Tips from Edmond Electric for Saving Energy Dollars During the Holidays
Simple Steps for Increasing Energy Efficiency
Most electric utility customers are interested in conserving energy and keeping the electric bills as low as possible during the holidays. With guests coming and going, cooking larger meals as well as decorating with holiday lights, even the most efficiency-minded consumers can face challenges. Edmond Electric offers tips that focus on conservation without hampering the celebrations that make the season special.
“We provide tips and encourage energy efficiency so Edmond Electric customers can get the most out of using our product during the holidays,” said Bob Corff, Energy Services Manager for Edmond Electric, the City’s municipal electric utility.
Holiday Cooking Tips
- Cook outdoors when possible - our climate is usually mild enough to use outdoor grills to cook during the winter holiday months.
- Choose glass or ceramic pans for the oven. Glass or ceramic pans heat faster than metal pans and allow you to set the temperature 25 degrees lower. Plus, meals will cook just as quickly.
- Use microwaves as much as possible. Microwave ovens use much less electricity than a stove or oven and take less time to cook meals.
- Use slow cookers. Slow cookers can cook a whole meal for about 17 cents worth of electricity.
- Clean burners and reflectors. Clean burners and reflectors will provide better heating, while saving energy.
Decorating Tips:
- Decorate with LEDs. Get rid of the old traditional decorating bulbs, and use Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). LEDs are durable, last up to 100,000 hours, and conserve more energy than their incandescent counterpart. One traditional bulb in a strand of holiday lights (incandescent C9) uses six watts. An entire strand of 50 LED lights uses four watts.
- Unplug lights. Always unplug all holiday lights at the wall outlet before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Pre-lit decorations. To avoid the mess and hassles associated with real garland in the home, consider using pre-lit LED wreaths and artificial garland on the mantel, and along stair railings. This not only saves assembly time, it also provides considerable cost-savings year after year.
- Timers. Use timers to limit light and inflatable displays.
Other Tips:
- Check temperature settings. Weather is a controlling factor in approximately 55% of the total home energy consumption through heating and air-conditioning. Set thermostats at 68 degrees during the winter and even lower when away from the house for more than a few hours. While sleeping, add an extra blanket for warmth. Use a programmable thermostat to turn down thermostats automatically.
- Install weather-stripping/caulking and insulation. Sealing air leaks with caulking and weather stripping and installing adequate insulation in walls and the attic are some of the most cost effective savings measures you can do in your home.
- Inspect furnace filters. Clean or replace your furnace filter monthly to help it run more efficiently.
- Check water heater. Set water heater temperatures at 120 degrees, families can cut water heating bills without sacrificing comfort. If your water heater is hot to the touch, install a thermal blanket to help retain the heat.
- Use ceiling fans. Use ceiling fans on a slow speed with the fan direction “up” during the winter. This will push warm air away from the ceiling and move it around the room without creating a cool breeze.
For information about Edmond Electric or more tips for energy efficiency, visit edmondelectric.com.
Issued: November 21, 2007
