College Is in Session: National Grid Offers Lessons in Saving Energy and Money As Classes Resume

NATIONAL GRID (08/25/2010)(readMedia)-- As summer turns to autumn and the new college semester begins, National Grid urges students and their families to consider energy efficiency and safety during this time of change. Energy conservation and safety measures taken around the home, dormitory or apartment can be both simple and cost effective.

If you are shopping for a new computer, make sure to select one with an ENERGY STAR® rating to save both energy and money in the long term. ENERGY STAR® computers are 70 percent more efficient than their un-rated counterparts. A list of participating manufacturers and models can be found at www.energystar.gov. Additionally, choosing a laptop rather than desktop model can save you as much as $40 per year, and can increase efficiency by up to 85 percent.

Below are additional energy efficient tips to help customers select the best back to school products and reduce energy consumption throughout the year:

• Consider investing in a 'Smart Strip' that allows you to leave power flowing through selected items such as computers or DVRs, but powers down everything else while not in use, preventing energy loss.
• Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. For each standard incandescent bulb you replace with a compact fluorescent bulb, you can save $10 or more on your electric costs over the life of the bulb. You get more hours of illumination and three to four times more lighting efficiency. Compact fluorescents have a life expectancy of 10,000 hours, compared to 750 to 900 hours for standard bulbs.
• Many consumer electronics continue to use power, even after turned off. Unplug cell phone chargers, laptops, video game consoles or anything with "instant on" features, and you can save 29 kWh and $4 a month.
• Turn off lights, appliances, TVs, stereos and computers when not in use or while you are away from home to save up to 58 kWh and $9.
• Cook with lids on your pans. For example, cooking spaghetti without a lid on the pot can use three times more energy than if the lid were left on.
• If you will be coming home after dark or in bad weather, consider buying timers to attach to your light fixtures. This way, you can turn your lights off when you leave, and have them already on when you come home.

Electric safety tips for students:

• Avoid the danger of overloading electrical outlets with too many appliances such as computers, TVs, DVD players and video game consoles on the same circuit in homework or entertainment areas.
• Do not place damp clothing over light fixtures to dry, or run electric cords under carpeting, as doing so can create serious fire hazards.
• Use surge protectors to safeguard against voltage changes during a storm.
• Use a power strip to safely organize and connect appliances to wall sockets and circuits with the appropriate voltage to accommodate the electric load.

National Grid has a 20-year track record of partnering with its customers to provide successful, award-winning efficiency programs in its U.S. service territory. In addition, National Grid recently challenged its customers to pledge to reduce their energy consumption by three percent every year for the next ten years. Customers can sign a pledge; participate in a free energy evaluation; and learn more about the company's energy efficiency programs at www.powerofaction.com.

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.

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