Millions plan to cut back on Christmas lights this year – despite costing just 1p to run
SIX in 10 homeowners plan to cut back on Christmas lights this year to save money – despite them costing as little as 1p a day to run.
A poll of 2,000 property owners who celebrate Christmas revealed 42% made the incorrect assumption that they account for the largest increase in energy costs during December.
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It also emerged 31% of celebrating households plan to cut back on heating the home as they try to keep energy costs down.
And 23% intend to use other cooking appliances than the oven in an attempt to save money.
The research was commissioned by energy experts, Utilita Energy, which has created The Power Price List, showing how much 76 commonly used household appliances cost to run per minute, average use, cycle, or when left on standby.
A spokesperson for the brand said: “When you know how much electrical items cost to run, you can make an informed decision on how long to use it for and whether you should avoid leaving it on standby.
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“LED Christmas lights, which are distinguished by their built-in bulbs that cannot be removed are six times cheaper to run than the older style incandescent ones – where the bulbs can be replaced.
“On average, lighting your Christmas tree with incandescent lights costs 6p a day compared to LED lights, which costs 1p per day.”
The study also found 44% reckon the use of electronics, such as the television, contributes to higher energy bills during the Christmas period.
With the average celebrating household planning to watch an additional 81 hours of films and TV shows over the festive period.
And 62% put the higher energy use down to the increased use of cooking appliances, with 48% hosting guests, according to the OnePoll.com data.
More than six in 10 (62%) are concerned about their energy bills for the upcoming Christmas period.
Save money on your energy bills with these cold weather tips
Around 70% usually notice an increase around this time.
As a result, 29% will be monitoring their energy usage more closely throughout December, as 71% feel it’s important to make a conscious effort to reduce it.
A spokesperson for Utilita Energy added: “Christmas doesn’t have to be so costly if homeowners are savvy and mindful with their home habits.
“It’s easy to get carried away during the festive period, and it’s usually not until the following month that people realise what impact that has had on their energy bills.”
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.