By most metrics, the holidays are expensive: gifts, cards, parties, extra food, extra entertainment, decorations, donations…every time you turn around it seems that there are extra expenses that quickly add up. One way to trim expenses is to cut your electric bill by mindfully decorating for the holidays. In addition to saving you money on your next electric bill, you will also lessen the burden on the power grid for the entire community and planet. For more information about saving energy year round, check out this article.
Ideas for energy efficient Christmas decor
Obviously, with Christmas falling during the darkest days of the year, hanging Christmas lights are an important part of celebrating the holidays as we try to welcome a bit more light into our lives. Technology has given us many new options for energy efficient Christmas lighting. Additionally, there are plenty of other non-electric options to make our homes look cheery and festive. Which of these options have you already adopted?
Lights:
- switch to LED bulbs. They use 70% less energy than traditional bulbs and also last longer. LEDs have come a long way since they were first introduced
- Also on the market now are solar powered lights, which collect energy from the sun during the day so they can be lit up at night!
- Rechargeable battery powered lights
- Fiber optic decor
- Plug all electric decor into a power strip and then control the on and off with the toggle switch to prevent phantom power being drained from wall outlets when the devices are not turned on
- Light timers: limit the time your Christmas lights are lit by automatically turning them off when no one is around to see them
- Limit secondary lighting so that your holiday lights really pop and emit their magic at full force
Inflatables:
Depending on their size, inflatable Christmas decorations use between 150-200 watts per hour. If you have them on for 10 hours a day, you will spend an extra $10 a month per inflatable on your electric bill; they use more energy than a strand of lights. Consider only inflating these decorations at night to save power and money.
Other Decorations:
- Use reflective materials (such as tinsel, mirror and other metallic surfaces) to magnify lights so you don’t have to use so many
- Use real wax candles: this may cause a fire hazard, so you will always want to be attentive when candles are lit and be careful of where they are placed, but candles can really add a lot of festive ambiance to holiday decor. Obviously, keep out of the reach of young children and mischievous pets, and always blow them out when you aren’t in the room with them. Also make sure you have them displayed in such a way that if wax drips, it doesn’t ruin your flooring or furniture
- Energy free decorations: bows, fruit, greenery, colored paper, Christmas ornaments in bowls, garlands, strings of popcorn, nutcrackers, wreaths, nativity scenes, poinsettias, forced bulbs like amaryllis and paperwhites, and so much more!
Saving energy and money during the holidays leaves more money in your pocket for taking care of and improving your home throughout the year. Here at F.C. Tucker Emge REALTORS®, we always want to help you get the most out of your home. If there is anything we can do to help you with your housing needs, please reach out to us and one of our REALTORS will be happy to help you find the right solution. Whether you are trying to decide on what home improvements to make or contemplating upsizing or downsizing, our agents are here to give you well researched, professional advice, year round.
