The holiday season is just around the corner and soon festive music will fill the airwaves and sparkling lights and decorations will adorn homes and businesses. But after all the holiday hustle and bustle, you may receive higher-than-usual energy bills.
I thought this month would be a good time to remind Lynches River Electric members of a few efficiency tips to help manage your energy use this season and into the new year.
Minor adjustments to help you save
The colder weather can result in higher energy use. Minor, low-cost improvements—such as weatherstripping exterior doors and caulking around windows—can make a difference on your energy bills. Also lowering your thermostat a few degrees when you’re not home or when you have guests will reduce your electricity use and save money on your energy bills.
Be festive without breaking the bank
It seems homes are decorated for Christmas earlier every year. If you’re hanging your lights out as soon as Thanksgiving leftovers are in the fridge, I hope you’re using LEDs, which use 88% less energy than incandescent holiday lights. LEDs are also shock-resistant, shatterproof and cool to the touch, making them safer for the home.
Smart lights and plugs can help you save energy by connecting to a smart phone app or voice assistant to program lights to turn on and off at set times. If you don’t use smart home technology, you can still save energy by using traditional timers.
Additional easy ways to save during the holiday season include turning off overhead lights and using your Christmas tree to illuminate your home. If you have a fireplace, remember to close the flue when you’re not burning a fire to ensure heat doesn’t escape through the chimney.
Cook up energy savings in the kitchen
If you plan to have family and friends over this holiday season, you can cook up energy savings by using small countertop appliances like microwaves, air fryers and slow cookers, when possible, as they use much less energy than the stovetop or oven.
When using the oven, bake multiple dishes at once for maximum efficiency. Turn the oven off a few minutes before the recipe’s end time and allow the residual heat to finish baking the dish. When using the stove top, match the pan size to the burner to maximize the stove top’s efficiency.
I hope a few of these tips will be helpful as we approach the holiday season. Remember, we’re here to answer any questions you have about managing energy use or your monthly bills. With a little planning upfront, you can find efficient ways to save on everything from holiday décor to your favorite soup recipes.
From your friends at Lynches River Electric Cooperative, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
President & CEO
Happy holidays from your co-op!
Lynches River Electric Cooperative and RiverNet Connect wish you and your family a happy holiday season. We hope the lights of the season will fill you with warmth and a joyous spirit.
Our offices will be closed to celebrate the following holidays:
- Thanksgiving—Thursday Nov. 23 and Friday Nov. 24
- Christmas—Monday, Dec. 25 and Tuesday Dec. 26
- New Year’s—Monday, Jan. 1, 2024
Emergency crew will be on standby. If you experience an outage, call (866) 320-3119.