Hydro One offers advice for energy efficient holiday decorating
Hydro One is offering advice to help Ontario residents bring holiday cheer to their home and neighbourhood without breaking the bank this year.
Check decorations and cords for signs of wear. Test lights before decorating.
Check to ensure all the lights, cords, plugs and sockets are CSA approved. Use outdoor or indoor lights appropriately.
Keep electrical connections off the ground. Avoid running cords under carpets.
Nails and tacks can damage extension cords or strings of lights. Use eave clips or insulated staples to avoid damage. Do other lights in the house dim when you plug in decorations? If so, the circuit is overloaded and could pose a safety risk.
Inflatable decorations often require an electric fan running 24 hours a day. Choose decorations that are free standing or put the electric fan on a timer to only inflate decorations during certain times of the day.
Make the switch to LED lights, which use 80% less energy than incandescent lights. LED light strings also last up to 50,000 hours (ten times longer).
