‘Tis the season to be jolly, but for some of us, that means staring down the barrel of a high energy bill from all the lights, heating, get-togethers, and extra time at home. If you’re concerned about keeping your home energy-efficient during the holiday season, here are six tips to keep in mind.
Preparation is Key
Starting to plan your power-saving strategies now is a great way to have an energy-efficient holiday season. For starters, you can consult our handy list of tips for how to keep your home well-prepared for the winter months. This includes things like sealing drafts, programming your thermostat, and more. Make sure to pay attention to your thermostat when you travel, as well! When no one is using your home, keep the heat low for greater energy savings.
Consider LED Lights
When it comes to lighted displays, there really is no escaping the higher utility costs that come from traditional outdoor and indoor lights, but there are ways to mitigate it. This year, consider switching to low-wattage LED lights, which come in all the colours you can imagine and use a fraction of the electricity. They even come in different tones, now, and are almost indistinguishable from traditional Christmas lights.
Proper Maintenance for High
Shut Everything Down at Night
We know how cozy and inviting a well-lit Christmas tree or holiday display can be but leaving lights on 24 hours a day can really waste those watts. For indoor lights, turn them off before you go to bed, or consider investing in a timer that will shut your light display off for you. For your outdoor displays, unplug or turn off the lights in the morning—you’ll barely see them in the daylight anyways. This way, you get all the holiday cheer of the festive, bright lights but can still keep energy saving top of mind.
Keep Airflow in Mind
If your family celebrates the holidays with a tree or other large display, you may find yourself shifting furniture around to make space for your holiday cheer. Remember to avoid blocking heating vents, which will make your system work harder—and that costs extra power. It’s also wise to keep your tree away from heating vents entirely. For one, it’s safest, and for another, the dry heat can make needles on fresh trees start to drop earlier. Plus, the air movement can quickly spread loose needles all across the floor.
Turn Down the Heat
If you’re planning to have people over at your place over the holidays, that could spell savings for your energy bill—you can comfortably drop the temperature in your home when there are more people gathered in it. If your home happens to have a natural fireplace, now is the time to consider lighting it (safely)—it’s festive, cozy, and best of all, uses none of your home power whatsoever. Finally, dress for the season, and let your sweaters and socks do some of the work of keeping you warm and comfy. You’d be surprised by the difference that even a few degrees can have on your home energy consumption.
Turn Down the Heat
If you’re planning to have people over at your place over the holidays, that could spell savings for your energy bill—you can comfortably drop the temperature in your home when there are more people gathered in it. If your home happens to have a natural fireplace, now is the time to consider lighting it (safely)—it’s festive, cozy, and best of all, uses none of your home power whatsoever. Finally, dress for the season, and let your sweaters and socks do some of the work of keeping you warm and comfy. You’d be surprised by the difference that even a few degrees can have on your home energy consumption.
