When we think of energy efficiency, it's no surprise that the first thought that comes to mind is reducing heating & cooling costs. However, there are other ways to reduce energy usage during the holiday season.
Holiday decorations are beautiful, but they also use a lot of energy. Simply turning them off at night before you go to bed can help cut back on electricity usage. Timers make this task even more convenient. You may also want to consider changing to more efficient lighting in your decorations, making use of mini-lights and/or LED's, instead of traditional lighting. Fiber optics are another great energy-saving technique for decorations, as most fiber optic decorations use just one bulb to illuminate many points.
You can also cut back energy usage in the kitchen, whether you use electric or fuel-fired cooking appliances. Items that take several hours to cook don't require you to pre-heat the oven. Checking on your food through the window in the oven instead of opening the door is another way to save energy. Opening the oven door may reduce the heat in the oven by as much as 25 degrees!
Going away for the holidays? Setting interior & exterior lights on a timer reduces electric usage while giving the illusion that your home is occupied. Reduce your water heater thermostat to the lowest possible setting; no one's going to be showering or doing laundry while your home is vacant.
Spend your money on family and friends this holiday season, not insanely high utility costs!
Read these and other energy-saving techniques for the holidays in this article.
Jesse M.
Holiday decorations are beautiful, but they also use a lot of energy. Simply turning them off at night before you go to bed can help cut back on electricity usage. Timers make this task even more convenient. You may also want to consider changing to more efficient lighting in your decorations, making use of mini-lights and/or LED's, instead of traditional lighting. Fiber optics are another great energy-saving technique for decorations, as most fiber optic decorations use just one bulb to illuminate many points.
You can also cut back energy usage in the kitchen, whether you use electric or fuel-fired cooking appliances. Items that take several hours to cook don't require you to pre-heat the oven. Checking on your food through the window in the oven instead of opening the door is another way to save energy. Opening the oven door may reduce the heat in the oven by as much as 25 degrees!
Going away for the holidays? Setting interior & exterior lights on a timer reduces electric usage while giving the illusion that your home is occupied. Reduce your water heater thermostat to the lowest possible setting; no one's going to be showering or doing laundry while your home is vacant.
Spend your money on family and friends this holiday season, not insanely high utility costs!
Read these and other energy-saving techniques for the holidays in this article.
Jesse M.
