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The holidays wouldn’t be the same without lights hanging on your house and a Christmas tree lighting up your living room. All of the extra illumination boosts the holiday spirit—and then comes the dreaded electric bill in January…
So, how can you enjoy your holiday decor and still save some money? Here are 3 energy saving tips for this holiday season:
1. Use your oven for more than just food.
One of the best parts of the holidays is the food. When you turn on your oven, it can heat up your house pretty quickly. Not only will it deliver freshly baked sugar cookies, but it can also keep your heating system from having to run constantly.
You can even bump the thermostat down a few degrees and let the oven do most of the work. Be careful not to overwork your oven though. Try cooking multiple dishes at once to avoid using even more energy.
Bonus tip: Once you’re done baking and turn the oven off, crack open the oven door to let the rest of the heat escape. Just be careful not to let the kids get too close!
2. Invite your family and friends over.
Not only does it add Christmas cheer to have family and friends over during the holidays, but it can also help you save energy. When you get several extra bodies in your home, they let off extra heat, which means you can turn your thermostat down and keep the house warm. This gives you an excuse to plan a few extra holiday parties this season.
3. Limit your lights.
Put your lights on a timer or only turn them on for a few hours in the evening after dark. Avoid leaving them on all night because this will really cause your bill to skyrocket! If you haven’t already, consider purchasing LED light strings. They cost a little bit more upfront, but they’re about 90% more efficient than regular bulbs and will ultimately save you a lot of money.
You don’t have to sacrifice any of your traditional holiday fun to save money. Just be aware of how much energy you’re using and try to reduce it when and where you can.
It’s also a good time year to have your central heating & air conditioning system serviced to make sure it’s running efficiently and not costing you extra. Let a certified HVAC technician at Richmond’s Air get your Houston home prepared to take on the holidays!
