BGE's Smart Energy Savers Program(r) Provides More Than 16,000 LED Lights for Tonight's 41st Annual Holiday Lighting of Baltimore's Washington Monument

BGE's Smart Energy Savers Program(r) Provides More Than 16,000 LED Lights for Tonight's 41st Annual Holiday Lighting of Baltimore's Washington Monument

BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program® Provides More

Than 16,000 LED Lights for Tonight’s 41st Annual

Holiday Lighting of Baltimore’s Washington Monument

For the fourth year in a row, the monument will be lit by energy-efficient LED lights, which burn brighter, last longer and use up to 90 percent less energy than previously used incandescent bulbs
BGE is also providing LED lights for decorating vendor booths in the event’s Holiday Village

BALTIMORE, Dec. 6, 2012 – Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) <http://www.bge.com/Pages/default.aspx>  today announced that through its BGE Smart Energy Savers Program <file:///C:\Users\e12682\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\Content.Outlook\W52VPH73\bgesmartenergy.com> , it is once again sponsoring the 41st annual holiday lighting of the Washington Monument, located in Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon neighborhood. Each year, Baltimore kicks off its holiday season with the ceremonial lighting of its Washington Monument. This year’s event begins at 5:30 p.m. and takes place at Mount Vernon Place, located at the 600 block of North Charles Street in Baltimore. 

“The BGE Smart Energy Savers Program <bgesmartenergy.com> , which supports EmPOWER Maryland, is committed to providing smart energy solutions to all customers and is proud to once again team up with the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore to provide energy-efficient holiday lights that have become a part of this great Baltimore tradition,” said Ruth C. Kiselewich, director of demand side management programs for BGE. “The energy-efficient LED holiday lights that light up the monument have been a gift that keeps on giving year after year. That’s because LED lights burn brighter, last longer and use up to 90 percent less energy than the incandescent bulbs used in the past, helping Baltimore City save energy and money every time they are used. This year, we have extended that gift by donating the LED holiday lights decorating the vendor booths in the Holiday Village during the spectacular annual lighting event.”

The event, much like a holiday tree lighting, is expected to attract more than 5,000 spectators and will be broadcast on local television, enabling audiences to watch as the 65-foot-long light strands that surround the Baltimore landmark are lit. The event also features a Holiday Village, with vendors and live entertainment, and a fireworks finale. 

Completed in November 1829, Baltimore’s Washington Monument, standing 178 feet tall with a 33-foot tall statue, was the first monument in the nation to honor our first president. The monument’s holiday lighting features 84 strands of lights, totaling more than 16,000 LED lights. Each strand contains 200 LED lights, consuming only 12 watts of electricity.  By comparison, the 1,200 incandescent bulbs that were used in previous years were similar in size to appliance bulbs and typically consumed 40 watts each, or approximately 48,000 watts total.

For more information on tonight’s event, visit www.GoDowntownBaltimore.com <http://www.GoDowntownBaltimore.com> . For information on energy-efficient lighting solutions for your home or business, visit BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program website atbgesmartenergy.com. <http://www.bgesmartenergy.com/residential/lighting-appliances>  For information on safe holiday lighting, visit bge.com <http://www.bge.com/learnshare/stayingsafe/pages/holiday-safety.aspx> .  

BGE <http://www.bge.com/Pages/default.aspx> , headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,400 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider with approximately $33 billion in annual revenues.  Like us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/myBGE>  and follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/mybge> , YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/baltimoregaselectric>   and Flickr <http://www.flickr.com/photos/mybge> .