With the end of October growing closer, it’s that time of year again. It’s time to get ready for the only day where it’s reasonable to dress as a zombie and frighten your friends and neighbors. It’s Halloween. And since you have so many added expenses (costumes and candy and entertainments for your parties), it’s only fair to try and recover your losses. Recover those losses by saving more money on your energy expenses. Believe it or not, energy-saving and the craziness of Halloween go hand-in-hand. And because saving you money is a treat you can enjoy, we at Beavercreek Heating and Cooling compiled the following list to make for a happy “Hallogreen.”
LIGHT THOSE CANDLES… SAFELY
There’s nothing quite as aesthetic and hypnotic as the flickering flame of a candle in a dark room. While following the utmost safety, strategically place candles throughout the house and turn those energy-burning lights off for a break. Candles don’t use electricity and are particularly spooky inside your creepily carved pumpkin. Think Jack-O-Lanterns and witches, vampires, and zombies. We all appreciate how important it is to create the right mood for your Halloween decorations.
MAKE SURE TO POWER DOWN YOUR DECORATIONS
After an exhilarating night of trick-or-treating, or giving out candy to kids with spooky costumes at your doorstep, make sure you unplug your exterior decorations. One way to run up your energy bill is to have your lights or decorations on all night. It wastes a lot of energy.
WATCH OUT FOR OTHER “ENERGY VAMPIRES”
Computers, tablets, game systems, and other household electronics can be notorious “energy vampires.” Often, these so-called “phantom loads” drain energy even when you aren’t using them when you might assume they’re “off.” Don’t let them drive up your energy bills! Experts estimate that the average annual cost of all “standby” or “idle” power is around $170 per American household. So be sure your electronic devices are either are in energy-saving mode or powered down to a power strip that can be unplugged Questioning whether your electronics are energy vampires? A good indicator is a gleaming light that remains on even when you power off the device. On that same note, experts also say the average American family consumes at least $2,000 a year on their home energy bills. Those same experts say you could save 20 to 30 percent off that bill by going with energy efficiency upgrades. That’s $400 to $600 you can save per year.
TURN DOWN THAT HEAT DURING PARTIES
So this makes sense. If you host a Halloween party, be sure you turn down the heat by at least 1 or 2 degrees. Hosting parties involves a lot of cooking and baking, so you can have hot food or treats for your guests. Take advantage of the heat generated by your appliances and all of your guests’ warm bodies under your roof. Often, parties can get too hot. Taking your temperature down ahead of time will make everyone comfortable and save you energy.
DRESS A LITTLE WARMER
It’s been said that hauntings can produce a crisp chill in the air. Embrace the cold, and wrap up with some extra warm layers combined within your costume. This way, you can keep your front door open for trick-or-treaters and your thermostat down a couple of degrees. You’ll hardly notice the difference.
INVEST IN LED LIGHTS
This year when you arrange out those celebratory lights, don’t fuss about the energy cost. Just switch out your incandescent light bulbs with super energy-efficient LED bulbs.
They might cost a little extra. However, LED light bulbs burn up at least 75 percent less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lighting. In fact, holiday LED bulbs can shine for decades, believe it or not. And they’re safer because they are much cooler than incandescent lights, making them less likely to burn your hands.
USE SOLAR WALKWAY LIGHTS
Pathway lights are a great way to invite kids to come to your front door. In addition to that, they also lead kids down the correct path and helps them stay safe. Solar walkway lights replenish themselves during the day and light that bright path at night. Plus, you can get imaginative and utilize them as part of your Halloween decors!
Looking to have a safe and efficient Halloween for your furnace? Call Beavercreek Heating & Cooling at 937-708-8527 today for a tune-up or schedule an appointment now online at www.beavercreekheatingandcooling.com/schedule-now/.
