Are you hosting the big holiday dinner this year? Keep costs low around the holidays by keeping an eye on energy use in your Alabama home. With the right strategies, you can enjoy an unforgettable and energy-efficient holiday season.
Manage Your Thermostat Mindfully
A programmable thermostat takes the guesswork out of
adjusting thermostat settingsduring your typical workweek, but you may need to adjust the settings to account for your changing schedule during the holidays. Choose a setting on the cooler side for your holiday festivities. Between the crush of people in your home and the frequent use of the oven for roasting your holiday turkey, you shouldn’t need much heat to stay comfortable, which will keep your energy bills low.
Prep Your System for the Season
A well-maintained HVAC system will provide the ideal temperatures and optimum indoor air quality this season. You should schedule an annual tune-up in early fall before winter weather really sets in. Check your filters regularly to make sure they’re clean. Change them at least every three months, and sooner if you can see they’re dirty. The abundance of holiday guests during this time may necessitate more frequent filter changes.
Cook Your Holiday Dinner Efficiently
There are several smart strategies that will help you cook your holiday meal with less energy. Ceramic and glass pans retain heat better, allowing you to turn down the oven temperature as much as 25 degrees for the same results. Microwaves and slow cookers use less energy than your oven, so turn to them for a particular dish. Keep the lid on anything you’re preparing on the stovetop and use a burner that’s no larger than your pot. This will keep heat from escaping for less energy use.
If you want to tune-up your home’s systems further for even more efficiency this holiday season, just turn to AC Southeast®.
Find a contractor in your area for a quick and convenient furnace tune-up to make sure everything is running just as it should.
