Holiday Ideas from Upper Peninsula Power Company

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Ishpeming, MI- Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) is offering some energy-based gift ideas to consider that will help customers save energy, money, be safe and improve the environment.

Gift of Energy- The perfect gift idea for the holidays is an UPPCO Energy Gift Certificate. Available in any amount, the gift certificates can be purchased online at the UPPCO website:www.uppco.com, access "Gift Certificates." They can be purchased online or printed, filled out and mailed to UPPCO.

About 110 UPPCO Energy Gift Certificates were purchased during last year's holiday season, with the average amount being $25 each. The gift certificates are used to help recipients pay for their electric bill. Recipients can include individual customers or schools, congregations, or community service organizations and agencies. UPPCO suggests purchasing by December 9th to make sure the certificate is received by Christmas Day.

Saving Money on Holiday Lighting- UPPCO suggests lighting up your holidays with light-emitting-diode (LED) lights as they use up to 90 percent less energy and last up to ten times longer than standard bulbs, produce almost no heat and are very durable. The lights have an encased semi-conductor chip that provides a bright light using significantly less electricity than a conventional filament bulb. The monthly operational cost of a string of 100 LED lights is about 10 cents, compared to conventional filament lights that cost about $1.00. LED light strings are more expensive to purchase than traditional filament lights, but operational costs for LED's are much lower. LED lights come in strings, icicle sets, net style lighting and are now used in animated holiday displays.

If older lights are used, UPPCO suggests a programmable on/off timer switch so light displays will turn on and off at a specific time. This avoids having lights on all night or during the day. A side benefit of the automatic timer is security as lights go on making it look like someone is home when residents may be away.

To figure out how much your display will cost to operate, the UPPCO website includes a "holiday lighting cost calculator"www.uppco.com/home/holiday_calculator .aspx. Input the number and style of lights, the hours per day used and the calculator will provide a daily and monthly operational cost estimate.

Gift of Safety- UPPCO suggests considering the purchase of a Carbon Monoxide (CO) and smoke detector. The release of CO can result from improper combustion of fuels like wood, propane, oil, natural gas, kerosene or gasoline. Lethal levels of CO can result if heating equipment is not vented or working properly. A working CO detector can warn residents of CO buildup and cost between $20 and $70, depending on the type, style and model. There are combination CO and smoke detectors and battery operated and hard-wired detectors. Operation manuals are included to assist in proper installation and operation.

Energy Gift Basket- UPPCO suggests putting together an Energy Gift Basket that includes a number of energy saving ideas that can easily fit into a small decorative basket. UPPCO Energy Gift Certificates, new compact fluorescent energy efficient light bulbs to replace old incandescent bulbs, weather stripping for around doors and windows, window insulator kits and a CO/Smoke Detector are 'energy smart' gift basket stuffers that make for a festive and very useful gift.

For more helpful information, UPPCO includes a number of lighting, heating, safety and entertaining tips on their website at:www.uppco.com.

For More Information, Contact:

• Jodi Pineau
  Customer Operations Supervisor
  906-485-2403
   
  
  
  
• Media Hotline
  800-977-2250
  

News Source : Holiday Ideas from Upper Peninsula Power Company