Can you feel it in the air? No – not the clean air we’re enjoying from lowered emissions across the U.S. It’s LOVE! Valentine’s Day is here, and you should be out enjoying time with friends, family and maybe even some me time. One thing is for sure, Valentine’s Day is about love, so of course, we want to share some sexy energy-saving tips so you can rest assured this adored holiday goes smoothly.
Going out can be fun, but you can do yourself a favor by staying in.
More than 80% of the increased energy use between 1997 and 2002 in the United States was food-related, according to some estimates. Increased focus on convenience, often through the sale of prepared food, has required massive amounts of energy. People are also eating out a lot more and all those restaurants use a lot of energy. Methods for processing, storing and cooking food have also become more energy-intensive, and even in individual home kitchens, high-tech gadgets that must be plugged into the wall are becoming a lot more common.
Plus, staying in means, you can set the mood with the right lighting – ooh, sexy.
By lighting, we’re talking LED lighting. LED bulbs were designed as a more energy-efficient light source, using a semiconductor to convert electricity into light. LED lights to use their energy much more efficiently than other types of bulbs — producing light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs and 80% more efficient than CFLs. This is due in part to the fact that LED bulbs require much less wattage than incandescent or CFL bulbs. Fluorescent lights waste 95% of their energy as heat and only use 5% to actually generate light. LEDs are the complete opposite—using an astonishing 95% of their energy as light.
Pro-tip for all you singles out there: If you’re looking to save even more energy, than just bask in the glow from the light coming off the TV as you watch Netflix – “Are You Still Watching?”)
Staying in also means your appliances should be energy efficient, too.
Up to 65% of your home’s energy goes into heating and cooling. Energy-efficient upgrades, like a smart thermostat, can help you cut costs, making sure that your wallet is just as happy as you are. With these upgrades, you’re likely to save up to $180 per year.
And if you decide to go out anyway, make sure you have the programmable thermostat so that if you do decide to take your date out, the house isn’t overheating and wasting money you could have spent on your Valentine.
