Monthly Archives: November 2010

The Holidays are just around the corner and if you’re like a lot of people then your energy usage and costs always increase around this time of year. A large portion of this is due to the increase of lighting from Holiday decorations and hosting Holiday guests. Here are some simple ways to help reduce the looming energy spike that is coming so you can spend more money on presents instead of worrying about your future electric bills.

Energy Star Light Fixtures

A great way to help reduce energy costs during the Holidays (and year-round) is by replacing old light fixtures with Energy Star light fixtures. By using Energy Star light fixtures throughout your home you can save hundreds of dollars annually due to the fact that they use up to 75% less energy than standard light fixtures. For a product to receive an Energy Star rating it must meet specific guidelines that are set by The United States Department of Energy and The United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Updating your home with Energy Star light fixtures will not only help reduce energy costs but can also be an easy way to update a room’s décor. So if you are planning on hosting any Holiday parties and want to improve the look of your home, changing the light fixtures is a fast and easy way to do so.

The most important rooms during the Holidays are usually the kitchen and dining room. This is where most family members and friends gather to celebrate together.

If you are looking for a light fixture for your kitchen check out Energy Star Pendants. They are available in a variety of styles to illuminate all areas of your kitchen from islands to bar areas. And if you are looking for a light fixture for your dining room then you should consider Energy Star Chandeliers. I believe having an Energy Star Chandelier in a dining room is a must because they add a sense of elegance while still saving you money.

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

The easiest way to reduce energy costs during the Holidays is by replacing all incandescent bulbs in your home with energy efficient bulbs, like CFL and LED light bulbs.

CFL light bulbs, also known as compact fluorescent light bulbs.

• Can save you up to $40 in electric costs over their lifetime

• Produces 75% less heat, which makes them safer to operate & cuts energy costs associated with home cooling

• Use 75% less Energy

• Lasts 10X longer

LED light bulbs

• Use 75% less energy

• Lasts 15x longer

• Produces a bright, crisp light

• Contains no toxic materials

Other helpful ways to reduce Energy Costs and Usage during the holidays

Besides updating light fixtures and bulbs with energy star rated products here are a couple of other tips on how to reduce energy usage during my favorite part of the year.

Use LED Christmas Lights indoors and outdoors. Two years ago when riding around looking at Christmas lights I noticed these beautiful bright lights on certain houses and I had to find out what type of lights they were. I found out that they were LED Christmas Lights. The next year I replaced all my Christmas lights with LED Lights. Not only do they feature bright, colorful lights they also help reduce energy usage (along with costs) dramatically. A 100 bulb strand of LED Christmas Lights uses around 4 watts, where as a regular 100 bulb strand of Christmas lights can use around 34 watts! Plus the they last longer.

Keep Christmas Lights off during the day. I’ll admit I have been guilty of having the Christmas tree lit during the day, but it is really a waste of energy if you think about it. This year NO Christmas lights on during the day. You really don’t get the full effect of the lights anyway during the day so why waste energy and money.

Limit the time the Lights are on. If you have outdoor Christmas lights put them on a timer so they are turned off automatically the same time every day. This way you won’t fall asleep with the lights on during the whole night. I’ve done that before.

So enjoy the Holiday Season this year and help reduce your energy use and costs at the same time by updating lighting fixtures and bulbs with Energy Star approved items, updating Holiday decorations with new energy efficient decorations, and by limiting the amount of time Christmas lights are on. I hope this post helps you save money and energy during the holidays so you can enjoy your time with family and friends without worrying about future electric bills.

What do you do to during the Holidays to reduce your energy consumption and costs?

Check out CeilingFan.org for more ways to help reduce your energy bills during the Winter.