The holidays are a joyful time, but also an expensive one. Whether you’re buying presents for loved ones, traveling, hosting parties and dinners, or hanging up holiday decorations and lights, your finances likely take a hit this time of year. Having people over and putting up lights will raise your electric bill, and add to the financial strain of this time of year, or at least it used to! Fortunately, there are ways you can save money on your electric bill this year: not only can you save hundreds of dollars a year by installing a solar panel system, but you can also use the following tips to save money, so you can stress a little less during the holiday season.
1. Invest In A Solar Panel System
Solar panels are a great way to not only upgrade your home, but to also save a lot of money on your electric bill. How will you save? Well, any extra electricity that your solar energy system produces will either be stored in a solar battery to use when you need it or sold back to your local utility company for credit. Either way, you’ll have “free” excess electricity to use for the nights when you crank up those holiday lights and entertain guests. And not only will you save money on your energy bills, but you can also save on the installation of your panels with available tax credits, as well as increase your property value.
2. Switch to LED Lights
LED light bulbs are more energy efficient than compact fluorescent bulbs, and these money savers are also available as holiday lights. While LED string lights can be more expensive, you will end up saving more money in the long run on your electric bill. For example, if you were to use a string of lights to cover a 6-foot tree for 12 hours a day for 40 days, you would end up paying almost $18 for incandescent C9 lights, while you would pay only $0.50 for LED C9 lights for the same amount of use.
3. Weather Stripping
To keep your house warmer, and use your heating system less, make sure to keep out any drafts. You can do this by sealing your windows and putting weather strips around your doors.
4. Turn The Thermostat Down
You can save as much as 10% on your heating costs every year by turning the thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours a day. For example, you can lower the temperature when you are not home during the day, or when you are sleeping at night, so you can save money on your electric bill. Consider installing a smart thermostat so you can program your home’s temperature based on your schedule; if you cannot afford a smart thermostat, you can still consider turning down the thermostat before you leave the house, just make sure that it’s warm enough to not burst any pipes, especially when you go on long trips.
Another way to save on heating costs? Take advantage of the warmth of your oven when you cook meals, or when you have guests at your house: this will increase the temperature in the house, making it warmer than usual, which allows you to lower your thermostat and save some money.
5. Tune Up Your HVAC
One thing that many people forget to do is check their HVAC system and make sure that it is up to par. Make sure your HVAC unit is performing at peak efficiency, which will help you avoid overpaying for energy.
6. Pay Attention to the Little Things
If you would like to save more money on your electric bill, here are some more extra little things you can do around the house:
- Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s heated dry setting
- Turn off the lights when you leave a room
- Use cold water for laundry
- Don’t leave your phone plugged in overnight
- Change air filters regularly
- Don’t leave appliances and electronics on standby, and turn off any power strips when not in use
Start Saving Now!
The holidays are expensive for most people, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to save extra money, especially on your energy bills. If you are considering solar panels for your home or business because of all the money-saving benefits, Go Solar Energy can help you. It can take a lot of work to find the right solar company and the right solar power system for you, but our highly trained agents work with the top-rated companies in the country, and can compare all solar plans in your area to find the best one available. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar on our homepage, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-290-3112.