During the winter season, dropping temperatures and festive lighting can cause electricity bills to skyrocket. Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to offset your energy costs, even while keeping your home warm and bright with holiday cheer. This guide explores practical lighting tips that will help you save energy during the holiday season and preserve the comfort of your home.
1. Install Dimmer Switches
Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the brightness levels of your lighting fixtures. With this feature, you can fine-tune the amount of illumination required in the most used rooms of your home.
This allows for reduced energy consumption since you’re only using as much illumination as you actually need. It also helps provide an extra layer of ambiance to your home, giving it a cozy glow to match the holiday mood.
2. Put Your Holiday Lights on a Timer
When you put your holiday lights on a timer, your festive decor will automatically turn on and off according to your settings. This is a great way to be strategic about your electricity usage and reduce your overall energy consumption throughout the holiday season.
Putting your holiday lights on timers can help lower your energy usage throughout the day so you can still enjoy all your bright and festive decorations without a surprisingly high utility bill.
3. Avoid Over-Lighting Your Space
When it comes to lighting, a little bit can go a long way. Too many light fixtures in one space can drain more energy than is needed to keep a well-lit space.
As a general rule of thumb, you only need 20 lumens per square foot to keep most residential spaces comfortably illuminated. Using more light than what’s required can significantly raise your energy bills, so it’s best to avoid over-lighting your space this holiday season.
4. Unplug Unused Electronics
Even when lamps or other other electronics are turned off, they will still draw energy if they remain plugged in. This includes floor lamps, string lights, nightstand lamps, and more. Any lighting fixture or electronic device plugged into an outlet will use valuable electricity, even if it’s not switched on.
Luckily, this can easily be solved by unplugging any devices that aren’t used regularly.
5. Dust Your Light Bulbs
By routinely dusting your lightbulbs, you can ensure that you are getting the most illumination from all the light fixtures inside and outside your home. Otherwise, dust and dirt buildup can lower illumination by up to 50%. This wastes valuable energy since the bulbs are still using up just as much electricity as they would if they were clean.
To clean your lightbulbs, all you need to do it gently wipe them down with a soft microfiber cloth or disposable duster.
6. Make Sure All Your Lightbulbs Are LED
Did you know that LED lightbulbs use up to 90% less energy? They also produce more light than incandescent light bulbs and can last up to 60,000 hours (about 7 years) before needing to be replaced. These advantages make LED lightbulbs the most energy-efficient option on the market. Plus, as of 2025, you will only be able to buy and install LED light bulbs in the state of California anyway.
By making sure all your lightbulbs are LED, you can significantly cut back on electricity costs and maintenance requirements.
Call a Schafer Electrician to Stay Energy Efficient This Holiday Season
By implementing these energy-saving tips, you can keep your home both festive and eco-friendly this holiday season. These small adjustments will reduce your energy consumption and lower your electricity bills, all while maintaining a dazzling holiday ambiance you’ll remember for years to come.
Schafer’s expert electricians want to help you stay safe and efficient during the holidays. Our team has years of experience providing the Bay Area with the best residential electrical services available. Contact us online or give us a call at (707) 545-3300 to learn more about what we can do for you.
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