Spikes in a Florida homeowner’s electric bill can be seasonal, and we aren’t just talking about summertime A/C.
As we move into October, many homeowners will be looking forward to the holidays – eerily illuminating their exterior for Halloween, hosting a large meal over Thanksgiving, and festively decorating their entire home, inside and out, with holiday lights in December. The holiday season can require a lot of extra electricity, but here are some money and energy saving tips which may help.
Tips to Save on Your Electric Bill
- Use LED Light Strands: If you haven’t made the switch to LED lights in your daily life, now is a great time to do so. When decorating for the holidays, you’ll save on electricity. Start by replacing older incandescent lights with energy efficient LED light sets. You’ll enjoy increased safety due to lower wattage, the ability to light multiple LED strands for less than an incandescent bulb, as well as access to a broad spectrum of colors and light arrangement options.
- Install Timers for your Lights: Timers are a smart addition to your light display over the holiday season. While some newer lighting options have timers incorporated into the product, you may have to add timers to others. Timers allow you to light up your home, shutting them off automatically at a set time – even if you are not home or have gone to sleep. By regulating the hours your lights will be on, you limit electrical use and lower your electric bill. Additionally, you can look into “smart” outdoor plugs, which give you the ability to turn plugged in decorations on or off from your phone or computer.
- Upgrade Old Outdoor Lighting Features: With guests coming and going, many homeowners find themselves keeping the lights on more often than usual.
But old outdoor lighting may be using more electricity than you’d like, and cost effective upgrades can ensure more energy efficiency through the holidays and beyond. - Rally the Troops: With routines disrupted and guests sleeping in every room, your electric bill can rise quickly. By simply asking family and friends to join the conservation effort, you can decrease stress and your power bill. Consider reminding people to turn off lights when leaving a room, for instance, or unplugging devices when they are not in use.
- Be Cognizant of Kitchen Energy Use: Most holidays are associated with a lot of cooking and food preparation, from turkeys to cookies and fruitcake. That means that your stove, oven and microwave are likely working overtime, and every minute is reflected on your electric bill. While it takes a little preplanning, you can reduce the amount of energy you use cooking by grouping items that cook at the same temperature in the oven together, or thinking about what you need from the refrigerator before opening the door, minimizing the time the door is open.Expert Tip: If you are renovating your home or looking for long-term energy savings, replacing old appliances with Energy Star models is a smart choice. Many homeowners think they are saving money by keeping old appliances such as refrigerators, but the truth is that they are more likely leaking money out of worn seals and energy-guzzling operation.
The team at Promise Electric are pros at helping Sarasota area homeowners to make their home more energy efficient. If you are looking for ways to save money on your electric bill, call us today for a home assessment.
