For Release: 12/02/2009

Holiday Lighting Displays-Keep Spirits Up, Costs Down!

Questions and Answers from Wisconsin Public Service

Green Bay, WI - Despite a lagging economy, Wisconsin Public Service expects that customers will enjoy traditional holiday lighting displays and offers advice on managing energy costs.

Holiday lighting adds to energy costs. Any advice for managing these costs?

The best advice is to save money and go 'green' by using LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights to save energy, money and lessen impacts on the environment. LED light strings have an encased solid-state semi-conductor chip that provides a brighter light at a fraction of the cost of the conventional filament bulb. LED lights are also durable, last longer and generate almost no heat.

Do LED light strings cost more?

Many LED lights include a rebate as a purchasing incentive which makes the cost relatively comparable to traditional lighting. The true savings with LED lights come in operational costs as the lights use about 90 percent less energy than traditional bulbs and can last up to ten times longer. A 100-bulb string of LED lights costs around a dime to run the entire month of December.

Are there any other suggestions to save energy if I stick with my older lights?

Timers can be helpful in more efficient use of your lighting displays. Timers will automatically turn lights on or off at specific times so they are not on all night long or all day long if you forget to turn them off. Just like LED lights, some timers are being sold with a rebate as an incentive to reduce energy use. The side benefit of using timers is added home security since having lights going on and off can make it seem like the home is occupied when residents are actually gone.

Any new trends in holiday decorative lighting?

There are more two-and three-dimensional outdoor displays and also inflatable scenes. These require the use of an electrical air pump, and small motors to stay inflated and cause motion, in addition to lighting.

Expandable light "netting" is also increasing in popularity, driven primarily by ease of installation, as the netting goes over the object being lit, usually bushes or small trees, and is then plugged in to highlight the object.

The traditional strings of mini's and C-7's (larger bulbs) are still commercially available and used in many holiday displays. Icicle lights are also still prevalent in home displays.

Smaller fiber optic trees are also available and are fairly energy efficient as there is one light associated with the display and the light is carried through each fiber.

So, what's my display going to cost me?

To get an estimate of the operational cost of your lighting display, visit the online Holiday Energy Savings Tips at www.wisconsinpublicservice.com. Visit the Holiday Lighting Calculator and enter the details of your display to receive a cost calculation.

With all this holiday lighting, is there an impact on the electrical system?

Yes. During the holidays, the Public Service electrical system load will increase from two to four percent, or about 40 to 80 megawatts above the average for this time of year. Not only is this due to holiday lighting displays, but also due to increased retail hours and an increase in home cooking and entertaining.

Also of note is that the weather has an impact on how many holiday lighting displays are set up. If we have mild temperatures around Thanksgiving (which we did this year) there is an expected increase in the number of outdoor displays that are set up and installed.

How about safety concerns?

Safety should be a top priority in both the installation and operation of your lighting display. The best advice is to use common sense. Keep displays away from electric service lines. Use extreme caution with ladders. Discard light strings and displays that show overuse with frayed or withered lines, etc. Do not overload circuits. Use appropriate sized extension cords designed for outdoor use.

Where do I get lighting rebate info?

Wisconsin-based "Focus on Energy" is an organization that works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Their website includes a listing of local retailers offering rebates on energy efficient products, including LED lights.

Go to www.focusonenergy.com. Go to "Residential Programs", "Lighting", and then "LED Holiday Lights" for a complete listing of participating retailers offering rebates.

Consider an energy gift certificate this year

The "Gift of Energy" always works for customers of Wisconsin Public Service. Energy Gift Certificates make the perfect usable gift and are a welcomed gift anytime, but especially during the holidays. They're available in any denomination and can be used to pay all or a portion of a recipient's WPS energy bill.

To order gift certificates, simply download a gift certificate order form from www.wisconsinpublicservice.com and mail it to WPS with a check or money order. You'll receive a receipt for your records, while the person you specify as the recipient will receive a credit on his or her energy bill.

Additionally, we'll provide a gift certificate card, which you can have sent directly to the recipient, or have it sent to you to then make your own personal delivery.

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