Tame Holiday Costs with Frugal Fun, Energy-Efficient Lighting, Gifts, Road Trip Tips, Advises Alliance to Save Energy

Tame Holiday Costs with Frugal Fun, Energy-Efficient Lighting, Gifts, Road Trip Tips, Advises Alliance to Save Energy

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The difficult economy and concerns about home and vehicle energy costs need not dim your holiday cheer this winter. Frugal, fun, and more Energy-efficiency holiday tips from the Alliance to Save Energy can take the "chill" out of the holiday season by lowering home and vehicle energy bills as well as pollution and greenhouse gas emissions:

   --  Holiday travel. "Over the River and through the Woods to Grandmother's       House We Go" often means either a road trip to get there or a rental       car upon arrival. The Alliance's Drive $marter Challenge website       offers road trip tips       (http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/money-saving-tips/Default.aspx) and       resources       (http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/money-saving-tips/fuel-efficient-res       ources.aspx) such as links for a customized map showing where to find       the cheapest gasoline along your travel route as well as information       on renting fuel-efficient vehicles and public transportation at your       destination.   --  Honey, what you mean you got me insulation for my holiday present?       There's some good news this holiday season. You can make home       improvements that keep your family toasty -- and get a tax credit to       boot. Add insulation, sealing, high-efficiency windows and a number of       other efficient products and not only reduce your monthly energy bills       but also save up to $1,500 on your federal income taxes for certain       improvements. Details at www.ase.org/taxcredits.   --  Be an "ENERGY STAR" with energy-saving presents. Electronics, home       office equipment, appliances and other products with the ENERGY STAR       label -- the federal government's symbol of energy efficiency -- not       only make great holiday gifts but can also cut related home energy       bills up to 30 percent. More potential good news: check out state and       municipal energy efficiency incentives and rebates being made       available in your area as part of the federal stimulus package as well       as rebates from energy companies and product manufacturers.   --  Lower operating costs and increase safety with LED holiday lights. LED       technology (Light Emitting Diode) for holiday lighting is a smart       choice. LEDs use 10 times less energy than incandescent mini-lights       and 100 times less energy than standard bulbs, last more than 50,000       hours, are safer because they're virtually indestructible and stay       cool -- which means they're safe to the touch and eliminate fire       concerns. They are easily strung and don't overload a typical       household's electrical circuits. If the bulb does burn out, the other       bulbs will stay lit, so you can easily replace only the bad one.   --  To further maximize holiday lighting savings, use timers to limit       light displays to no more than six evening hours a day. Leaving lights       on 24 hours a day will quadruple your energy costs -- and create four       times the pollution. And be safe -- untended incandescent lights can       cause fires, so always unplug your interior holiday lights before       going to bed or leaving the house.   --  In the spirit of Kwanzaa -- the African-American spiritual week of       remembering, reassessing, recommitting and rejoicing -- reassess your       power consumption, recommit to energy-efficient practices and rejoice       in the savings.   --  Once you've lit the Chanukah menorah, spin a dreidel by candlelight --       it uses no energy! By the eighth night, you may not need any electric       lights at all!   --  Unplug the video games and turn off the millionth broadcast of It's a       Wonderful Life -- and read your favorite holiday story instead. Your       children may appreciate your attention and time, and you will be       saving energy in the process.   --  Teach personal finance to your children in these difficult economic       times -- conduct a home energy audit together. Identify all the ways       you are needlessly wasting energy AND money in your home. Minor       changes can capture precious dollars that could be better spent for       other needs. Conduct a scavenger hunt together to locate "Energy       Hogs," and locate "Energy Vampires" that continue using energy when       idle/turned off.   --  Pay the local kids to shovel your driveway. Better to give them some       extra spending money than to use it towards the purchase of a       smog-producing, gas-guzzling snow blower.   --  No roasting chestnuts over an open halogen torchiere! It can burn hot       enough to cause a fire, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety       Commission. Instead, give yourself the gift of an energy-efficient       ENERGY STAR- certified torchiere lamp, for a brighter, thriftier,       safer holiday.   --  Strap on those cross-country skies or roller blades or ride your bike       to tour the neighborhood holiday decorations. It's a great way to work       off those extra holiday calories, and it will cut down on your       gasoline costs, too.    --  Instead of leaving your door open to carolers and losing all that       precious heat, pull on your parka, turn off the TV and electronics,       and join in the fun. It's a great way to meet your neighbors, too!   

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
http://drivesmarterchallenge.org

Source: Alliance to Save Energy

CONTACT: Rozanne Weissman of Alliance to Save Energy, +1-202-530-2217,
rweissman@ase.org

Web Site: http://www.ase.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment