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STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ — New York residents can reduce their energy bills this holiday season by taking a few simple steps, according to Direct Energy, one of the largest non-utility retail energy providers in North America. The company, which offers fixed price electricity and natural gas plans to New York residents, is providing these tips to help customers better manage their energy usage.

“The first step a New York resident can take to better manage their energy expenses is to review the competitive offerings from Energy Service Companies in their area,” said Mike Beck, vice president of sales and marketing for Direct Energy. “ESCOs, such as Direct Energy, offer the opportunity for lower rates versus the utility and a variety of innovative energy products, including fixed price plans to protect against future price spikes.”

Additional simple measures that Direct Energy recommends to help reduce energy usage and maximize efficiency:

– Keep the Lights Burning Twenty strings of 100 holiday lights can cost more than $20 per month to keep lit. Direct Energy recommends using light-emitting diode (LED) lights to decorate your home this year. LED lights last 20 times longer and use 90 percent less power than traditional incandescent bulbs.

– Cook Your Holiday Dinner in the Microwave Microwaves use 75 percent less energy than traditional ovens so consider using it for cooking holiday meals. If using a stove top, place the center of the pan over the burner and make sure to keep the lid on.

– Store Leftovers Smartly Your freezer requires more electricity to run when ice builds up, so be sure to defrost regularly. Keep a refrigerator at least three-quarters full to maximize efficiency. Also, avoid placing hot food directly in the refrigerator or freezer, as it requires more energy to cool down.

– Fire Up, Not Out Fireplaces may add to the holiday atmosphere but aren’t an efficient way to warm a home since about 80 percent of the air heated by a fireplace is lost up the chimney. When you are not using the fireplace, be sure to close chimney dampers tightly. If you don’t use your fireplace at all, consider sealing the damper with weather stripping and stuff the chimney with fiberglass insulation.

– Seal the Deal Install weather stripping around windows and doors to keep cold air out. Measure the perimeter around each window and door and then purchase an extra 5 to 10 percent for waste. Also, make sure to look for the ENERGY STAR logos on products which have been independently certified to be the most energy efficient.

About Direct Energy

Editor’s Note:These tips are provided as a public service by Direct Energy and are based on information from the following Web sites and publications*:* Direct Energy is not affiliated with the publications or companies inthe Web sites listed above.