Regardless of religion, culture or customs, the holiday season brings higher utility costs for most Southern California homeowners.
Family gatherings (and all the cooking and cleaning that come with them), holiday lights and colder weather can all contribute to a more costly energy bill during the holidays.
But there are a few things you can do to decrease the impact of your home’s energy costs on your wallet. Here are five of them.
Upgrade to LED Holiday Lights
If you have gone shopping for holiday lights to decorate your home this year, you probably noticed that the vast majority of new holiday lights are LED. However, these lights can also be much more expensive than traditional incandescent lights.
So is the purchase worth it? Here are a few things that make LED holiday lights worth the extra investment, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
- Lower electricity use – LEDs use up to 5 times less energy
- Longer lifespan – LED holiday lights can last up to 40 holiday seasons
- Safer – LEDs do not emit heat and are much less likely to start a fire (on a dry Christmas tree, for example.)
Turn off Your Holiday Lights
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but it needs to be said – turn off your holiday lights when you go to bed for the night.
Every year, we drive past Southern California homes with their holiday lights on in the middle of the day. This is a waste of electricity and money (plus, we heard it can land you on Santa’s naughty list.)
Install light timers for your holiday lights so you don’t forget to turn them off when you go to bed.
Only Run a Full Dishwasher
The holiday gatherings at your home will most likely involve lots of food. Lots of food means lots of dishes – so be smart about your dishwashing habits and it could save you some significant money.
Washing dishes by hand is not as efficient as using a dishwasher (especially if you have a newer dishwasher.)
But you should also only run the dishwasher when it’s full. This will cut down on wasted water as well as the energy used to heat the water.
Turn down the Thermostat
One easy way you can cut down on your heating bill during the holidays is to turn down your thermostat a couple of degrees before your guests arrive.
The increased body heat from the many people that will be in your home will let you use your furnace less.
Get a Heating Tune-Up
Since we have had a pretty mild fall this year, you may have been putting off your annual heating tune-up. Don’t put it off any longer.
Annual maintenance is:
- Recommended by your equipment manufacturer, the utility companies, the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA
- Proven to reduce you energy consumption this winter (and we guarantee it will.)
- Needed to help prevent breakdowns. Furnaces with annual tune-ups have fewer problems and last longer
Ready to stop putting off your annual heating tune-up? Schedule yours online today.
Service Champions is Southern California’s most trusted heating and cooling company. For more great tips, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.