The holiday season is a wonderful time of year, yet it can also be one of the most expensive. Between purchasing gifts, decorating homes, and entertaining guests, costs can escalate quickly. Energy consumption during the holidays can significantly impact the financial burden, but that doesn’t mean it has to be this way! Even with the help of a solar system on your roof, it is still important to conserve energy. There are numerous ways for you to be efficient with your energy usage and save money this holiday season. This article aims to share some holiday home energy-saving tips!
Decorations
1. Festive lights are a staple of Christmas traditions but consume a tremendous amount of energy. LED Christmas lights use 90% less electricity than regular lights and can be found in stores and online for as low as $10.
2. By utilizing automatic timers or smart plugs, you can minimize your electricity usage by scheduling lights to turn on and off during specific times of the day.
3. Decorating your home with candles is an excellent way to reduce energy usage, and in the evenings, when the tree is lit, turn off the lights to enjoy the warm holiday glow!
Holiday Cooking
4. Since many holiday meals require several hours in the oven, preheating the range isn’t necessary and could save some energy. Some dishes can be cooked simultaneously, making the most of the energy that goes into heating them and maximizing oven space.
5. Use the oven light to check the progress of food instead of opening the door. Each time the oven door opens, there could be a potential loss of up to 25 degrees; this is a waste of energy and cooking time. When cooking on the stovetop, be sure to use lids as they help to keep the heat in, cooking food faster and preventing energy loss.
6. Whenever possible, use smaller cooking appliances, especially when it comes to reheating food! Using a microwave instead of an oven can reduce energy usage by upwards of 50%.
Gifts & Holiday Entertainment
7. Turn the heat off while entertaining guests; this will keep your energy usage low, and the extra body heat in the room will make up for the difference! If you have a fireplace, use the fire to warm your home, but be sure that the heat isn’t escaping through an open damper.
8. Purchasing energy-efficient gifts that are durable, recyclable, and made from natural products will help to reduce the need for them to be replaced.
9. Make a point to buy gifts that don’t use batteries and electricity; this way, you are cutting out the expense of batteries and saving energy. If your gifts require batteries or electricity, invest in rechargeable batteries and smart power outlets to reduce waste and conserve energy.
10. Turn off the sound system and TV and play cards or board games with your family and friends. This is an excellent way to conserve energy and a fun activity to share with everyone!
Ultimately, there are numerous ways to reduce energy consumption during the holidays. In addition to rechargeable batteries and smart plugs, many other smart home devices will help conserve energy during the holidays and different times of the year. Small tricks while cooking and entertaining will help you to be more efficient. Taking the initiative to reduce your energy consumption will not only benefit you financially, but it will also benefit the environment. We at Everlight Solar want to wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. We hope these tips will help reduce your energy usage!
