Energy Conservation Tips for the Holidays

COLUMBUS – This time of year, many Ohio families begin putting up decorations to celebrate the holidays. Decorations help make the season bright, but can also create safety hazards. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) offers some tips to ensure a safe and energy efficient holiday season.

Decorating safely

Decorating this holiday season can be done safely with these tips.

Check strands of holiday bulbs and discard strands of lights that have damaged cords.

Use the correct type of bulbs for indoor and outdoor use. Make sure to plug bulbs into a power strip with a built-in circuit breaker.

When using a ladder to hang holiday lights, stay clear of nearby power lines.

When shopping for a live tree, look for a fresh one. Dry trees are a greater fire hazard than fresh ones.

When using an artificial tree, make sure it is flame-resistant.
Do not place a tree near the fireplace, heat vents or portable heaters and use nonflammable ornaments to decorate the tree.

Managing home energy bills

Enjoying the holidays does not have to mean higher energy bills.

Use energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) holiday bulbs. Although more expensive than standard holiday bulbs, LED bulbs last longer, require less energy and can lead to cost savings.

If you’re wondering how to save during the holidays (or all year round!) – Put outdoor lights on a timer. This means they won’t be flashing throughout the night, wasting lots of electricity. After all, every home owner wants to try and save money on their electricity all year round, not just during the holidays. Start by making small changes such as switching off lights and comparing electricity rates Houston way perhaps, or wherever you are living.

Keep the thermostat set to 68 degrees. A programmable thermostat is an affordable way to stay comfortable and save energy.

Make sure that your windows aren’t leaking precious heat and causing you to spend more money on keeping your home warm. If you discover your windows do need replacing, you can always call a professional, like Renewal by Andersen, to do the job quickly and efficiently.

When traveling, set the thermostat to 55 degrees to save energy and prevent water pipes from freezing.

In addition, by making sure that HVAC systems have been serviced, repaired, or newly installed by companies like Premier HVAC Services (premierhvacservicesllc.com/service-areas/heath/) it could allow people to save more money by having efficient heating running throughout their home.

For more information about additional ways to save money on home heating bills, visit Ohio’s Winter Heating Resource Center at winterheat.ohio.gov. For help with utility-related questions and concerns, call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826).