‘tis the season for energy efficiency

Courtesy of  Toronto Hydro

When decorating for the holidays, keep energy conservation in mind. Though festive lighting and decorations are a part of the holiday tradition, they can increase electricity consumption and be a safety hazard. LED lights are a great way to light up the season; they use less electricity, look festive and will help save your business money.

Reasons to decorate with LEDs:

1. They use up to 90 per cent less electricity*, produce virtually no heat and generate more light per watt than traditional incandescent lights.


2. They have a lifespan of 20-30 years, so maintenance costs are minimal.


3. They’re virtually unbreakable because the chips that convert electricity to light are encapsulated in solid plastic, rather than glass bulbs.

Not only will conserving electricity over the holidays help cut costs, doing your part may attract more customers this season too. A study commissioned in 2010 by Toronto Hydro with Leger Marketing found that seven-in-ten GTA residents would choose one business—such as a restaurant—over another, if they knew that business was making efforts to conserve energy and water.

More tips for your business:

• Control your outdoor festive lights by using a certified outdoor timer.


• Always turn your indoor festive lights off when you're leaving your business or closing up for the day. Indoor festive lights should never be left on if people aren’t there to enjoy them.


• If possible, try to turn your festive lighting on after 7:00 p.m. to avoid the 'electricity rush hour.'

For more energy-saving ideas, visit torontohydro.com. Wishing you a safe, happy and energy-efficient holiday!

(*Source: Natural Resources Canada)