More tips for holiday lighting efficiency, safety

Holiday helper… The Grand River Dam Authority is proud to provide the electricity to help light up the holidays all across Oklahoma. It is also providing some tips to help those lighting displays happen safely and efficiently.

If your holiday plans include a trip “up on the rooftop” to string lights, the Grand River Dam Authority is reminding you to do it safely and efficiently this season. After all, extra lighting equals extra electricity usage, so as you prepare to turn your house and yard into a colorful display of illumination, GRDA is once again passing along some lighting tips from energy.gov.

An obvious first tip would be to consider switching to LED lights. Readily available in many style and applications, LED lights use 70 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs. Installation is easy and more strings of LEDs can be connected together, end-to-end, than traditional bulbs. They are also durable and can last up to ten times longer than the traditional.

Next, remember that automatic timers are a good way to control holiday lighting costs. By utilizing timers and setting them for the prime display hours (evenings) you do not waste any electricity by having outdoor lights on all day long.

Finally, always consider the safety factors: whether working with indoor or outdoor lighting, it is important to follow all manufacturer guidelines for usage. The United States Consumer Production Safety Commission (CPSC) also reminds us to only use lights (and extension cords) that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory and conform to all safety standards. Also, be sure to stay away from power or feeder lines leading from utility poles when putting up your display. Another important tip is to make sure that outdoor electric lights and decorations are plugged into ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).

While these tips may be pretty familiar to most holiday lighting veterans, GRDA passes them along in the hopes that they might serve as a refresher for you this year. As the wholesale electricity supplier for 16 Oklahoma communities, as well as Oklahoma electric cooperatives and other partners, we are proud to help light up your holiday season!

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