Here are a few tips to make decking the halls a little more safe and energy efficient!
Decorative Lighting:
Only use lights, decorations and cords with a ”NOEL” or U/L testing agency label. Make sure plugs and sockets are free of defects.
Do not tie together more than 3 extension cords.
Do not run cords under carpet or anywhere they could get crushed or cause a trip hazard.
Keep electrical devices out of the reach of children.
Do not leave lights on when going to bed or leaving the house.
Outdoor lighting:
Only use lights approved for outdoor use.
Do not hang outdoor lights with nails or tacks. Instead use insulated staples or hooks.
Keep outdoor lights away from power lines.
Christmas Trees:
Fresh trees should be cut at a 45-degree angle about one inch above the original cut and place it in a sturdy stand. Make sure that it is securely anchored.
Place trees away from fireplaces, televisions and other heat sources. Fresh trees can dry out quicker if placed near a heat source making it more susceptible to fire. Make sure that fresh trees have plenty of water.
Artificial trees should be made of a fire resistant material. Never put lights on a metallic tree.
Fireplace Safety:
Whether you have an indoor or outdoor fireplace, do not burn boxes or wrapping paper in a fireplace. These materials ignite quickly and burn uncontrollably.
Use a metal container and store container outdoors when cleaning out fireplaces. Ashes can remain hot for several hours if not days.
Energy Costs:
Everyone likes their house to shine brighter than all of the others on the block. That, of course, can cause an increase in your energy bill. The following is and easy way to help to calculate your energy cost during the holiday season.
Count the number of bulbs your using on your trees and decorations.
Check the wattage per bulb- one watt per bulb is normal.
Multiply watts per bulb by the number of bulbs your using.
Convert to kilowatts (kw)-1000 watts equals 1 kilowatt.
Estimate the number of hours in a month the lights are on. (5 hours per day X 30 days=150 hours)
Multiply the total kilo watt-hours by the total cost of electricity. Total cost for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity on average is 14 cents per kilowatt-hour. So, for example, the total cost of holiday lighting would be 150 kwh X .14 = $21.
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