There’s a lot to be thankful for this year, and on cold winter days, you’ll surely be thankful for your heating system.
When the family comes over to celebrate the holidays, you can expect many different things to happen, but did you know you could save a few bucks on your energy bill with a few tweaks to your pre-holiday planning?
Temperature control
It’s no secret that powering your HVAC system is going to need energy, but the question becomes, ‘exactly how much energy is needed?’ Your HVAC system will need roughly half the total energy your home uses in a year, and you can dramatically reduce the cost and consumption of energy by simply turning down the thermostat. For each degree the unit increases, 6 to 12 percent more energy is needed and will change how much you have to pay to heat your home. More people inside the home who happen to be doing some last-minute cooking will also better help insulate the home, reducing the need to kick up the thermostat.
Be efficient in the kitchen
Instead of making each dish and cooking them separately, utilize the available space in the oven and on the stovetop and cook multiple dishes at the same time. If you have help in preparing the thanksgiving feast, take advantage of the additional hands and get as many things done as quickly as you can.
Be mindful of how people are coming and going
This should be a no-brainer, but having people come inside and back out frequently and constantly will cause the temperature inside to drop and cause you to turn your thermostat up. Being firm on keeping the door closed as much as possible and emphasizing the cost of heat can help your guests be aware of their actions and possibly even join you in the effort to keep it closed.
Utilize your dishwasher
Washing dishes by hand can be time-consuming and, frankly, not very cost-effective. Using a dishwasher and ensuring that it is full before running it will allow the least amount of both water and energy to be used, keeping costs down. Certain dishes, pots, or pans may not fit in your dishwasher, and they should still be washed by hand; but if they can fit in the dishwasher, they should be put there.
If you followed our tips and are still looking for more ways to save on your energy bill, call our office or fill out a form here on our website to request an appointment with one of our sales technicians.
