Brighten the Holidays with Savings and Safety Advice From the Ameren Illinois Utilities
November 20 2008 - 3:29PM
PR Newswire (US)
PEORIA, Ill., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Stay bright, save
light and cash this holiday season by decking the halls with ENERGY
STAR qualified decorative lighting which consume 75 percent less
electricity than conventional incandescent holiday lights,
according to the Ameren Illinois Utilities. Nationwide, electricity
usage could be reduced by more than 2 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh),
an amount equal to the electricity typically used in a year by more
than 192,000 single family homes if all holiday light strings sold
this year are ENERGY STAR qualified. In addition, greenhouse gas
emissions could be cut by the equivalent of the emissions from
about 300,000 automobiles. By using ENERGY STAR qualified lighting,
customers can extend the life of their holiday lights by up to ten
times. Many ENERGY STAR qualified light strings feature the highly
energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) technology. Other
advantages of ENERGY STAR qualified light strings: -- Last up to 10
times longer than traditional lights. -- Reduce the risk of injury,
especially among children, and fires because they are cool to the
touch. -- Are independently tested to meet strict electrical safety
requirements. -- Have three-year warranties. Additional energy
savings tips are available at the Ameren Illinois Utilities new Act
On Energy(TM) Web site (http://www.actonenergy.com/). The Ameren
Illinois Utilities also remind customers that prevention is the key
to electrical and natural gas safety during the holiday season.
Electricity safety tips include: -- Use lights that have been
safety tested by an independent laboratory such as Underwriters
Laboratories (UL). For outdoor lighting, use lights certified for
outdoor use and use heavy duty outdoor certified extension cords.
-- Never overload electrical circuits or outlets. -- Never use more
than three standard light sets per extension cord -- Plug outdoor
cords into GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets. It is
suggested that GFCI outlets be used for indoor lights, as well. --
Keep electrical connections off the ground and away from water. --
Keep outside lights, decorations and ladders away from overhead
utility lines. -- Only use insulated staples to attach extension
cords and lights to wood. Never use nails, tacks or regular
staples. -- Make certain lights, decorations and other electrical
devices are disconnected when installing or working on them. --
Never leave holiday lights on when away from your residence or
overnight. -- Do not place cords under rugs or carpets, where they
can be walked upon or where someone can trip over them. -- Never
replace a fuse with one designed for a higher amperage or with a
coin. A fuse that repeatedly blows or a circuit-breaker that
repeatedly trips is an indication of an overloaded circuit. If the
problem continues after unplugging lights or devices, have the
circuit inspected by an electrician. Natural gas safety tips: --
Illinois law requires that carbon monoxide detectors be placed in
homes and apartments. -- To help avoid the possibility of carbon
monoxide poisoning, it is recommended that a qualified plumber or
heating professional annually inspect and clean furnace systems.
Special attention needs to be paid to the flue. A rusty or loose
fitting flue may cause a vent to malfunction. Improper venting of a
furnace may cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Flues that also vent
through walls must be clear of snow, leaves and other types of
blockage to prevent Carbon Monoxide from backing into the home. --
Never hang any item from a natural gas or propane pipe. The added
weight could pull down the pipe. -- Never use the kitchen oven as a
heating source. Natural gas ovens produce carbon monoxide that will
escape into the house when the oven door is left open. In addition,
the oven could overheat and cause a fire. Cooking with the oven is
safe because the oven cycles on and off when the oven door is
closed. -- Never store combustible materials within a few feet of
the furnace or water heater. -- Call a qualified plumber or heating
professional to inspect the furnace if it cycles on or off with a
loud noise or otherwise malfunctions. Ignition should be smooth and
quiet in a properly maintained furnace. -- If you detect a strong
odor of natural gas, immediately leave your home or business and
call your Ameren Illinois Utilities company (AmerenCILCO -
1-888-672-5252; AmerenCIPS - 1-888-789-2477; AmerenIP -
1-800-755-5000). Do not turn lights on or off, operate any
electrical device, use a phone or light a match inside or near the
building. -- If you detect a faint odor of natural gas, attempt to
follow the odor to its source. It may be an extinguished pilot
light or a partially turned on burner valve. These are problems you
can safely and easily fix. If the odor persists, call your Ameren
Illinois Utilities company. The Ameren Illinois Utilities serve 1.2
million electric customers and more than 840,000 natural gas
customers in a 43,700-square-mile area of Illinois. DATASOURCE:
Ameren Illinois Utilities CONTACT: Leigh Morris, +1-217-535-5228,
or Neal Johnson, +1-309-677-5284, or Victoria Busch,
+1-618-346-1286, all of Ameren Illinois Utilities Web site:
http://www.ameren.com/
Copyright