SAN DIEGO, Nov. 22, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- When shoppers walk beneath the festive lights at Westfield UTC during the upcoming Winter Walk festival or gaze at the trimmed tree near the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, they will be witnessing an energy-smart approach to the decorations of the holiday season.
Now, an old lighting technology is providing significant energy savings and increased safety this holiday season. LED (light-emitting diode) lights have been around for several decades and are an integral part of daily life - in digital clock displays, television remote controls and traffic signals.
LEDs are being used in holiday lights, where they can save up to 90 percent or more in energy costs, compared to incandescent holiday lights. LEDs are providing a holiday glow for shoppers at Westfield UTC and in Balboa Park at December Nights.
Traditional holiday lighting consumes considerable electricity, most of which is converted into heat-making the lights hot to touch and a potential fire hazard. LED lights, though, generate little or no heat and are cool to the touch-good news for homes with children.
In addition, LED lights also last much longer than traditional bulbs. For price-conscious customers, LED holiday lights can pay for themselves almost immediately depending on their use. LED holiday lights are now available at all major retailers and home improvement stores.
To remain safe during the holidays, SDG&E also wants to remind its customers to:
-- Buy only lights with a safety-approved label from a reputable
testing lab.
-- Take a few minutes to inspect lights for frayed cords, loose
connections and broken sockets or dried out insulation after
taking them out of storage.
-- Attach outdoor lights with hooks. Don't hammer nails or
tacks through cords.
-- Never use an aluminum ladder or other metal-handled tools
around power lines and avoid working around the lines
leading to the home or business.
-- Avoid stringing outdoor lights when it's wet outside.
-- Never use indoor lights outside.
-- Keep the Christmas tree in water, but the light cords out
of the water.
-- Never use electric lights on a metallic tree; use
colored directional lights instead.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.3 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to www.sdge.com.