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Holiday Lighting:
PNM Shares Some Tips on Being Safe and Energy Efficient
"By making energy-efficient holiday lighting choices and following a few simple steps, customers can save on holiday electric bills and stay safe, " said Dan Moore, a certified energy auditor with PNM.
LED lights use about .04 watts per bulb, which is ten times less than regular mini-lights that use about .4 watts per bulb and 175 times less electricity than traditional bulbs (typically labeled C-7 or C-9) that use about 7 watts.
Efficiency can add up to savings. A string of 100 LED lights used six hours each day costs approximately 6 cents to run per month, as compared with 58 cents for 100 mini-lights or $10.25 for large, traditional lights. That savings could add up over time because LED lights last for many years. LED lights are also safer than their incandescent counterparts because they emit less heat.
Additional Lighting Safety Tips:
Use only newer lights that have thicker wiring and are required to have safety fuses to prevent the wires from overheating.
Holiday lights should carry the seal of approval of a recognized safety-testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Indoor-use only light strings are marked with the UL's green holographic label, and light strings for indoor and outdoor use have the UL's red holographic label.
If using an extension cord, makes sure it is rated for the intended use.
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
When using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use and plug them in only ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected receptacles.
Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
Install or adjust outdoor electrical displays only
during dry weather.
When hanging lights around your roofline or in trees, be sure to survey the area for overhead power lines and maintain at least a 10-foot distance.
Keep all electrical connections off the ground and hang sockets downward to prevent water from seeping into them.
Do not run electrical cords through door or window openings where they can be damaged.
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