Holiday lighting savings and safety

Transcription

1 Holiday lighting savings and safety

2 Decorate with lights that add sparkle, savings and safety to your holiday traditions Start a colorful new tradition this holiday season. Switch from old, incandescent lights to lighting products that will lower your energy bill and be safer for your family. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the triedand-true technology that make the most energy-efficient holiday lights so appealing. ENERGY STAR certified decorative light strings with LED technology: Save money by using up to 90% less electricity to produce the same amount of light as incandescent light strands. Are less likely to break because they have no moving parts, filaments or glass. Reduce fire risk because they remain cool to the touch. Can last up to 10 times longer so you save on replacement costs. You ll find LED holiday lights available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes at major retailers, home improvement stores and online stores.

3 Which would you choose? LEDs give you more lighting for your energy dollars. The same amount of electricity can light one 7-watt incandescent bulb or 140 LEDs (two 24-foot light strings). Holiday lights ENERGY COST COMPARISONS * Standard incandescent 25-bulb string Approximate cost per hour Low-use High-use Approximate cost per month (6 hours per day) Low-use High-use $0.02 $0.06 $3.60 $10.80 OR Mini incandescent 100-bulb string $0.02 $0.05 $3.60 $9.00 LEDs Three 35-bulb strings (105 bulbs) Less than $0.005 Less than $0.01 $0.45 $0.90 * Approximate operating costs are based on home electricity cost estimates as of Nov. 1, Your is considered high-use if your SDG&E bill shows you used over 130% of your baseline electric allowance. Low-use electric cost estimates are calculated using an average of 300 kilowatt-hours (kwh) per month. High-use electric cost estimates are calculated using an average of 1,000 kwh per month. The price you pay may vary depending on your tiered rates and other factors.

4 Seasonal safety tips For all your holiday lighting choices, take steps to stay safe. 1 Check seasonal lights for frayed cords, loose connections and broken sockets before using them. 2 Replace don t repair damaged electric cords. 3 Only buy lights that have the certification mark of a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). 8 Plug outdoor lighting only into outlets equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). GFCI outlets have small test and reset buttons. 9 Prevent hot lights from touching tree needles and branches. 10 Turn off lights when you leave the house or go to bed. 4 Don t plug all your holiday lights into one socket. 5 Never use indoor lights outside. 6 Keep electric cords dry. String outdoor lights only under dry conditions. 7 Attach outdoor lights with hooks. Don t put staples, nails or tacks through cords.

5 More easy ways to save For more ways to save energy and money, call our Energy Savings Center at or explore your options online. Light for less year-round with tips from the home lighting guide at sdge.com/lighting. See which energy management tools are right for you in a series of short videos about My Account at sdge.com/myaccountvideo. You can even build a customized action plan with My Energy Survey. Tag along with a customer energy specialist as he points out $1,840 in potential annual energy savings during an in-home visit. View the video at sdge.com/survey. Get rebates for switching to energy-efficient appliances at sdge.com/buyersguide, and learn how to lower bills even more with the energy-saving tips. Book a safety checkup Make sure your heater is ready for chilly winter weather. Schedule a safety checkup for your gas furnace. This service is free for our natural gas customers. Visit sdge.com/serviceorder or call and select the gas appliance order option. Help for people in need Limited income, a recent job loss or other needs may qualify you or someone you know for assistance. Visit sdge.com/assistance to learn about offers such as: A discount of 20% or more on your monthly energy bill. Free upgrades and services to improve home energy efficiency. Savings averaging 30% on energy bills for people with certain medical needs.

6 Connect with us at sdge.com and on social media Twitter.com/sdge Facebook.com/SanDiegoGasandElectric Pinterest.com/sdge Instagram.com/sdge YouTube.com/SDGEWebmaster P.O. Box San Diego, CA Energy-efficiency programs are funded by California utility customers and administered by San Diego Gas & Electric under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. SDG&E is not responsible for goods and services selected by the customer San Diego Gas & Electric Company. E Printed on recycled paper. All copyright and trademark rights reserved. S M