November/December  2001

Holiday Tips

The holidays fill our homes with out-of town family, the smells of baking goodies and the year’s brightest decorations.  Trim your holiday safely:

• Buy lights labeled by a testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL).
• Don’t overload electrical outlets.
• For outside decorations, use only those lights labeled for outdoor use.
• All cords should be completely insulated and all sockets attached firmly to the cords.
• When decorating outdoors, keep ladders away from overhead power lines.
• Keep paper, tinsel and water away from hot lights.

• Unplug cords when you string lights and before you go out or to bed.

• Never put electrical lights on a metal Christmas tree.

After the second driest year on record, here are some...

Conservation Tips:

Although your fireplace gives off warmth, it also can provide a convenient escape route for heat already in your house.  That means some of the money you spend to heat your home may be going up in smoke.  Follow these energy-saving tips for fireplace use:

• Use your fireplace only in mild weather.  When the outside temperature is less than 40 degrees F, more heated indoor air is used to keep the fire burning than is replaced by the warmth your fireplace gives off.
• Consider installing glass doors and a separate air supply vent to allow heat to radiate into the room without sending warm air up the chimney.
• Remember to close the damper when your fireplace is not in use.  

Your Douglas County Public Utility District Commissioners are displaying the American Flag on the front of the East Wenatchee Headquarters building to remember the lives lost in the tragic events on September 11.  We proudly hang the flag to show the world our support for people working hard to protect our freedom.  We will leave the flag displayed until the conflict has been resolved.  Please take a moment, when you drive by the building, to enjoy the American Flag and honor those who fight to protect us.