As the days grow shorter and the nights become colder, you’ll likely find yourself using more electricity to keep your home comfortable and well-lit. Holiday festivities can also play a role in your power usage, as you do more cooking and might even put on a holiday light show. While it’s expected to use more electricity this time of year, there are a few tips your local electricians have for keeping your energy usage—and bills—within an appropriate range.

Serving Sanford, NC, M.R. Stoner Electric has some helpful insights on what you can do to preserve power usage through the holiday season and beyond:

• Upgrade to LED Bulbs: Since you’ll need to turn on the lights in your home earlier through the winter months, now is a great time to equip your lighting fixtures with LED bulbs. By upgrading to these energy-saving bulbs, you can use about 35-80% less energy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Plus, they could last up to 25 times as long.

• Use Holiday Lights Wisely: If you adorn your home’s interior, exterior, or both with Christmas lights, be mindful of the amount of time you’re leaving them lit. Try to choose a short window of time to enjoy your lights, and avoid leaving them on all night. If you haven’t replaced your holiday lights in a few years, you might also want to consider purchasing a new set: Nowadays, these, too, come in LED options to help you reduce electric usage.  
• Consider Automation: You know you should be shutting lights off in rooms when you’re not using them, but when you’re carrying gifts from one area of the home to the next, it’s not always easy to do. Automated lighting is an excellent option for keeping lights off in rooms when you’re not using them instead of trying to remember to shut them off on your own. These innovative systems are installed by local electricians, and by helping you control power usage more precisely, they can even deliver cost savings.

If you need any electrical services this winter, look no further than M.R. Stoner Electric in Sanford. With a broad range of residential options available, their dedicated team has everything homeowners need to keep their homes comfortable and efficient this season. Call the local electricians at (919) 774-8877, or visit them online for additional information.