How to Save Energy During the Holidays
When you think about planning for the holidays, what do you think about? Do you go all out with your holiday lights and decor? Are you planning on having a lot of family visit from out of town? Do you cook more than usual and have your crock pots, food processors and oven all running at the same time?
It’s OK! We all do these things naturally. But what we tend to forget is how all of these seemingly normal, little things can add up and affect our energy bill in big ways.
As you begin planning for the holidays, keep the following tips in mind to help you keep your energy bill under control.
Switch out your old holiday lights for LED lights.
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, LED holiday lights use up to 90% less energy and can last up to 40 holiday seasons. And the cost to operate LED lights make traditional bulbs look like energy hogs. At 12 hours a day for 40 days, a string of incandescent lights adds $10 to your energy bill, while a string of LED lights adds just over $0.25.
Put your lights on a timer.
Using timers and motion detectors for indoor and outdoor lights can help ensure your lights are on only during your preferred hours. And let’s face it, 40 or more consecutive nights of illuminating your home adds up.
Turn the temperature down on your water heater.
According to energy.gov, water heating accounts for about 18% of the energy consumed in your home. If you have extra guests in your home during the holidays this number could sky rocket quickly.
One way to help combat this is to turn down the temperature on your water heater to a warm and comfortable 120°F.
Unplug!
The average U.S. household spends $100 per year powering devices that aren’t in use. Take a few minutes to turn off electronic devices and unplug anything that’s not currently being used.
An easy way to do this is to plug all of your devices into a power strip. Then with the flip of a switch all of your devices can be disconnected from the power source at once.