How to Save on Energy Costs When Hosting Guests this Holiday Season

If you’ve ever hosted guests in your home for an extended period of time then you know that this can start to take a toll on your energy bills. With the holiday season in full swing, many homeowners have plans to host guests over a long holiday weekend or even just have friends and family over for dinner or a party. Below, we’ll offer some energy-saving tips that you can use to cut down on energy costs while you’re having fun with your loved ones.

Energy-Saving Tips for Hosting Holiday Guests

Whether you have guests staying in your home for the holidays or you plan on having a dinner party, the holiday season can be a time of high energy usage. Use the tips below to save on energy costs during the holidays.

Adjust the temperature and lighting once your guests arrive.

If you are hosting a party or having loved ones over for dinner, you can adjust the temperature and lighting to save more energy during the festivities. More bodies in the room means more heat. Not to mention, your home starts to heat up if you have been cooking all day. This is the perfect time to adjust your thermostat and save some energy. Once guests start to arrive, turn the thermostat down a bit to take advantage of the energy savings.

You can also adjust the lighting in your home to save energy when entertaining guests. If you have the holiday lights on, consider turning off other lights in your home that are not being used to better enjoy the holiday decorations. You may also opt for candles or other, more energy-efficient lighting that will help you save more energy while hosting guests.

Cook more efficiently.

If you are planning on making dinner for your guests, you can save energy by trying to cook more efficiently. Here are just a few ways that you can save energy while preparing holiday meals:

• Don’t open the oven door to look at what’s baking inside as this lowers the temperature inside, which can increase cook times and waste energy. If you have to look, turn on the oven light and check through the window.
• Try to cook several items at the same time. This cuts down on the amount of time that you need to have your oven on throughout the day, helping you save energy.
• Clean your burners and reflectors before you start cooking. This provides better heating which can save energy and cut down energy costs.
• Use other, more energy efficient appliances when possible. Don’t forget your microwave. This appliance not only cooks quickly, but it also uses about 50% less energy than the conventional oven, so utilize it when you can.

Need to make sure that your HVAC system is working efficiently before your guests arrive? Call the HVAC experts at ACS Air Conditioning Systems for an annual maintenance visit to make sure you all will stay comfortable this holiday season: (925) 676-2103.