What is scarier than seeing a ghost, or getting preyed upon by a vampire — a witch, or a werewolf? Try sky-high heating bills. Nothing is quite as spooky as gas and electric bills up through the roof. This Halloween season, take the time to ensure your home stays warm and comfortable in the frigid months ahead without wasting precious energy. Because saving your money is a true treat you can enjoy, we at Grove City Heating and Air compiled the following list of spooky energy-saving tips to make for a happy “Hallogreen.”
LAYER UP, PICK A WARM COSTUME
Ever heard of the cool crisp chill evoked by a phantom or spirit? Our first tip makes a lot of sense. Welcome the cold this season, and wrap up with some warm layers. Include or conceal them within your costume. This way, you can keep your front door open to welcome trick-or-treaters. Be sure to turn your thermostat down a couple of degrees too.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WARMTH OF A PARTY
So this makes sense too. Be sure you turn down the heat by at least a degree or two if you host a Halloween party. So you can have hot food or treats for your guests, hosting parties means a lot of cooking and baking. Take advantage of that heat generated by your appliances. Then also, all of your guests’ warm bodies under your home’s roof will add to the warmth. Often, parties can even get too hot. Taking your temperature down ahead of time will make everyone comfortable and save you energy. No one will know the difference.
WELCOME EVERYONE WITH SOLAR WALKWAY LIGHTS
Walkway lights are an excellent way to attract kids to come to your front door. Not only that but also they help kids walk the right path and stay safe. Solar walkway lights will replenish its energy during the day and blaze that bright path at night. Plus, you can get imaginative and utilize them as part of your Halloween decors!
LIGHT UP THE CANDLES
There’s nothing quite as hypnotic and enticing as the flickering flame of a candle amid the backdrop of that Halloween darkness. While practicing the utmost safety, strategically place candles around the house and turn off those energy-burning lights for a break. Candles don’t use electricity and are especially spooky inside your carved pumpkin. We all understand how critical it is to produce the right mood for your Halloween decorations. Just remember, candles can cause fires so safety first.
POWER DOWN THOSE DECORATIONS
After an exciting 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. Turn those lights off. Nothing good happens after midnight.
BEWARE OF THOSE INFAMOUS “ENERGY VAMPIRES”
Tablets, computers, game consoles, and other household electronics can be infamous “energy vampires.” You heard that right: Bloodsucking ghouls. Often, these “phantom loads” engulf energy even when you aren’t using them. You might assume they’re “off.” They’re not… They will drive up your energy bills as sure as a vampire drinks blood. Experts estimate that the average annual cost of all “standby” or “idle” power is just under $200 per American household. That’s a lot of candy. 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 blood-red 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. That’s even MORE candy!
HERE’S AN IDEA: LED LIGHTS
This year when you set out those festive lights, don’t fuss about the energy cost. Here’s a bright idea: Just switch out your incandescent light bulbs for super energy-efficient LED bulbs. Although they might cost a little extra to buy, 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 up to 40 years. And they’re safer because they are much cooler than incandescent lights, making them less likely to burn your hands. Looking for more ways to save?
Call Grove City Heating & Air today at 614-490-7540 for a furnace inspection, or schedule an appointment online now at www.grovecityheatingandair.com/schedule-now/.
