
Ways to Conserve Electricity This Winter
Winter is here! And between heating and appliances that keep you warm, comfortable, and safe, there’s no doubt that you’ll be consuming more power than usual. This can lead to an unexpected spike in your utility bill – this is not the way you want to start the new year! Fortunately, there are several ways you can conserve electricity during the cold winter months. Keep the following tips in mind:
- Put a timer on your outdoor lights. It’s great to have your lights on when you’re home, as well as at the beginning of the evening. However, you don’t see them when you’re not home or asleep—so why would you keep them on during those times? To conserve electricity, put them on a timer so they shut off automatically at the right time.
- Use LED lights. LED lights might require a slightly higher investment, but they have many benefits. They’re more energy-efficient and use between 80 and 90 percent less power than regular lights. They also last longer, and since they don’t get hot to the touch, they’re less of a fire hazard so they’re much safer.
- Turn down the thermostat when you have a full house. Have you ever noticed how the indoor temperature rises when you have a lot of people in a room together? If you have a lot of guests over, just turn down the thermostat to below 65 degrees so the heating doesn’t come on. Note that while a lot of people open a window when it gets uncomfortably hot, the cold air is more likely to make your heating crank up. So, turn down the thermostat, and you’ll notice a difference in your energy bill.
- Use battery-powered gadgets with rechargeable batteries. Not all holiday gadgets need to be plugged into a power outlet. To conserve electricity, there are plenty of battery-powered models available that work just as well. To conserve power and respect the environment, use rechargeable batteries.
- Turn down the thermostat when you’re cooking. Do you cook dinner in your home most nights? Then you’ll probably know that the heat from your stove and oven can drive up the indoor temperature considerably. That means you can turn down the thermostat in the kitchen and adjacent areas to save power.
- Lower the thermostat setting for the upstairs area of your home. Heat rises. If you and your family are home all day with the heat on, then a lot of this heat will rise to the upper levels of your home and heat that area naturally to conserve electricity.
The winter season is a busy time for all—but it’s important to conserve electricity, too. With these tips in mind, you’ll have peace of mind instead of worry about your next energy bill.