6 Energy Saving Tips for The Holidays
The holiday season is a busy time—full of decorating, wrapping, baking, shopping, and this year setting up virtual holiday get togethers. At the same time, it’s the time of the year when most households are likely to use more energy and possibly see a spike on their energy bills.
The good news is that it’s not that hard to become energy-efficient during the holiday season – it can be quite simple. After all, you should enjoy this time! So, take a look at these 6 tips from energy.gov to have a merry, bright and efficient holiday season.
Use LED Lights
This holiday light up your home with LED lights. In addition to being sturdier and more resistant to breakage, LED holiday lights also last longer and consume 70 percent less energy than conventional incandescent light strands. It only costs $0.27 to light a 6-foot tree for 12 hours a day for 40 days with LEDs compared to $10 for incandescent lights.
Install a Light Timer
When decking your house in holiday lights, use timer controls to lower energy consumption and save money. Timer controls allow you turn lights on and off at specific times, while staying in the holiday spirit.
Plug Holidays Decorations Into Power Strips
From holiday lights to listening to Christmas carols on repeat, the holidays can take a toll on your home’s energy consumption. Even when you aren’t using lights and electronics, they still draw small amounts of energy -- at an average cost of $100 a year for American households. Plug your electronics into a power strip and turn it off to reduce your energy bills.
Buy Energy Star® Electronics
Are computers, TVs or other electronics on your wish list this holiday season? Be sure to ask for ENERGY STAR home electronics for instant energy savings. Depending on usage, an ENERGY STAR computer can save 30-65 percent more energy compared a computer without this designation.
Save Energy in The Kitchen
Between holiday baking and meal preparation, your oven is probably working overtime. Cooking alone accounts for 4.5 percent of your home’s energy use, and when factoring in other kitchen appliances, your kitchen’s energy use can be as high as 15 percent. By taking simple actions in the kitchen -- like using the right-sized pots on stove burners to save about $36 annually for an electric range or $18 for gas, and using the oven light to check on a dish’s progress to prevent heat loss instead of opening the door -- you can entertain in style without raising your energy bill.
Install A Programmable Thermostat
Don’t pay for warm air that you aren’t using. By installing and setting a programmable thermostat, you can save money on your energy bills -- lowering your thermostat 10-15 degrees for 8 hours can save 5-15 percent a year on heating bills. If you are traveling this holiday, be sure to program your thermostat for energy savings.
