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| Ameren Encourages Holiday Light Safety, Smart Spending |
(IRN) -- Utility companies across Illinois want to make sure you play it safe and save some money when it comes to outdoor lighting this holiday season.
Leigh Morris, spokesman for Ameren Illinois, says you can save some money if you switch to LED -- light emitting diode -- lights.
Morris says LEDs are exceptionally efficient. He says the amount of electricity consumed by just one seven-watt incandescent bulb could power as many as 140 LEDs, the number of LEDs in two 24-foot strings of lights.
The LEDs are cool to the touch, so children can't burn themselves. That's an advantage of using LEDs indoors on live trees, as it posses less of a fire hazard than incandescent lights.
More information on cost saving tips this holiday season can be found online at www.actonenergy.com.
As far as electrical safety, Ameren Illinois offers these tips:
* Use lights that have been safety tested by an independent laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). For outdoor lighting, use lights certified for outdoor use and use heavy duty outdoor certified extension cords.
* Never overload electrical circuits or outlets.
* Never use more than three standard light sets per extension cord
* Plug outdoor cords into GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets. It is recommended that GFCI outlets be used for indoor lights, as well.
* Keep electrical connections off the ground and away from water.
* Keep outside lights, decorations and ladders away from overhead utility lines.
* Use only insulated staples to attach extension cords and lights to wood. Never use nails, wire, tacks or regular staples.
* Make certain lights, decorations and other electrical devices are disconnected before installing or working on them.
* Never leave holiday lights on overnight or when you are away from home.
* Do not place cords under rugs or carpets, where cords may be damaged when walked upon, or where someone may trip over them.
* Never replace a fuse with one designed for a higher amperage or with a coin. A fuse that repeatedly blows or a circuit-breaker that repeatedly trips is an indication of an overloaded circuit or other problem. If the situation continues after unplugging lights or devices, have the circuit inspected by an electrician.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 12 04 10 by Newsroom |
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