The Holiday season is upon us once again and you know what that means; decoratively lit streets, Christmas art installations around the city, baked goodies, and catching up with family and friends whom you haven’t seen in ages. Overall, the atmosphere is festive, cheerful and lighthearted for the holidays. The origins of modern Christmas lighting as we know it, dates back to the 17^th century in Europe. It began with people hanging,  small candles to their trees and hedges, to let everyone know that the Holidays were approaching, and festivities were beginning. Fast track through many developments in lighting from the 17^th century to the 20^th century and by now we had turned to electricity for our Christmas lighting. The same way candles and lanterns were used back then, we began using glass ball and other forms of lighting to achieve the same effect as previous generations. Fast forward another 10 years and we have bright, crisp Light Emmitting Diodes (LED) that are less energy intensive, longer lasting and provide better quality lighting than we have had before. As technology advances, we are also able to light more remote locations, automate the lights via timers and Wi-Fi, and minimize on installation times and costs.

At EnerScope, we take pride in safety. We want you and your family to enjoy the Season to the maximum, while being mindful of lighting and electrical safety. We’ve created some safety tips that you may or may not know and follow already. For example:

• If you are buying an artificial tree, ensure that your tree is certified by its manufacturer as fire retardant and that its needles stay in place and do not fall off when you touch them.

• Always set up your tree away from radiators, heaters, baseboards and any other heat sources. This is especially the case for setting up the tree near to fireplaces and always be mindful of blocking egress.

• Make sure your tree is strong and sturdy when erected. A tree full of lights that falls over can do quite a bit of damage to equipment, or worse yet start a fire!

• Always ensure that your lights are not worn or broken in any way by inspecting them before putting them on the tree or on windows, walls etc.

• LEDs like those from Eduralite can be found in most major department stores and malls. The last longer, use less energy and are brighter.

• It is not the best idea to connect different types of lights. For example, plugging your new LEDs into the end of your old glass ball lights.

• Ensure that plug-ins and electrical connections and extension cords are in a dry place and not near to any source of water. Water and electricity never seem to mix well.

• Make sure your lights are certified for indoor or outdoor use, and it is safe to install them where you are installing them or having them installed.

• When hanging outdoor lights, ensure your ladder is securely assembled and extended, and it is wise to use a safety line if climbing more than 15 feet high.

• Always pay full attention when cooking and consider using apps like Stove Alarm and Stove Top Companion when preparing meals.

• Recycle lights and other equipment as pointed out in the instructions.

From us at EnerScope to you and your family, Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!