Florida PSC Consumer Tips /consumers/tips/ Consumer Tips from the Florida Public Service Commission, State of Florida © 2012, State of Florida en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 12/12/2011 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2011,12,12 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2011,12,12 Consumer Tip for 12/12/2011 <ul><li> <strong>Learning About Lumens </strong></li><li>Description: </li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2011,12,12>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 9/19/2011 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2011,09,19 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2011,09,19 Consumer Tip for 9/19/2011 <ul><li> <strong>Home, Sweet, LED-lit, Home? </strong></li><li>Description:
Home, Sweet, LED-lit, Home?

Move over compact fluorescents - LED’s, or light emitting diode bulbs - are the newest lighting vying to replace traditional incandescent bulbs.

LEDs last for decades, have cooler, less breakable bulbs, and save 85 percent more energy than incandescent bulbs, and 50 percent more than fluorescent bulbs. In addition, LED’s are mercury and lead free.

So, why aren’t LEDs everywhere in our home?

LEDs can’t do everything an incandescent or fluorescent bulb can do - yet! To date, wattages are limited. A top LED bulb wattage is the equivalent of a 60 watt incandescent bulb. LEDs have a cool white color, in contrast to the warmer tones from traditional incandescent lights. The bulbs are also expensive, averaging $40.

However, even with their limitations, LED can be great for certain applications, which you can learn more about in a video available at the PSC website.</li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2011,09,19>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 3/14/2011 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2011,03,14 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2011,03,14 Consumer Tip for 3/14/2011 <ul><li> <strong>How to Best Water Your Lawn </strong></li><li>Description: How to Best Water Your Lawn

Did you know that most of us use more water outdoors than indoors during the year? And many of us are wasting our money because we overwater our lawns.

 The spring sunshine is signaling lawns to stir out of their winter slumber. Now is the time to set up a lawn watering program, so the grass is luscious while you conserve costly and precious water.

 Watering efficiently wets only the turf grass root zones without saturating the soil or letting water run off.  Water no more than two times a week and even less if it has rained. Your lawn only needs an inch or less of water a week.

 In addition, your community may have watering restrictions to preserve drinking water for indoor use, so make the most out of your watering time.

 

</li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2011,03,14>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 14 Mar 2011 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 12/13/2010 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,12,13 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,12,13 Consumer Tip for 12/13/2010 <ul><li> <strong>What’s Your R-Value? </strong></li><li>Description: Efficiency in the 3 R’s – Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rythmatic – will get you good grades. Efficiency in a different R – R-Value – will get you a good electric bill. In insulation, you want a high R-Value. Insulation is a barrier that keeps the outside temperature from changing the inside temperature of your home. What is R-Value? The R-Value rates the insulation’s resistance to heat flow. With about 50 percent of your utility bill going towards heating and cooling your home, a higher R-Value in your insulation translates into a lower utility bill for you. Insulation gives an added bonus by dampening sound and making your house quieter. For most of Florida, attics should have insulation rated from R30 to R60 and wall insulation rated R13 to R15. Check the R-Value when you purchase insulation material to make sure you are getting the thickness that your home needs.</li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,12,13>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 13 Dec 2010 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 9/20/2010 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,09,20 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,09,20 Consumer Tip for 9/20/2010 <ul><li> <strong>Where to Find Help in Florida </strong></li><li>Description: Where to Find Help in Florida. Since the word “public” begins our name, you might think the public would know who we are and what we do. Calls to the PSC’s toll-free number, however, indicated that many consumers don’t know we regulate utilities. In fact, some think the PSC can help with any problem because “public” is in our name. For example, can we help change their bank statements, pay child support, file a complaint against a hairdresser, or locate a construction company? That’s why we’ve produced a booklet, Where to Find Help in Florida, to tell people what we do and don’t do, and offer more information on the help they need.</li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,09,20>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 20 Sep 2010 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 6/14/2010 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,06,14 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,06,14 Consumer Tip for 6/14/2010 <ul><li> <strong>Eliminate Hurricane Preparation Hassles </strong></li><li>Description: Don’t you hate fighting the crowds at the store when a hurricane threatens? Preparing before severe weather strikes can alleviate a lot of stress. </li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,06,14>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 3/15/2010 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,03,15 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,03,15 Consumer Tip for 3/15/2010 <ul><li> <strong>Save Money During Spring Break </strong></li><li>Description: The pleasant spring days between winter's chill and summer's heat are ideal for cleaning the home heating and cooling system. More than half of the average home's utility bill is spent on air conditioning and heating so a little spring cleaning can save a lot of money.
To make your home more efficient adopt a whole house approach. The system must be working properly so that outside air is not coming into the house and inside air is not escaping out.</li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2010,03,15>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 11/23/2009 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2009,11,23 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2009,11,23 Consumer Tip for 11/23/2009 <ul><li> <strong>What is a Smart Meter? </strong></li><li>Description: Florida is a national leader in the installation of smart meters in residential neighborhoods. What is a smart meter and what does it mean for you? The new smart meters - also known as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) — help utility customers monitor their energy usage and increase the utility’s ability to identify and correct service issues through a sophisticated, interactive communications network. AMI is a key step toward future smart electricity grids, which are needed to make the electric system more efficient by better matching electricity production to use. AMI will also allow the system to integrate renewable energy from the sun, wind, and other sources and to route power around disruptions and congestion. </li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2009,11,23>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 5/11/2009 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2009,05,11 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2009,05,11 Consumer Tip for 5/11/2009 <ul><li> <strong>Hurricane Survival Kit </strong></li><li>Description: Ana, Bill, and Claudette are the first names on this year's Atlantic hurricane list. Max Mayfield, Director of the National Hurricane Center from 2000 to 2007, gave this perspective on hurricanes: "History teaches us that we are going to have hurricanes. There's nothing we can do about that. But there is something we can do, and that is to prepare for the hurricane. If you can see the devastation after a hurricane, and talk to some of the people that have experienced it, I'll guarantee you that will be motivation enough to create your individual hurricane plan."</li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2009,05,11>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 11 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT Consumer Tip for 12/29/2008 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2008,12,29 /consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2008,12,29 Consumer Tip for 12/29/2008 <ul><li> <strong>Save Money With a Clean Air Filter </strong></li><li>Description: Changing your home's air filter is a simple job that only takes a few minutes and usually requires few, if any, tools. Filters should be replaced monthly for greatest efficiency and effectiveness. It's a good idea to purchase several filters at one time so you don't have to make a special trip to the store each month to buy a new filter. Make it a habit to change the filter each month when you pay your utility bill. </li><li><a href=/consumers/tips/tipoftheweek.aspx?tipDate=2008,12,29>Read full tip</a></li></ul> Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:00:00 GMT