5 tips to help you go green (and save some) this holiday season

​SunHarvest Solar is ready to get in the holiday spirit! With the cool weather, family, food and festivities, saving energy isn’t always the first thing on our minds. But with a few easy tips, you can conserve energy and save money this holiday season.
 
1. Swap your old light strands for LED decorations

It’s time to break out the decoration boxes and light up our homes, but this easy swap adds up to big savings. Choose holiday light strands with LED bulbs to save money with your festive displays this winter. LED lights use far less energy, are safer, and last longer than other lighting options. Save even more by putting your light displays on a timer. Click here to check out these Energy Star Certified light strings that use 75% less energy than conventional brands. Our favorite LED light strands are ones powered by solar! 

​2. Save paper and get creative with gift-wrapping

If every family in America wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields, according to the CDC. Save money and paper by using creative alternatives to wrap gifts. You can use old newspapers, funky leftover fabric or a unique reusable tin to package presents. Click here for more creative gift-wrapping ideas! 

3. Feast on savings by changing kitchen habits

Is your mouth already watering for that holiday ham? For many families, the kitchen is a busy place over the holiday season. By making a few changes in the kitchen, you can save tons of energy. Avoid opening the oven door while cooking, as this can lower the temperature by 25 degrees — use the oven light to keep tabs on your food instead. Don’t waste time and money by preheating the oven for ham or turkey. These foods cook slowly and for a long time, so there is no reason to use all that extra energy.
 
4. Tweak your thermostat

When you’re at home and awake, keep your thermostat at a comfortable level. When you go to sleep or leave the house, turn it down by 10 or 15 degrees. Turning your thermostat down this far for eight hours can save up to 15 percent a year on your heating bills! When more people are in a room it takes less heat to stay warm, so turn down the dial when guests are over too. Make sure your windows are sealed, and if you have a fireplace, keep the damper closed unless a fire is burning.
 
5. Dial down the water heater

Did you know that water heating accounts for about 18 percent of the energy used in homes? Turn your water heater down to between 120 degrees and 130 degrees to save some cash. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heaters that are set too high can waste between $36 and $61 every year. Turning your water heating temperature down also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes.
 
 
By taking a few steps to save energy, you’ll have some extra green to go around for the things that count this holiday season!