Friday, November 9, 2012

3 Simple ways to save on your electric bill this winter!


There are countless articles telling you how to save some money on your electric bill this winter. Most essentially say the same thing. Turn the heat down a few degrees, insulate your attic, use an attic tent, cock any cracks in windows, etc. You do all of that because it is all common sense right?
But what about Christmas lights? What can I do in order to lower my light bill when it comes to my holiday and Christmas decorations? With technology today, there are many great products that are even more beautiful than traditional items but are designed to help you save money in the long run. There are also other items that are not necessarily as pretty but are equally helpful in providing you with significant energy savings in the long run.

1)     LED lights instead of conventional lights
Light-emitting diode (LED) lights are Christmas lights that emit a beautiful, bright, colorful light that uses approximately 80 percent less power than traditional Christmas lights. LED lights also last a lot longer and stay cooler than conventional bulbs because they do not have a filament inside. The intensity of the color in LED lights makes them perfect for indoor and outdoor use.
There are also solar-powered lights as well. Even in the winter weather, it should still be able to save up enough energy by the end of the day to illuminate both the indoor and outdoor lights with little to no electricity.

2)      Energy saving light bulbs
Much like LED lights, energy-saving bulbs use over a quarter of the power of traditional incandescent light bulbs, and they last  twelve times longer than traditional light bulbs. You can find bulbs are sold in a range of fittings, shapes and sizes. You want to look for government and industry-approved energy-saving logos on the package to ensure the best energy-efficient bulb. These light bulbs also come in a variety of colors such as green, red, orange, purple, blue and countless rainbows of other colors.

3)      Outdoor light control timers
Another great thing that will save you a few dollars (as well as time) is to get a timer for your lights, because we all forget to turn off the lights sometimes.                       Implementing a timer, at least for your outdoor lights will be a lifesaver for any forgetful people who intends to turn off the porch light by 10pm, but then wake up at 2am realizing that he or she forgot to turn off the lights. It is very foolproof for sure!

4)      Light sensor with motion sensor fixtures
You may want to have outdoor lights turn on outdoors during the night if a prowler comes around. With motion sensor fixtures, the light will turn on day and night. If you purchase an outdoor light fixture with both motion sensor and light sensor, you don’t have to remember to turn off the light switch during daylight hours. If you install one of the new LED spotlight bulbs, you’ll really cut down on electric costs.
These are only a few of many ways that you can save a few dollars this holiday season when it comes to your electricity bill. Although using LED lights and energy saving light bulbs can be expensive to start with, over time, the overall cost will be considerably lower than conventional bulbs and fixtures.
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Bio
Emily Griffin is 23 years old and a recent college graduate from State college of Florida. She is a personal finance writer for Save1.com; the new coupon startup that feeds kids each time a coupon or deal is used. 

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