local hardware store. These timers can easily be installed by most homeowners. Make sure you turn the circuit breaker off first! You can call an electrical contractor if you are not comfortable with doing this on your own.

8. Leave your blinds and curtains closed while you are away. This will help to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Even in the summer it’s usually best to leave the windowd closed until you get home in the afternoon, especially if your windows are facing north or west.

9. Consider becoming a vegetarian or vegan. Ok, I admit that this isn’t necessarily easy, and it may not reduce your utility bills. But it is one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Since a vegetarian diet isn’t for everyone, you could consider reducing your meat intake by 1 or 2 meals a week.

There are 3 types of charging stations for electric vehicles. The Chevy Volt is an extended range electric vehicle (EREV), and the Nissan Leaf is an fully electric vehicle (EV). Both types of cars can be charged in a variety of ways. Article 625 of the National Electrical Code has specific requirements for EREV and EV charging stations. From these requirements 3 levels of charging have emerged.

Level I charging is the simplest option. You drive your new car home, park it in the garage (or driveway) and plug it into a standard 120 volt, 15 amp GFCI receptacle. Depending on the vehicle and battery type it will take between 8 and 16 hours to fully charge your vehicle.  (Some sources say it will take up to 20 hours to fully charge the Nissan Leaf with Level I charging, which Nissan calls “opportunity” charging.)  The only equipment required for Level I charging is the interlocking cable specifically designed for electric vehicles.

Level II Charging requires a 240 volt, 40 amp circuit and takes 4 to 6 hours to fully charge a vehicle.  1 hour of Level II charging is said to give the Nissan Leaf a range of 15 miles.  Level II charging stations are designed to be installed in your garage or on the exterior of your home near the driveway.  Level II charging stations for home use are now being manufactured by several companies including:

• Leviton
• Eaton
• Coulomb
• AeroVironment
• GE

In most cases these charging stations will need to be installed by licensed electrical contractors. Early estimates for the installation of level II charging stations are coming in at around $2,200.00. Many of these charging stations can be programmed to charge at off hours when the load on the electrical grid is lighter.

Level III charging is often called rapid or fast charging because it can charge a vehicle to more than 50% of capacity in about ten minutes.  Because these charging stations require extremely high voltage and current levels they are not intended for in home use.  Thousands of public Level III charging stations are expected to be installed in the U.S. over the next few years.

Public charging stations are just beginning to appear in major cities throughout the United States.  This summer Coulomb Technologies installed the first U.S. public charging station in New York City and they have plans to install 4,600 more stations throughout the U.S. by the end of 2011.  Over the next few years thousands of public charging stations are scheduled to be installed through private/public partnerships backed by the federal government.  The EV Project, for instance, intends to employ 14,650 public Level II chargers and 310 Level III chargers in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Tennessee and the District of Columbia over the next 14 months.  Through this and many similar projects a network of electric vehicle charging stations will cover the U.S. within a few years.