Con Edison wants customers to lead the way on LED

Con Edison wishes all of its customers a happy and safe holiday season, and is recommending they use energy-efficient LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights when decorating their homes or offices. By using LED lights instead of traditional incandescent bulbs, customers can save on electric bills and contribute to greening the environment.

LED lights use up to 98 percent less electricity than older bulbs, which means fewer carbon emissions into the atmosphere. LED lights stay cool to the touch and last up to 20 times longer than traditional bulbs.

Con Edison also encourages customers to make safety a top priority when installing holiday lights, by following some simple tips:

Make sure that holiday lights carry the seal of approval of a recognized safety-testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Before reusing electrical devices kept in storage, inspect for worn or frayed areas and breaks or brittleness, particularly at the plugs and connections. Replace defective lights and cords. Throw out any frayed wires or extension cords.

To avoid electric overloads, use extension cords sparingly.

Outdoor displays require outdoor, exterior-rated extension cords, fixtures, and bulbs. Install or adjust outdoor electrical displays only during dry weather.

Avoid running cords under rugs, through doorways, or near furniture where they may be stepped on, tripped over, or broken.

Do not place cords around or near metal pipes, appliances, or anything that is damp or metallic. Turn off electrical devices when making adjustments.

For more safety tips, visit http://www.coned.com/ customercentral/safetytip.asp. Customers are also encouraged to visit the company's new Power of Green Web site at http://www.coned.com/t hepowerofgreen/tips/001.asp.