For many people, money seems to fly out the window during the holidays, and it’s not all due to presents and parties. Decorations and cold weather hit energy budgets hard. But don’t get all “Grinchy” about it. To bring on happier holidays, take steps to reduce your energy costs.

Lighten Up

You know you love your holiday lights, both indoors and out. The season wouldn’t be the same without the twinkling colors. But seriously, think of trading your traditional incandescent lights for LEDs.

Savings are substantial. Plugging in 125 standard-size decorative bulbs for 480 hours costs over $25. Switch to twice as many smaller lights, and you’ll spend about 50 cents. Yes, cents!

Sleep on It

If it gets cold during the holidays in your neck of the woods, it’s tempting to turn up the thermostat. No one likes to be cold. But no one likes high energy costs, either.

Compromise by turning your thermostat down a few degrees at night. Throw on another blanket, and you won’t even notice the difference – except when it comes time to pay your gas or electric bill.

Enfold Your Feet

Speaking of the thermostat…turning it down a few notches during the day lowers energy costs, too. But putting on a sweater doesn’t always make up for it.

So take care of your other end – put on slippers. The temperature of the room is colder near the floor. And if you’re feet aren’t happy, the rest of you is uncomfortable, too.

Keep It Cool

OK, one more thermostat suggestion: turn it down when you’re entertaining. On the surface this seems counter-intuitive. Who wants to freeze guests?

But consider: the stove is on, the food is warm, and the guests are crowded together. That combination heats things up. Your guests will likely be more comfortable if you drop the temp a little.

Cook and Conserve

While you’re slaving over that hot stove during the holidays, conserve energy. Wondering if the turkey is crispy and brown yet? Check the kitchen timer. Don’t peek inside the oven.

Repeatedly opening the oven door lets heat escape. Then the oven has to work harder to get the temperature back up. Plus the cooking time increases.

Another oven tip: cook multiple dishes at once when it’s possible. The turkey pretty much hogs the oven, but bake a few pies or casseroles together.

They don’t mind close quarters. Don’t cram the oven so full, however, that heat doesn’t circulate properly.

Burn Carefully

Gotta love those chestnuts roasting on an open fire. But heat goes up an open-hearth fireplace, and the heating bill goes up with it.

Make sure your fireplace is fronted by tightly fitting glass doors. And though it seems contradictory, leave an adjacent window open just a hair. It helps keep the warmer inside air from escaping up the chimney.

Don’t Give It Some Gas

Holidays bring extra travel to buy presents, go to the post office, visit friends and family, and participate in seasonal activities. So your gas gauge is dropping, and you’re visiting the pump a lot more often.

To cut costs, do several errands while you are out and about. Consider using public transportation. Carpool when you have the chance. Share holiday cheer while you’re sharing travel expenses.

Give the Gift That Saves

Check wish lists for electronics and appliances. Anyone longing for, say, a computer, TV, or air purifier? If so, look for an Energy Star label. It’s really two gifts in one. A great present and year-round savings in energy costs.

Save, Save, Save

The holidays are times for peace and joy, not anxiety and frustration. Take some measures to curb your energy costs.

Then focus on more pleasant worries, like finding time to wrap presents, bake cookies, and make eggnog. Don’t forget the nutmeg.

Further reading:

• The Holy Trinity of Modern Day Housing: Environmentally Friendly, Sustainable, and Energy Efficient Houses
•  Solar Panels Cheaper than Cars – Business Insider
•  Roof Colors – Roofline
• Stool Made of Sand and Urine – Dezeen
• Benefits of Steel Framed Houses – Wide Span Sheds

Sources:

• How to Reduce Home Energy Costs: Bruni & Campisi
• Tips to Save Energy During the Holidays: Energy Saver
• Winter Holiday Time Energy Saving Tips: Consumer Energy Center
• Holiday Energy Saving Tips: Wisconsin Public Service
• Go Green for the Holidays: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Wasteful energy consumption can cost homeowners thousands of dollars per year. Fortunately, there are many high-scale and budget-friendly approaches to amending this issue and making your home more energy efficient.

The tips below may seem surprisingly simple, at least in terms of how much you can save each year. It’s amazing how far some new light bulbs or a filter change can go toward reducing the cost of your energy bill — especially during particularly hot or cold months.

Here are seven ways to save money on energy costs:

Make Nighttime “Lights Off” Time

A device left on overnight here and there won’t make much of a dent in your electric bill, but consistently leaving your computer on standby or your TV blaring throughout the night can add up significantly. Make a list of devices in your home that consume energy and identify whether they are on during the night. In the instance of a computer, check for energy-saving settings that automatically shut your computer off if it idles for a certain period of time.

Change All Filters

From your air conditioning to your furnace, ensure all systems that use a filter are cleaned regularly. A blocked filter for any of these machines can result in it working harder, consequently using more energy. This is a very simple action, but it can save you money and help your system work much more efficiently.

Landscape With Energy in Mind

During the summer, homeowners can increase energy efficiency by planting trees and plants to serve as shading. If you place them in close proximity to your home’s windows, they can help keep out the heat, so you won’t have to spend nearly as much on air conditiong.

Use Energy-Minded Products

Fluorescent light bulbs use about one-third the energy of standard bulbs. Replacing all your home’s bulbs with energy-saving ones could result in substantial savings.

Update Old Electrical Appliances

Although your budget may not allow for an immediate upgrade, the tips above can help save on electrical costs. Those savings could be used to update old electrical appliances, replacing them with energy efficient upgrades. The impact of a new appliance can be massive. For example, 2001’s top-rated refrigerator uses 40% more energy than today’s top-tier refrigerators.

Insulate Wherever Possible

One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to save on energy consumption is to ensure windows and other locations in your house are correctly insulated. If any unnecessary heat or cold is seeping through cracks or gaps, it’s wasting your AC or heat.

Also, be sure to caulk any doors, windows, holes, and cracks that may be letting cold or hot air seep through. This includes electrical outlets, which are prone to holes since they may lead to outside walls.

Also, if you have a fireplace, it’s advised to install glass doors. That way, chilly gusts don’t enter your living space through the chimney.

Use Ceiling Fans Wisely

Ceiling fans have more power than you may imagine. They spread hot or cold air around considerably, aiding heating or cooling systems to the point where significantly less energy is used.

Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to help circulate cold air back into a room and clockwise for warm air. This is a simple yet effective trick that can significantly increase a heating or cooling system’s energy efficiency.

These seven tips can help you make your residence a more energy-efficient one, in both the cold winter and hot summer months. You’ll start saving money, and you’ll be helping conserve important resources, too.

Sources:

• Incandescent, LED, Fluorescent, Compact Fluorescent and Halogen Bulbs – Consumer Energy Center
• Making Your Home Energy Efficient – House of Home

As the dog days of summer visit your area, it’s difficult to ignore the sizzling temperature in your indoor space. No one likes to be hot and sweaty, so it’s natural for homeowners to turn up their AC and let the cool air circulate through the home. While using your AC to maintain your indoor temperature will undoubtedly make you feel comfortable, the solution becomes less attractive when you receive your electric bill at the end of the month. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Americans spend approximately $40 billion annually on air conditioning, which translates to the stunning figure of over 183 billion kilowatt-hours. However, keeping your home comfortable doesn’t need to cost you a bundle. Try these tricks to slash back your energy costs this summer while staying cool and happy.

1) Operate Your Thermostat Strategically

The first way to lower your utility bill is by keeping the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures minimal. Program your thermostat in such a way to reflect your daily routine so that it automatically turns off when you are gone. U.S. News & World Report has found just doing these two things can reduce your annual cooling bill by 30%.

2) Plant Tall Trees around the House

Reduce direct contact of solar heat with your roof by improving plantings around your home. Because most of the heat is transferred through the roof, you want to plant leafy, 15 to 20 feet trees to shade your home. If the shade also covers your air conditioner, your AC’s efficiency can be boosted up by approximately 10%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

3) Quick, Easy Cooking

Cooking takes up heat and energy which can dramatically warm up your house. Turning on the oven heats up the rest of the house and forces your air conditioner to go into overdrive. Instead of using the oven or making a big fancy meal, consider using your outdoor grill. If you still need to make something indoors, a toaster oven or the stovetop are  better alternatives because they give off less heat than the oven.

4) Keep Your Cool Air Concentrated

It takes much more energy to cool down the entire house than it does to cool a specific area. During the peak heat, try to restrict your activity to certain areas in the house. Close the doors and the vents of any unused rooms to enjoy a cool indoor space without overworking your AC.

5) Dress up Your Windows

Stop the sun rays from penetrating your windows by using awnings, drapes, and other shades. Additionally, solar screens, or mesh-like window screens can intercept up to 70 percent of solar energy. Keep your windows tightly shut to prevent heat infiltration and cool air loss.

6) Use the Fans

Use your ceiling fans to circulate the cool air around the house. According to CheatSheet.com, “Fans use a lot less electricity than an air conditioner. If you strategically place your fans in your house, it can keep cool air circulating in the house, preventing your home from getting too warm.”