There’s a lot to think about when it comes to new construction. And while it’s easy to get caught up in design or materials, the electrical system is a vital aspect of the function of any new building. Our lifestyles require the use of power day in and day out. So whether you are building a new home or want to understand your home’s electrical layout, understanding the hard wiring can come in handy. Here’s a couple of fundamental aspects of electrical services for new construction that you should know about.
Let’s dive in.
Plan the Electrical Wiring Carefully and Methodically
For people building a new construction home or even involved in the building of a commercial building, the electrical wiring might not be as sexy or alluring as talking about the design, the insulation, or the paint colors, but it is just as important. Bad electrical setup can cause inhabitants of the building anything from a nuisance to a real safety hazard.
First, let’s note:
The electricity that enters your home must first go through an intense journey. It begins in a power plant or wind turbine farm and then continues on to the power grid. This consists of power lines, transformers, and other essential infrastructure. The power grid serves as a distributor of sorts, the piece of the puzzle that ensures that the electricity is transferred to the right place.
A Note About the Electrical Grid
The electric grid often sends electricity miles away and powers everything from big factories, schools, office buildings, and residential units. The power grid is a vital part of powering the nation. Part of its responsibility is ensuring that electricity gets rightfully distributed but also does so in a safe and efficient manner.
At the dawn of the 20th century, electric utilities operated independently of each other. As populations grew, this was a lot of infrastructures. So as demand increased, utilities merged their transmissions systems. This improves the accessibility of these utilities, as it brought down expenses when utilities combined the costs of the infrastructure. When the systems are interconnected, it also reduced the generating capacity.
In the 21st century, the stability of the grid depends on its constant operation and its ability to feed electricity consistently and effectively. Local grids are connected to larger networks to ensure they meet the demand. There are largely three main interconnections that include ERCOT (which covers most of Texas), the Eastern Interconnection, and the Western Interconnection.
This electricity then enters a home through a service head connected to power lines or underground connections. The electric meter in a home or structure is placed outdoors to measure the amount of energy that is being used. Then, every building or home will have some version of an electrical service panel that has breakers or fuses. The electrical service panel distributes the electricity to the switches, outlets, and the necessary appliances. The breakers help shut off power if an electrical system occurs. The grounding system is a protective measure that protects against electrocution.
So when it comes to electrical services for new construction, there are always a few key things to keep in mind.
Laying out the Outlets
Whether you are building a custom home or working as a contractor for a new construction project, planning out where the outlets will go is an essential part of the process. For larger projects, this is often done by an electrical engineer that works with the architect to ensure the best possible layout that fits the needs of the building and increases convenience. For example, how electricity is distributed in a hospital will be vastly different from how it is distributed in a factory or a residential unit.
Review the Wiring System You Need
These specifications are reviewed by a professional electrician or electrical engineering team, but it’s important to have insight into the type of system you’ll need and how much power your building will need to generate. For a standard home, this is usually one hundred or two hundred amps.
Keep Things Efficient
Energy efficiency is a top priority for homeowners, builders, and designers. Whether you’re designing a new construction home or commercial building or powering a plant or other industrial center, how you distribute energy and make your facility energy efficient is on everyone’s priority list. By using modern design, technology, and control systems, energy usage can be maximized.
Many homeowners are installing these in their homes, as it can measure out the amount of energy used by every appliance.
Get Professional Electrical Services for Your New Construction Project
We all depend on it. Whether it is in our homes or in our place of work. Electrical services for new construction are a vital part of modern operating buildings. Remsa USA handles every job. From troubleshooting to new construction, we got your power grid problems covered.
Do you need professional electrical services? Want to learn more about what we do here in Remsa USA. Call us today!
