NSTAR Offers Helpful Holiday Hints for Safety and Energy Savings

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As homes everywhere become bright with holiday lights and decorations, NSTAR is reminding customers about some simple steps they can take to help ensure a safe and energy-efficient season.

“Much has changed over the years as technology has lowered energy use, but the tried-and-true safety tips are as important as ever, said Bill Stack, NSTAR’s Energy Efficiency Spokesman. “As with many common household appliances, the efficiency and safety of holiday decorations has greatly improved, helping to keep energy use down and families safe during this much-anticipated season.”

Miniature holiday lights long ago made decorations with colored, nightlight-type bulbs a thing of the past. Because they use only half-a-watt per bulb and stay much cooler than the old fashioned bulbs, these mini- lights are still very popular this time of year.

The latest trends in holiday lighting now include decorations that use Light Emitting Diodes instead of bulbs. Though they tend to cost more up front than traditional light sets, LED’s use 90 percent less energy, are much more durable and can last years longer. Operating ten strings of mini-LED lights compared to ten strings of standard mini-lights can save nearly $12 in energy costs in one month. An LED savings chart can be found in the energy efficiency section at www.nstar.com.

How much a holiday display will increase an average electric bill varies by the number of lights used and how long they’re on. A good way to keep bills down without sacrificing the spirit of the season is to use timers to control when the lights go on and off. Making sure decorations are off before leaving home or going to bed is safe and efficient.

When decorating, it’s also important to keep the following basic safety tips in mind:

• Be sure that electrical circuits and extension cords are properly rated and not overloaded.
• Use only lights and electric decorations that carry the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety label.
• Before reusing last year’s lights, inspect them for damage to wires or sockets.
• Always unplug a light string or decoration before replacing fuses or bulbs.
• To avoid overheating or damage, never run electrical cords under rugs.
• Be sure to look for overhead power lines before raising or climbing a ladder outdoors.
• Use only outdoor-approved lighting and extension cords when decorating outdoors.
• Plug outdoor lights and decorations into outlets protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters.

NSTAR is the largest Massachusetts-based, investor-owned electric and gas utility. The company transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including more than one million electric customers in 81 communities and 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities.