Decorating for the holidays is a lot of fun, and the sparkly lights sure are pretty, but even during the holidays there are ways to save energy.
Here are a few things you can do:
• Use LED Christmas lights instead of regular Christmas lights. LED lights use 90 percent less electricity and cost about $10 per strand.
• Consider using fiber optic decorations. Most fiber optic decorations just use a single bulb, and it lights up the entire decoration.
• Use time limits. Instead of keeping the Christmas tree lit all day and into the evening, turn your tree lights on after it gets dark. Remember to turn them off when you go to bed, too. Timers come in handy for making sure the lights get turned off at night.
• Buy smart. Consider buying gifts that don’t use electricity or batteries. Energyquest.ca.gov says that 40 percent of all batteries are bought during the holidays. Instead, buy gifts that encourage recipients to use their imagination.
• Turn the thermostat down a degree or two and save money on the heating bill.
