On Halloween (originally called All Hallows’ Eve) legend says the barrier separating the living world and dead becomes fragile, which enables spirits to run unchecked among the living. Ghosts and hobgoblins roam the earth; witches take to the sky on their broomsticks and vampires awake from the dead. Now whether you believe in this paranormal stuff or not, don’t allow your energy bill to frighten you this Halloween. The only thing scarier than the zombies, vampires, and werewolves of Halloween is sky-high energy bills in the months that follow.
Because saving you money is a treat you can enjoy, we at Hilliard-Dublin Heating and Air compiled the following list to make for a happy “Hallogreen.”
GET SOLAR WALKWAY LIGHTS
Walkway lights are an excellent way to attract kids to come to your front door. Not only that, but also they help kids walk the correct path and stay safe. Solar walkway lights will replenish its energy during the day and blaze that bright path at night. Plus, you can get imaginative and utilize them as part of your Halloween decors!
USE CANDLES
There’s nothing quite as hypnotic and enticing as the flickering flame of a candle amid the darkness. While practicing the utmost safety, strategically place candles around the house and turn off those energy-burning lights for a break. Candles don’t use electricity and are especially spooky inside your carved pumpkin. We all understand how critical it is to produce the right mood for your Halloween decorations.
DON’T FORGET TO POWER DOWN YOUR DECORATIONS
After an exciting night of trick-or-treating, or giving out candy to kids with spooky costumes at your doorstep, make sure you unplug your exterior decorations. One way to run up your energy bill is to have your lights or decorations on all night. It wastes a lot of energy.
BEWARE OF OTHER “ENERGY VAMPIRES”
Tablets, computers, game consoles, and other household electronics can be infamous “energy vampires.” Often, these phantom loads engulf energy even when you aren’t using them when you might assume they’re “off.” They will drive up your energy bills. Experts estimate that the average annual cost of all “standby” or “idle” power is around $170 per American household. So be sure your electronic devices are either are in energy-saving mode or powered down to a power strip that can be unplugged Questioning whether your electronics are energy vampires? A good indicator is a gleaming light that remains on even when you power off the device. On that same note, experts also say the average American family consumes at least $2,000 a year on their home energy bills. Those same experts say you could save 20 to 30 percent off that bill by going with energy efficiency upgrades. That’s $200 to $300.
TAKE YOUR HEAT DOWN DURING PARTIES
So this makes sense. If you host a Halloween party, be sure you turn down the heat by at least 1 or 2 degrees. Hosting parties involves a lot of cooking and baking, so you can have hot food or treats for your guests. Take advantage of the heat generated by your appliances and all of your guests’ warm bodies under your roof. Often, parties can get too hot. Taking your temperature down ahead of time will make everyone comfortable and save you energy.
DRESS WARM
It’s been said that spirit hauntings can induce a crisp chill in the air. Welcome the cold, and wrap up with some warm layers combined into your costume. This way, you can keep your front door open for trick-or-treaters and your thermostat down a couple of degrees. You’ll hardly notice the difference. But you’ll attract more trick-or-treaters.
SWITCH TO LED LIGHTS
This year when you set out those festive lights, don’t fret about the energy cost. Just switch out your incandescent light bulbs for super energy-efficient LED bulbs. Sure they might cost a little extra to buy. However, LED light bulbs burn up at least 75 percent less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lighting. In fact, holiday LED bulbs can shine for up to 40 years. And they’re safer because they are much cooler than incandescent lights, making them less likely to burn your hands.
Looking for more ideas? Or are you looking to have a safe and efficient Halloween for your furnace? Call Hilliard-Dublin Heating & Air today at 614-490-7520 for a tune-up or schedule an appointment for a much-needed inspection now at www.hilliarddublinheatingandair.com/schedule-now/.
