SAN DIEGO, Dec. 2, 2008 – When finalizing your holiday gift list, don’t forget to add Mother Nature.  By making some easy adjustments to your normal holiday routine and searching for energy-efficient gifts you can do your part to help conserve precious natural resources all year round and put a little “green” back in your pocket.

        “If you’re one of the many consumers taking advantage of the deep discounts available on many electronics and appliances this holiday season, keep in mind the long-term costs of powering your purchases,” says Hal Snyder, vice president of customer programs for SDG&E.  “Take televisions for example—the annual energy costs for a 53- to 62-inch rear-projection TV are approximately $65, while the equivalent plasma television will cost about $143.”

        It’s no surprise that the larger the set, the more energy it uses.  No matter what kind of TV or appliance you buy this holiday, a good rule of thumb it to make sure it has an ENERGY STAR logo.  Products that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation help prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government and help save you money each month.

        Big or small, everyone can go green…

        • Buy LED holiday lights which can save 90 percent or more in lighting costs when compared to traditional incandescent holiday lights so they pay for themselves almost immediately.  Another bonus: decreased potential fire hazard.
        • Buy a solar charger for your cell phone, iPod and other gadgets.
        • Light up someone’s holiday buy giving them a compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulb—they cost one-fourth as much to operate and last up to 10 times longer.  Look for CFLs with the SDG&E “Promotional Price” sticker at your favorite retailer.  These products are already discounted and are displayed with the special low price provided by the manufacturer, your retailer and SDG&E. 
        • While shopping for holiday gifts, carry reusable bags.
        • If you receive a nifty new cell phone be sure to recycle your old one.  Each year, 130 million cell phones are thrown out, weighing approximately 65,000 tons.  Also make sure to take computers, TV sets and other electronics to authorized e-cycling locations.
        • Buy wrapping paper and holiday cards made from recycled paper or even better get creative and make your own: old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or children’s artwork are festive and meaningful.  If every family wrapped just three gifts this way, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
        • Make it a holiday tradition to plant a tree each year to offset your paper consumption.

        For more “green” energy-saving tips to use throughout the year visit www.sdge.com/residential or call 1-800-411-SDGE (7343).

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