Have an energy-efficient Christmas
Thứ ba, 02/12/2014 - 10:08
Most people use more energy this time of year, compared to the rest of the year. There are some ways you can save cash by saving energy.
Most people use more energy this time of year, compared to the rest of the year. There are some ways you can save cash by saving energy.
Energy provider Vectren suggests switching the lights on your holiday display from standard incandescent or mini-lights to Light Emitting Diode lights.
LED lights are shatterproof, shock resistant and safe to touch.
In addition, LEDs use 90% less electricity than regular holiday lights.
Vectren also recommends the following tips to help consumers enjoy the holiday safely while using energy wisely:
Use a timer for your holiday lights. This allows for lights to be illuminated only when necessary.
Don't overload your electrical circuits.
Never run appliance cords or extension cords under carpet. They are designed to be kept cool by movement of room air around the cord.
Connect lights to power strips that have several outlets and built-in circuit breakers.
Make sure lights and extensions cords used for outdoor decoration are approved for outdoor use.
Turn the thermostat down when you have guests. Extra bodies in the house mean extra warmth at no cost to you.
Use fiber optic decorations. Fiber optic trees and decorations are the ultimate in energy efficiency. In most cases, they use a single light bulb located in the base of the unit to light the entire decoration.
When cooking for the holidays, don't forget to use your microwave oven. Fast and efficient microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens.
Don't open the oven door to take a peek at what's cooking inside. Instead, turn on the oven light and check the cooking status through the oven window. Opening the oven door lowers the temperature inside - by as much as 25 degrees - which increases cooking time and wastes energy.
14news.com