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Mays Landing, N.J. - Holiday lighting can make the season bright, and when you use energy-efficient bulbs, it can make it easy on your energy bills too. Today's efficient lighting options offer all the color and joy of years past, but they won't play Scrooge with the holiday budget.
Consumers have enjoyed electric holiday lighting since the first colored bulbs were switched on in a mid-town Manhattan apartment during the 1882 Christmas season. Since then, the styles and choices in holiday lighting have steadily grown, as have the energy savings.
Over the last several years, many customers have made the switch from the large bulb to mini-lights. Those smaller bulbs use about 70 percent less energy and last longer than the large holiday lights of old. But the maximum savings can be realized by upgrading your lighting to LED (light emitting diode) lights. LED's use up to 95 percent less energy than the larger old incandescent bulbs and that higher efficiency rating translates into sharply lower operating costs. It's estimated that operating 2,500 LED holiday lights for six hours would cost about a dime.
Not only do the new LED lights provide substantial energy savings, but they also provide a safer choice for customers. LED lights generate little or no heat. These lights also boast greater durability and are projected to last up to 10 times longer than the traditional bulbs. While a string of LED's will cost more to buy, they'll pay for themselves during just one holiday lighting season.
This technology is also used to produce LED candles that produce the flicker effect of a real candle, but without the problems created by a real flame. LED candles provide the ambience without the smoke and fire hazard.
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Editors Note: refer to Atlantic City Electric's web site www.atlanticcityelectric.com for information on electrical safety, energy saving tips, bill payment options and power outage updates.
Atlantic City Electric, a public utility owned by Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), provides safe, reliable and affordable regulated electric delivery services to more than 500,000 customers in southern New Jersey.
