It might be hard to believe, but the holidays are officially here \u2013 along with the crazy whirlwind of visitors and festivities that come with the season. With all the family, friends, and food to organize, your Tampa home will soon be bustling and busier than ever, using more energy than any other time of year. Between all of your visitor’s comings and goings, the charging of guests\u2019 many digital devices, not to mention all that extra kitchen use, it\u2019s no surprise that this time of year is when energy bills tend to spiral out of control. The good news is that there are a few simple things you can do to make sure your bill doesn\u2019t go completely overboard. With Thanksgiving, less than a week away (how did that happen!), Home Service Heroes has compiled a list of things you can do to help save energy over the upcoming holiday.<\/p>\n
With all the extra energy you\u2019ll be using over the holidays, what is a better time to get more energy-efficient lighting than Thanksgiving? LEDs are an easy, excellent option for both indoor and outdoor lighting. They use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than most incandescent lighting. If you\u2019re interested in making the switch for the holidays, give us a call and one of our experienced electricians can help with the installation process, with same-day service options and upfront pricing.<\/p>\n
But, if you\u2019re out of time and can\u2019t make the switch before the holiday craziness hits, you can always practice the simple rule of turning off lights in rooms that aren\u2019t occupied. Another quick tip \u2013 before your guests arrive, take the opportunity to lower your thermostat by just a few degrees to prevent unnecessary overheating of the space, as their body heat should more than make up the difference.<\/p>\n
When it comes to ways to save energy in the kitchen, look no further than the main dish \u2013 your turkey. The first thing you can do for yourself and your sanity \u2013 is realistic about the size of turkey you actually need. A smaller turkey won\u2019t take as long to cook. Also, your turkey will also cook faster if you cook the dressing separately, so keep that in mind as you prepare. Once you have your turkey and the timing figured out, come up with a simple plan of attack for the rest of your meal that will minimize your energy usage. Look for side dishes that be cooked along with the turkey at a similar temperature for a similar length of time. Avoid excessively opening the oven when roasting or baking, each time you open the oven door a ton of heat escapes. Also don\u2019t be afraid to put your microwave to the test \u2013 use it for shortcuts where you can, as microwaves draw and use less than \u00bd the energy of your oven.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re the one stuck with the unenviable task of Thanksgiving cleanup, here are a few tips to save on energy, including your own. Scrape those plates as clean as you can get them. If you can remove the majority of food off the plates beforehand, your dishwasher should be able to take care of the rest without a big pre-rinse. Did you break out the good china for the in-laws? Go ahead and hand wash delicate items, but save the bulk of the dishes for the dishwasher and let it do the dirty work.<\/p>\n