This Year’s Holiday Decorations Don’t Have To Break The Bank

3 Easy Ways To Save Money During the Holidays – and Still Have a Bright and Festive Home

One of the best parts of the holiday season is the spreading of festive cheer. Decking the halls, giving the gifts, baking the cookies, turning the front yard into a glowing winter wonderland – it all amounts to a lot of warmed hearts and smiling faces. And with this year’s heightened challenges and anxieties, now’s the time when a little holiday cheer is most needed.

But with so much uncertainty and a fluctuating economy, it’s also a time for people to hang on to as much of their hard-earned cash as possible. Here are a few tips to help save money and still spread the joy this holiday season.

Make the Switch To Energy-Saving LED Lights

Anyone who’s about to dig out their boxes of decorations to start the process of untangling those ancient string lights – go no further. LED holiday lights are becoming increasingly popular, and with good reason. Unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, which produce light by heating a tiny metal filament, LED bulbs generate almost no heat. In addition to making LEDs safer in general, this also makes them highly efficient because they waste virtually no energy in the form of heat. 

Though they are a bit more expensive than traditional string lights, they’ll save loads of money in the long run – upgrading to LED bulbs can reduce energy usage by around 90%. They also last about 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs and are less likely to burn out or come loose. As an added bonus, their near-lack of greenhouse gas emission makes them better for the environment.

Get All the Baking Done At Once

Another way to cut down on needless energy expenditure is to consolidate as much of the holiday baking and cooking as possible into one efficient marathon session. Whether the home’s oven is gas or electric, the cost of preheating and baking over and over again can really stack up. It’s far more efficient to get the oven hot, keep it hot, and fill it with all the gingerbread, snickerdoodles, and family favorites it can handle. If the oven has a convection setting, even better – the hot air inside will be continually circulated, further maximizing efficiency.

A similar principle applies to those big holiday feasts. It’s best to develop a plan that will allow multiple dishes to be baked at once to minimize cooking time in general. It also helps to use the microwave when possible, as it is generally the most energy-efficient appliance in the kitchen.

Use Automatic Timers for Electric Decorations

Plugging both indoor and outdoor decorative lights into a timer-operated power strip not only saves money but also eliminates the hassle of manually plugging and unplugging the lights every night (and remembering to do so). Keeping outdoor decorations lit into the wee hours of the night consumes energy and benefits almost no one – except perhaps the occasional nocturnal critter on its way through the yard. 

Additionally, a timer can reduce the risk of fire in a home if someone forgets to turn the Christmas tree off before leaving the house or going to bed. Having the lights turn on around sundown and turn off a little after bedtime is an ideal energy-saving schedule, but this can easily be customized to the homeowners’ preferences. 

About Patriot Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc.

For years, Patriot has been Wenatchee, Washington’s one-stop-shop for home services. Patriot believes in delivering outstanding professional service and top-quality work at an honest and affordable price, which is why they provide financing options, membership plans, and a 100% guarantee on every job. It’s no wonder local residents trust them with all their electrical services in Wenatchee. As an award-winning and highly-reviewed local business, they also support numerous charitable organizations in their community. 

Holiday lights

2019 Holiday Lights Done Right (Eco-Friendly Living)

Holiday Lights With Eco-Friendly Cheer

The holidays are officially upon us, and with the season comes a world of decorating, decor, and holiday lighting. It’s no doubt that these festive decorations add a warm glow and cheerful spirit to the season. But with so much of the decor using excess amounts of energy, it’s time to start thinking smarter and more eco-friendly.

It’s not impossible to decorate in a way that helps save the planet and your pocketbook. Read on for the best eco-friendly lighting tips that will also help save you money.

Festive LED Indoor Lights

led indoor lightsOne of the best ways to cut down on electricity use is by swapping out old Christmas bulbs for eco-friendly LED options. You can find LED lighting offered for any lighting need, from Christmas signage to twinkle lights for your windows to lightbulb strands for your trees. LED lighting has many benefits.

It’s safer than traditional bulbs because it puts out less heat, so if you have pets or little hands in your house, you won’t have to worry about them accidentally brushing up against your light strands.

LED lighting is also cost-effective as they use much less energy, saving you on electricity bills all season long. If you enjoy lighting up the inside of your house, swapping out your old bulbs for LED options is a great way to go.

Solar Powered Lights Work Too

During the holidays, outdoor lighting is especially needed. Whether you want to light up your driveway for your guests, line your walkway, or light up the side of your house to add some holiday cheer, lighting is an essential part of your decor. So how can you make your outdoor lighting eco-friendly? By using solar power lights.

solar powered lights

These lights will soak up light and energy from the sun during the day and will automatically power on during nighttime hours. Solar-powered lights are efficient, function, put out plenty of light during the night, and save you on your energy bills. Outdoor lighting alone can save you hundreds of dollars during the holiday. Solar-powered lighting can be purchased at most major retailers, making them affordable options to swap out for old plug-in options.

Go for a Rustic Look With Candles

led candlesA third method of making your holiday decor eco-friendly is by swapping out your wax candles for LED candles. These are safe alternatives, especially if you have pets or children. LED candles to eliminate the worry of wax getting spilled or someone getting burnt.

LED options are designed to look like real candles and even flicker, glow bright or dim depending on the setting. These come in every shape and size you might need from large round votives to tall and slender taper candles.

If you need outdoor-friendly options, some candles are produced to withstand the outside elements. Light Emitting Diode candles are a fantastic eco-friendly option to bring the warm glow of real candles into your home all while providing an extra layer of safety and savings on your electric bill.

Trust Your Local Electrical Pros

Patriot Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. have the expert answers for all your plumbing, heating, HVAC, and electrical needs. Serving the Wenatchee, Washington area, they provide comprehensive diagnoses, 24/7 servicing, flat-rate pricing, and guaranteed customer satisfaction.