Become Your Own Home Energy Advisor on Halloween

Equipping your home to use energy efficiently will save you money on your monthly bill and allow your home to function more comfortably and safely, which is especially important on a spooky Halloween night. No matter how much experience or knowledge you have with your home energy system, you can easily do your own assessment with our following fun checklist. If you have concerns about your home’s energy use or want to take a deeper dive into preventing energy waste, check out KREMC’s online Home Energy Advisor.

Small uses of energy can add up to a lot of waste, so don’t overlook anything on the checklist. We hope this helps you better understand how your home functions.

        o   As Halloween approaches, you’ve probably heard of vampires in spooky stories, but have you ever heard of vampire energy loads? They feast on your electricity when you leave electronics plugged in, even if they’re fully charged or turned off. Instead of garlic, try using an advanced power strip to save energy.

          o   Speaking of spooky, watch out for the incandescent ghosts in your house. Incandescent bulbs are less energy-efficient and don’t last as long as LED lighting when it’s energy efficient.

          o   Halloween brews are always bubbling hot, but your showers can be perfectly comfortable if you set your water heater temperature to 120°F, which will also help you waste less energy.

          o   Don’t let the Halloween ghouls in! Make sure any exposed ductwork in unconditioned spaces, like attics, is air-sealed and insulated. This way, the heat in your house won’t slip through the cracks and waste the energy that you’re paying for.

         o   Do you have a programmable thermostat? If you do, set your home’s temperature two degrees forward or back overnight and during trips away from the house. By being intentional with your thermostat programming, you can save up to 10% on your heating and cooling costs. Plus, programming your home’s temperatures ahead of time will prevent those energy vampires from enjoying your home’s excess heating or cooling while you’re away or asleep.

         o   The wind howls sharply in the late weeks of fall. You can save energy by sealing cracks and gaps around your home with expanding foam or caulk. This will help the corners of your house guard against the wind’s cold cries.

     How is your home doing? Do you feel like your own home energy advisor yet? No matter how spooky the Halloween season gets, we hope your home will be energy-efficient and save you money this winter!

Check out our Home Energy Advisor Online for a more in-depth energy assessment. At Kosciusko REMC, we want to help you save energy and money however we can! To learn more about energy use, read our other blog posts at kremc.com/blog.