Is your home ready for the holidays? While you enjoy the season, your home and heating appliances work extra hard to keep up with increased use. Learn more about what adds to your energy bill and learn ways to save
Holiday contributors to your energy bill:
- Holiday lights
- Kids being home from school
- Hosting more people in your home
- Extra cooking in the kitchen
- Extra use of electronics and device charging
- Colder than normal weather
Easy ways to save this season
Lower the thermostat: When you’re hosting, you’re often opening the door frequently, or opening a kitchen window when you’re working up a sweat in the kitchen. Turn down your thermostat a few degrees so your home doesn’t have to work as hard during this time.
Watch the weather: Last year’s extremely cold temps caused higher energy bills across Michigan. If we get a holiday cold snap, avoid dialing up your thermostat and use blankets to stay cozy.
Monitor when you use extra electricity: Having people over can throw off your usual schedule. Avoid using large appliances, like your dishwasher, washer or dryer, during 3-7 p.m. during the week when electric rates are highest.
Avoid extra heating appliances: If your guests are spending time in your basement or garage this season, avoid using space heaters or gas fireplaces for heating. These items use a lot of extra energy, and can really add up on your bill.
Energy efficient holiday lighting: Put your outdoor and indoor holiday lights on timers to make sure they don’t run any longer than you want them to. If possible, take advantage of holiday sales and upgrade to LED lights that use less electricity.
Don’t just use the oven: Consider using slow cookers, air fryers or toaster ovens to keep your oven from running all day and using more gas.
Don’t overload your fridge: If your fridge is packed, it will work harder to stay cold. Leading up to the holidays, consider a fridge cleanout to free some extra space. Make sure leftover food is completely cooled before putting it in the fridge.
You can look back on last year’s holiday energy usage in your home with our free Bill Analyzer Tool. Review your bill history, see what is using the most energy in your home and find ways to save. Learn more on our website.