Energy Savings for the Holidays: You Can Make It Happen

The holidays are on their way, and for most American families, that means expenses on all fronts begin to creep upwards. If you love to decorate and entertain, the holidays can also mean increased energy consumption and elevated utility bills. However, there are steps you can take to cut expenses while still enjoying the magic of the season.

Here are solutions to increase energy savings for the holidays.

1. Switch your lights. If you haven’t already made the switch to LED light technology, this is the time. LED holiday lights are 90 percent more energy efficient than their counterparts. Keep an eye out at home improvement stores, online and your local municipalities for LED rebates. Many places offer discounts on new LED holiday lights when you turn in your old versions.
2. Holiday lights on, regular lights off. Increase your energy savings by putting your lights on timers. When the holiday lights turn on, have the majority of your other lights go off. This helps to reduce electricity usage. Make sure the holiday lights are off when you go to bed.
3. Use fiber-optic decorations. Fiber-optic decorations require significantly less lights to illuminate larger surface areas. This requires less electricity and increases energy savings.
4. Service your heating equipment. If you haven’t done so already, schedule an appointment for routine furnace maintenance. This will ensure your system is running efficiently throughout the winter and holiday season.
5. Switch your thermostat. Consider changing the programming on your thermostat for parties or holiday events where your home will have more occupants than usual. Bodies are a source of heat gain. The more people in your house, the lower your thermostat can be set.
6. Decorate with candles. Rather than using lights that mimic candle glow, why not use the real thing? Candles require zero electricity and can be used as attractive luminaries along your front walkways and porches, as well as around the interior of your home. Use precautionary measures to prevent the risk of fire.

For more ideas to gain energy savings this holiday season, please contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We’ve provided energy-efficient HVAC service to our Indianapolis clientele for more than 40 years.