ROSEMEAD, Calif., Nov. 28, 2007—Southern California Edison (SCE) reminds customers that safely decorating their homes, work places and Christmas trees with energy-efficient lighting will brighten everyone’s holiday season. 

Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights offer SCE customers a number of advantages over traditional incandescent lights:

·         Energy efficiency:  LEDs save up to 98 percent of the electricity that is needed to power conventional incandescent, painted or ceramic-coated bulbs.

·         Environmentally friendly:  The low electricity usage of LEDs means less carbon emissions. LEDs require no glass or tungsten because LEDs do not have a filament like incandescent bulbs, nor do the bulbs contain mercury or lead.

·         Safety:  LEDs generate much less heat when they operate so they are cool to the touch and are less likely to overload a circuit.

·         Longevity:  LEDS are much more sturdy and last up to 20 times longer than incandescent holiday light strings.

LED holiday lights are typically a little more expensive to buy than their incandescent counterparts. But they virtually pay for themselves in the first year’s electricity savings and thereafter, they are the gift that keeps on giving.

“LED’s are a festive lighting alternative that will provide customers with an energy-efficient lighting option during the holiday season,” said Lynda Ziegler, SCE’s senior vice president of customer service.  “Saving energy is especially important at this time because the state’s tiered rate system can bump customer bills into upper rate tiers and higher per-kilowatt-hour costs during months when usage jumps.”

Holiday Lighting Energy-Efficiency Tips

·         Use a timer to automatically control when your holiday lights turn on and off.

·         Use energy-efficient holiday lighting products. As the following table illustrates, some bulbs use energy much more efficiently than do other types.