Uniondale, NY - January 10, 2017 - In celebration of National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, PSEG Long Island reminds its customers of all of the energy saving solutions the company provides to help save money and reduce your carbon footprint.
One of the easiest ways to save energy and money is to replace old, energy-wasting incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs and fixtures. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for 15 percent of home electric use. Installing LED bulbs can reduce energy usage by up to 75 percent. An LED light will last 25 times as long as incandescent bulbs, which means that they pay for themselves in less than a year and will provide even more savings over time.
Many appliances and gadgets waste electricity just by being plugged in, even when turned off. Cell phone chargers, electric toothbrushes and computers plugged into the outlet use electricity. This is called phantom power. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in the United States alone, this phantom power costs consumers more than $3 billion a year.
Over time, many microwaves and televisions may actually consume more electricity during the hours not in use than turned on. In the average American home, 25 percent of electricity used by home electronics occurs while the products are off. A simple way to eliminate this avoidable usage is to unplug electronic devices when not in use. An efficient technique to accomplish this is to use a surge protector or a power-strip. Plug multiple items in the strip and turn it off when those devices are not in use.
Another uncomplicated tip that will help customers avoid excessive energy usage is to use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting. Lighting controls automatically turn lights on and off as needed, and save energy.
Being energy efficient may be one of the easiest and successful resolutions customers can make for 2017.
Independent annual evaluations by Opinion Dynamics Corporation have found PSEG Long Island’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs generate energy savings that are cost-effective. In its evaluation for 2015, Opinion Dynamics found that PSEG Long Island’s Residential and Commercial Efficiency Programs had a benefit/cost ratio of 2.2, which means that the programs generated $2.20 in benefits to the utility and its customers for every $1.00 in costs to operate the program, including rebates.
PSEG Long Island offers energy efficiency programs and rebates to help customers become more energy efficient and lower bills. Visit PSEG Long Island’s online Energy Analyzer to calculate the energy efficiency of your home and find out how to save energy and money.
For more information on energy saving tips and PSEG Long Island’s energy efficiency programs, please visit here.