Halloween is an exciting time of year, but it can also increase your energy bill if you’re not careful. With small changes, you and your housemates can avoid receiving a high energy bill this October.
How Can Halloween Affect Your Energy Bills?
Halloween and the days leading up to it can increase energy use, especially if you’re doing a lot of decorating with lights and electronics or hosting a party. If you’re baking Halloween treats and cooking for others, the oven and hob may be used for long periods of time. And if you’re hosting a party, you’ll want your guests to feel comfortable, so you might have the heating on. Several things running at once can add up, but there are ways to be more efficient and reduce your energy use this Halloween.
How to Reduce Energy Usage This Halloween
Decorate Without Driving Up Your Electricity Bill
When buying Halloween decorations that light up and use electricity, there are a few things to consider. Look out for fairy lights and decorations that use LED lights, as these typically consume less energy than those that use traditional incandescent bulbs. Also keep an eye out for battery-powered decorations, as these won’t drive up your energy bill, though you may need to factor in the cost of batteries if you don’t have any spare at home.
Many students avoid buying electrical decorations altogether and instead use non-electrical ones. Making them at home from things you already have, like paper and cardboard boxes, can help you not only save money on your energy bill but also stick to your budget.
Be Smart With Heating When Hosting
When hosting a party, it might be tempting to turn the heating up high, but there are other ways to ensure guests feel warm. Keep doors shut and place draught excluders under them to stop cold air seeping in. You can also help a space feel cosier by putting soft blankets over seating areas for guests to use if they’d like. If you do decide to use the heating, consider turning the thermostat down by one or two degrees, as this can save energy. Remember, more people in the house than usual can naturally make the room feel warmer, so you may not need the heating on as high as you think.
Cook Halloween Food Efficiently
When making food for several people, consider batch cooking. This is where you cook a larger amount of a recipe that can be split into several portions. This saves energy because it uses the oven once to prepare multiple portions rather than cooking the same amount of food over different days. When doing this, avoid opening the oven door too often, as this can let heat escape and lead to longer cooking times.
If you’re planning to make lots of different snacks, think about cooking them all in the same session rather than over several days. Use the microwave and air fryer where possible, as these generally use less energy than an oven does.
Simple Ways to Keep Your Energy Bills Low This Autumn
While Halloween can raise your energy bill, so can the cold weather throughout autumn and winter. Small changes can make a big difference, such as:
- Tracking your energy usage: If you have a smart meter, you can use an in-home display to view your energy use in real time.
- Don’t rely solely on the heating: Alternatives like wearing extra layers, using draught excluders, and wrapping up in fluffy blankets can all help you stay warm.
- Be mindful of your shower times: Long showers can increase both your energy and water bills. Shortening them by just a few minutes can make a difference.
- Talk to your housemates: Reducing how much energy you use should be a team effort. Talk to your housemates about what you can all do to make changes.
Save Money on Bills With The Student Energy Group
At the Student Energy Group, we understand how important it is to stick to your budget while at university. We’ll combine all your household bills, including electricity, water, gas, internet, and TV licence, into one monthly statement, which can be split equally between you and your housemates to avoid unnecessary hassle. We even plant a tree for every household that signs up with us. Get a free, no-obligation quote from us today to avoid financial stress and save on your student bills.
