Winter is just around the corner, which means that it’s time to enjoy the holiday season. There’s nothing better than spending time with family and friends while making new holiday memories. One thing that you probably won’t be thinking about is your energy consumption… that is until you get the energy bill at the end of the month.
The holidays are the one time of the year when homeowners tend to use more energy than usual. Between hosting guests, cooking up a storm, and keeping the heat on, it’s no surprise that your December energy bill will be slightly higher than normal. The good news is that there are a few simple ways that you can work to save energy throughout the holiday season so that you aren’t too shocked by the bill at the end of the month.
Best Ways to Save Energy During the Holidays
Here are just 3 ways that West Los Angeles homeowners can work to save energy this holiday season:
- Turn down the thermostat when you are hosting guests.
The more people you have in your home, the warmer it is likely to get. This means that if you are having a holiday party or plan on hosting guests, you can turn down the thermostat and enjoy the warmth without the added heating costs. The same is true when you are cooking or baking all day. If you’ve got the oven on, it’s going to get warmer in your home, so you can adjust the thermostat to a lower temperature to save more energy without sacrificing your comfort.
- Bake several dishes at once.
Your HVAC system isn’t the only appliance that’s contributing to the surge in energy use over the holiday season. Many homeowners end up using their oven more often and for longer periods during the holidays when baking special holiday treats or making large meals for the family. One way to save energy while using your oven more often is to bake several dishes at once. Your oven uses the same amount of energy whether there is one dish baking or three. Get the most out of your energy usage by making several dishes at the same time.
- Use LED holiday lights.
Another thing that uses a lot of energy during the holiday season are holiday lights. Whether you choose to decorate the outside of your home with colorful lights or you just put a few on the Christmas tree, these decorations can use a lot of energy over time. By transitioning from traditional holiday lights to LED lights, you can save a significant amount of energy. In fact, LED holiday lights are about 80-90% more energy efficient than others. Another trick to saving energy with holiday lights is to use a timer so that your lights are not on when there is no one around.
Looking for more ways to save energy year-round? Purchasing an energy efficient HVAC system can help ensure that you are using less energy throughout the year. For more information, call the HVAC experts at MightyServ: (818) 348-4768.
