Dec 19, 2022 | Energy Efficiency
’Tis the season for swirling snowflakes, hot cocoa and decorations. This year, as you hang your holiday lights, we’d like to offer a few ideas to make them even brighter, and to help you save a few dollars while you’re at it.
For starters, if you haven’t replaced your traditional incandescent holiday lights with energy-efficient LED strands, this is the year to do it. Not only do LEDs consume less electricity, but they’re also made to be safer and sturdier. If you purchase ENERGY STAR® decorative bulbs, some have a manufacturer warranty of up to three years. They’re also a cinch to install.
Here’s the best part — many holiday LED strands don’t just shine brighter, but they also come in a wide array of changeable colors and patterns that can be synced to music.
Magnify the shine
Making the switch to holiday LEDs isn’t the only way to save energy this time of year. Once the lights are strung, here are a couple of other ideas. First, try amplifying the light by adding sparkle — hang small, mirrored objects that will catch the glow and reflect it. That way, you can get a brighter feel without adding extra lights. Next, cozy up the place by adding natural garlands, wreaths and ribbons, which don’t require any energy beyond your own.
Timing’s everything
Finally, use energy-efficient smart power strips and timers to automatically turn displays on and off, inside and out.
P.S. Decorate cookies, too.
Once the house is spruced, take some time to decorate some no-bake cookies. You can keep the holiday energy up, while keeping the oven off. And remember, when the guests arrive to see your décor, turn the thermostat down a degree or two as more warm bodies in the house will naturally raise the temperature. Pretty cool, huh?
There you have it. The makings of a brilliant holiday.
You can find discounted LED lightbulbs, smart power strips and more on our online marketplace.
Oct 6, 2022 | Energy Efficiency
Upgrading to a heat pump, heat pump water heater, or smart thermostat can reduce your energy costs significantly. With big rebates available, there’s never been a better time to make the change.
The ENERGY STAR® Home Upgrade includes the six highest-impact, most energy-efficient improvements you can make in your home. Rebates are available for upgrades to these ENERGY STAR certified products:
- Up to $450 off air-source heat pumps
- Up to $400 off ductless mini-split heat pumps
- Up to $400 off heat pump water heaters
- Up to $100 off smart thermostats
Upgrading to these ENERGY STAR certified products can improve the air quality of your home, boost your efficiency and comfort, and prevent energy loss.
Explore our rebates at pplelectric.com/rebates.
Oct 6, 2022 | Energy Efficiency
There are opportunities all throughout your home to help you save money by using less energy. We could all use a few extra dollars these days. That’s why we developed a virtual, online experience to help you find those hidden savings.
Here are a few easy tips that you’ll discover when you start your virtual energy saving journey at SaveWithPPL.com.
Switch. Then flip the switch.
It sounds simple, but if you haven’t made the switch to LED lightbulbs, you’re leaving money on the table. LEDs may look more expensive at the cash register, but they pay off. They have the same brightness as traditional bulbs, but they use 90% less energy and can save you up to $75 a year in electricity. Plus, they last 35 times longer than traditional bulbs.
Get a thermostat with a higher IQ
When the temperature outside fluctuates, it’s easy to forget to change your inside thermostat – or to know what temperature to change it to. A smart thermostat can help.
These devices automatically adjust based on your behavior, your preferences, and the current temperature. And you can change your temperature from anywhere using a mobile app. Install a smart thermostat and you could save up to $50 a year in energy.
We even offer rebates up to $100 to get you started.
You may be leaking money.
Keep warm air from escaping your home this winter by installing weatherstripping. Even the smallest gaps can lead to big leaks. You could save up to 15% on your energy bill when you weatherstrip your leaky doors and windows. Check out tips on how to track down air leaks on our blog at pplelectric.com/airleaks.
Save now. Save later.
If the refrigerator in your kitchen — or even the one in your garage — was made before 1993, we’ve got bad news and good news.
The bad news? You’re probably using twice the energy you need. The good news? We’ll pay you $50 for that energy monster and haul it away for free so you can upgrade to an ENERGY STAR® certified refrigerator.
For more information on ways to save — including tips, tools, and rebates — and to check out our new virtual energy efficiency home tour, visit SaveWithPPL.com.
*ENERGY STAR is the source for all savings estimates noted above.
Oct 3, 2022 | Energy Efficiency
According to ENERGY STAR®, 9 out of 10 homes in the U.S. are under-insulated. To see if you’re ready for cooler winter temperatures, use the following steps to check your insulation levels. Then, you can earn up to $700 in combined air sealing and insulation rebates.
Grab some gloves, a ruler and a flashlight, head upstairs and check your attic insulation:
- Visual check. Scan your attic to see if the insulation is level with or below the floor joists. If it is, chances are you need more insulation.
- Measure up. Using a ruler or measuring tape, measure the depth of your insulation. 16”-18” of insulation depth is typically recommended for northern climates.
If your insulation needs an update, our rebates can help. We offer attic insulation rebates for 75% of the cost (up to $500 for electric heat and up to $200 for non-electric heat).
Before you insulate, consider updating your air sealing to improve energy efficiency and help prevent moisture and mold. We offer an additional rebate of up to $200 for air sealing, which can improve efficiency by up to 20%.
Plus, if you’re a PPL Electric customer, you can earn up to $350 in bonus rebates when pairing an attic insulation upgrade with other qualifying measures. Learn more on our Comprehensive Retrofit Bonus page.
Looking for some assistance? We can help you find a contractor for your next home project: pplelectric.com/contractor
Not sure if attic insulation is right for you? Schedule a Virtual Home Energy Assessment: pplelectric.com/virtualassessment
Sep 30, 2022 | Energy Efficiency
It’s Energy Awareness Month! We could all use a few extra dollars these days. That’s why we’ve created a new interactive digital home tool so you can find the savings hiding in your home. Go ahead and explore. Click. Swipe. Rotate. You’ll discover rebates, offers and hacks to make your savings really add up. Now hop in, start saving and discover hundreds of dollars in rebates.
Let’s keep things simple with energy–saving tips that are easy to do and easy on your wallet. Here are just a few ways to save energy in your home, from your kitchen to your living room and every room in between.
Make the switch. Flip the switch.
It sounds simple, but if you haven’t made the switch to LED lightbulbs, you’re leaving money on the table. LEDs may look more expensive at the cash register, but they pay off. They have the same brightness as traditional bulbs, but they use 90% less energy and can save you up to $75 a year in electricity costs. Plus, they last 35 times longer than traditional bulbs.
Get a thermostat with a higher
When the temperature outside fluctuates, it’s easy to forget to change your inside thermostat — or to know what temperature to change it to. A smart thermostat can help. These devices automatically adjust based on your behavior, your preferences, and the current temperature. And you can change your thermostat from anywhere using a mobile app. Install a smart thermostat and you could save up to $50 a year in energy costs. We even offer rebates up to $100 to get you started.
You may be leaking money
Keep warm air from escaping your home this winter by installing weatherstripping. Even the smallest gaps can lead to big leaks. You could save up to 15% on your energy bill when you weatherstrip your leaky doors and windows. Check out tips on how to track down air leaks on our blog.
Save now. Save later.
If the refrigerator in your kitchen — or even the one in your garage — was made before 1993, we’ve got bad news and good news. The bad news? You’re probably using twice the energy you need. The good news? We’ll pay you $50 for that energy monster and haul it away for free so you can upgrade to an ENERGY STAR® certified refrigerator. For more information on ways to save — including tips, tools and rebates — and to check out our new virtual energy efficiency home tour, visit savewithppl.com.
