CAYCE, S.C. (Nov. 29, 2022) – As the holidays draw near, Dominion Energy South Carolina is sharing tips for how to stay safe and save energy without sacrificing holiday cheer when decorating your home this season.

“There are ways to make your home merry and bright while being mindful of the energy your home is using,” said Ginger Greenway, manager of energy information services for Dominion Energy South Carolina. “Using holiday lights with timers is an example of a simple thing people can do to use less electricity. And, of course, people should read all lights and decorations labels to ensure their appropriate use.”

Dominion Energy South Carolina encourages customers to follow these top-five tips for holiday lighting safety and energy savings:

1. Use LED lights. Energy Star-certified LED string lights use about 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and last about 10 times longer. Look for rebates and seasonal coupons on energy-efficient lights at your local hardware and department stores.

2. Reduce usage. Set timers for lights to turn on and off automatically. Leaving holiday lights on during broad daylight increases your energy usage and reduces the life of the light bulbs in your decorations. Only turn on displays when it is dark or when passersby will most appreciate them.

3. Plan your layout. Arrange your decorations so that no outlet is overloaded, and no cords will be pinched by furniture or positioned under rugs. When appropriate, use advanced power strips (APS), which include built-in features that significantly reduce the amount of energy used when not in use.

4. Read labels. Check each product label or packaging to see whether the lights are intended for indoor or outdoor use. Ensure lights have a tag indicating a recognized testing laboratory has evaluated them.

5. Get reflective. Shiny ornaments, tinsel and mirrors can multiply the lighting effects without using more energy.

For more energy-saving tips, visit DominionEnergy.com/south-carolina/save-energy. Additional safety tips can be found on the Electrical Safety Foundation International website, esfi.org.

About Dominion Energy

About 7 million customers in 15 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to safely providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy and to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.