10 Tips for Enjoying a Safe, Warm and Cozy 2016 Holiday Season

OHIO - While Ohio weather continues to fluctuate between unseasonably warm 60 degree days and frigid snow showers, it's only a matter of time before Northeast Ohioans are struggling to stay warm. As you start to put up decorations and celebrate your holidays, it's important to keep in mind destructive and expensive a holiday catastrophe can be.

Want to make sure your house is unburt and warm? Want to keep your heating bill low? The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has some tips to ensure a safe and energy efficient holiday season.

Decorating safely

The organization says that decorating this holiday season can be done safely with these tips.

• Check strands of holiday bulbs and discard strands of lights that have damaged cords.
• Use the correct type of bulbs for indoor and outdoor use. Make sure to plug bulbs into a power strip with a built-in circuit breaker.
• When using a ladder to hang holiday lights, stay clear of nearby power lines.
• When shopping for a live tree, look for a fresh one. Dry trees are a greater fire hazard than fresh ones.
• When using an artificial tree, make sure it is flame-resistant.
• Do not place a tree near the fireplace, heat vents or portable heaters and use nonflammable ornaments to decorate the tree.

Managing home energy bills

• Use energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) holiday bulbs. LED bulbs last longer, require less energy and can lead to cost savings.

• Put outdoor lights on a timer to save electricity.
• Keep the thermostat set to 68 degrees. A programmable thermostat is an affordable way to stay comfortable and save energy.
• When traveling, set the thermostat to 55 degrees to save energy and prevent water pipes from freezing.

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