Someone asked, what do we do with the old lights we will replace with LEDs? Recycle them of course - check out this site: http://www.holidayleds.com/holidayledscom_christmas_light_recycling_program.
If you don't want to mail them in to HolidayLEDs, bring them to me. I found a Home Depot that will recycle them. (In November Home Depots across the country had a Christmas Lights Recycling Program-LED coupon for old lights exchange, but I can still take your old lights to the one on Highland Dr.)
Tabs & Lids:
Just a reminder that at the end of this month, we will be delivering to the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) our collection of aluminum can tabs. The RMH raised $8,000 just from can tabs last year!!
Also, we are collecting plastic bottle lids like Coke Rewards and other similar programs - just check your bottle lid. Thanks to Carlos Alamilla from DRE and Julie Price from DS who will submit the lid numbers through Coke Rewards. We will continue to have these collections in the New Year, but if you have been collecting tabs and bottle lids please bring them to me so we can make the most of our 2010 donations to charity.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Holiday Lights - Drawing - Introducing Carolyn Roll
Happy December, everyone!
It is the season to put up our Christmas tree and outdoor lights. Have you switched yet from the incandescent holiday light to the more energy efficient LEDs?
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are small light sources that are illuminated by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material. LEDs are exceptionally energy efficient when producing individual colors, many using up to 90% less energy than an incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light. For example, the amount of electricity consumed by just one 7-watt incandescent bulb could power 140 LEDs - enough to light two 24-ft (7.3 meter) strings of lights. LEDs can last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent strands, and come with a 3 year warranty.
If you are ready to make the switch, Smith's has 50% off their holiday lights, and Shopko 65% off. No time like the present!! There may be great deals after Christmas as well.
Drawing:
Those who bring me a receipt showing their LED light purchase will have their name entered in a drawing for prizes - we will not do this drawing until January so that we include any post-Christmas purchases.
Introduction:
I want to introduce to you Carolyn Roll from the Division of Public Utilities who will now be helping me with the Think! Energy Campaign. Carolyn has been one of our biggest Campaign supporters at Commerce and I am grateful to have her join me as a co-captain for Commerce. She has some wonderful energy efficiency ideas that I'm excited to have her share with us in the coming months.
Wishing you much fun with your holiday preparations!
Masuda & Carolyn
Your E-Team Co-Captains
It is the season to put up our Christmas tree and outdoor lights. Have you switched yet from the incandescent holiday light to the more energy efficient LEDs?
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are small light sources that are illuminated by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material. LEDs are exceptionally energy efficient when producing individual colors, many using up to 90% less energy than an incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light. For example, the amount of electricity consumed by just one 7-watt incandescent bulb could power 140 LEDs - enough to light two 24-ft (7.3 meter) strings of lights. LEDs can last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent strands, and come with a 3 year warranty.
If you are ready to make the switch, Smith's has 50% off their holiday lights, and Shopko 65% off. No time like the present!! There may be great deals after Christmas as well.
Drawing:
Those who bring me a receipt showing their LED light purchase will have their name entered in a drawing for prizes - we will not do this drawing until January so that we include any post-Christmas purchases.
Introduction:
I want to introduce to you Carolyn Roll from the Division of Public Utilities who will now be helping me with the Think! Energy Campaign. Carolyn has been one of our biggest Campaign supporters at Commerce and I am grateful to have her join me as a co-captain for Commerce. She has some wonderful energy efficiency ideas that I'm excited to have her share with us in the coming months.
Wishing you much fun with your holiday preparations!
Masuda & Carolyn
Your E-Team Co-Captains
Heating Tips to Save Energy and Money
Heat Your Home Efficiently- from Energy Star
As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these 5 steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
1-Change your air filter regularly
Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
2-Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Learn more:
Maintain your Equipment: A Checklist
Finding the right contractor: 10 tips
3-Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
4-Seal your heating and cooling ducts
Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.
Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap them in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, look to seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house.
5-Consider installing ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment
If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, have it evaluated by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading,consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Depending on where you live, replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can cut your annual energy bill by nearly $200. But before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and the duct system. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than your HVAC equipment.
As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these 5 steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
1-Change your air filter regularly
Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
2-Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Learn more:
Maintain your Equipment: A Checklist
Finding the right contractor: 10 tips
3-Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
4-Seal your heating and cooling ducts
Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.
Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap them in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, look to seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house.
5-Consider installing ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment
If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, have it evaluated by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading,consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Depending on where you live, replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can cut your annual energy bill by nearly $200. But before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and the duct system. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than your HVAC equipment.
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