During the holidays, twinkling lights adorn trees and homes, decorations make things feel much more magical, and kitchens are full of activity. All of these activities can make this season more enjoyable, but at the same time, they can increase utility bills. Below, we’ve highlighted a few reasons why energy bills rise during the holiday season and provided you with tips for cutting costs.

Use LED Lights

Following traditions can be important for many. However, using the same kind of incandescent holiday lights year after year isn’t doing you any favors. These types of lights get very hot, and because of this, they consume a lot of energy. If you switch to LED lights, you’ll use much less electricity. Since LED lights don’t get hot, you’ll be reducing your fire risk as well. Better yet, LEDs look very modern and come in multiple colors and styles.

Set Timers

Using lights and other decorations that use electricity can eat up a significant amount of energy, especially if you leave them on all night. That’s why it can be helpful to use a timer. A timer can be programmed to turn things on around sunset and off several hours later. You might prefer that your lights go off in the late evening or even after you’ve gone to bed. The important thing is that you won’t be consuming energy unnecessarily in the middle of the night. An added bonus is that even if you’re away, perhaps in the nearby mountains or out to dinner downtown, your lights will still go on, adding to the beautiful glow of the neighborhood.

Use Appliances Wisely

Since it can get cold in the winter, we tend to spend more time indoors. When you also take into consideration that many people host gatherings during the holidays, it makes sense that we’re going to be using our home appliances much more often. This can contribute to rising utility bills, but there are things you can do to minimize the impact. First of all, only use your washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher for full loads. Consider running your washing machine with cold water instead of hot water to lessen the burden on your hot water heater. To reduce your heating costs, think about installing a smart timer so that you can easily turn things down when you’re not home or when you’re sleeping.

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

Making the switch to LEDs, setting up timers, and reducing how much you use your appliances this holiday season can all add up to some significant savings. Call Burnett Electric in Reno whenever you need to make adjustments to your thermostat or other electrical devices.