The holiday season is a time for joy and festivities, but it can also be a time for excessive energy use. If the ghosts of your past energy bills are haunting you this holiday season, you don’t have to remain filled with dread and anticipation. Read on to discover great winter energy saving tips.
Turn down the heat
If you grew up around energy-savvy parents, you might have heard the age-old adage, “put a sweater on,” upon asking to turn up the thermostat. While it may seem like a no brainer, turning down the heat really does make a difference. Every degree you drop in heating is money saved. Save even more energy by turning your heat down further at night and during the day if you are not home. If you plan on having guests over, you can also turn the heat down and save energy because the collective body heat will warm up your space.
Switch to LED lights
The light bulb has had several upgrades since its invention in the late 1800s, some of which have made it more energy efficient. Swapping your incandescent bulbs for LED is a sure way to save energy without changing anything about your routine. That’s because LED light bulbs last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and are more energy efficient. To take it a step further, consider using LED Christmas lights, which use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights. The extra cash you save on your electric bill is sure to bring you some additional holiday cheer.
Watch your windows
A significant amount of heat can escape your home through low-efficiency windows. You may not realize your house is cold because of this reason, so you increase your heat and, subsequently, your energy bill. To avoid throwing money and heat out the window, weather-proof your windows. If you can’t afford to upgrade your windows completely, sealing them in plastic is a great alternative. You can find a window insulator kit for a reasonable price at online retailers such as Amazon or your local hardware store.
Clever cooking
Cookies are a staple of the holiday season, and many of us will find ourselves turning the oven on more than ever. If you can’t stand lowering the temperature of your home too much, you can let the excess heat of the stove out when you’re done cooking or baking. Of course, this tip is not advisable if you have small children or curious cats, but it is a surefire way to warm up your space without doing anything extra. An additional way to save energy while cooking is to ensure you use the correct burner throughout the process. Don’t use the high output burner for a small pot or pan, as this wastes energy.
Wash clothes wisely
We are all guilty of washing one or two clothing items in hot water when in a pinch. When trying to save on energy costs, it’s important to be efficient with your laundry. Washing your clothes in cold water is a great way to save energy, as most of the washer’s energy is spent on heating the water. And make sure you are doing full loads since multiple small loads lead to higher energy costs.
We hope that you can reduce your energy use throughout the holiday season by following the tips above.