Using solar over Christmas can help you save energy bills by powering your Christmas lighting and appliances. The use of solar also reduces your dependence on the grid, which helps the environment. Hence, using solar decreases air pollution, water usage and improves your health over time.
The Christmas period calls for celebrations which means more guests and high electricity bills. You will need a way to save money for gifts and holiday festivities. Solar power is renewable and sustainable and using it creates jobs, improves grid security, and causes less electricity loss.
This article shows you why you should use solar power during Christmas.
Let’s explore.
Solar will power your Christmas lights
Christmas lighting can account for 40% of your energy bills. The percentage increases during Christmas. Using solar power to provide energy for your lighting can help you save a lot of money.
According to Energy.gov, Aussies spend 10% of their energy bills on lighting. However, the costs are higher during the holidays due to Christmas lighting.
Aussies are keen on lighting their Christmas. A 2017 survey by Finder showed that 69% of Aussies decorate for Christmas while 11% go all out. As such, a million households light up indoors and outdoors during the holidays.
Here’s how Aussies decorate for Christmas:
- 27% light up trees
- 22% celebrate Christmas but don’t decorate
- 18% incorporate inside lights and light up trees
- 11% go all out: tree with lights, inside lights, outside lights
- 10% use trees without lights
- 9% don’t celebrate Christmas
- 3% use lights and decorations without trees
How much electricity do Christmas lights use?
One hundred LED light bulbs can consume 1.2W to 2W during Christmas. Other LEDs will consume twice as much because they twinkle and flash. On the other hand, incandescent lights can consume 40W per 100 lights.
Incandescent lights can use up to 90% more electricity than LED lights. Whether or not you use LED or incandescent lights, you will add to your energy bills during the holidays. LED Christmas lights can add $1 to your bill, which is relatively cheap. However, incandescent lights can cost you $17.79 for 1000 bulbs through the holidays.
Most Aussies have switched to LED lightings. However, if you go all out with your Christmas decoration and use incandescent lighting, solar will help you save up on electricity bills.
Electricity usage on Christmas lights are unique for everyone due to the following factors:
Type of light bulb
If your Christmas lights have incandescent light bulbs or halogen, you will use more electricity. Incandescent light bulbs use up to 90% more energy than LED lights.
The number of lights
Larger lights use more energy than smaller ones. And the more the number of lights, the higher the electricity bills.
For example, if you have 1000 incandescent lights that run five hours a day, the average seasonal cost is $17.79. On the other hand, a person with 200 incandescent lights will only pay $3.55.
The duration the lights shine
The longer you leave your lights on, the higher the electricity bills. It is advisable to switch off the lights or use an electric timer to save money.
Using solar to power your Christmas Lights
Whether you use LED lights and install timers, Christmas lighting will increase energy consumption. Solar power can help you save and reduce your energy bills. You can generate solar energy during the day and store excess energy in a battery to light your lights at night.
The use of solar to power your Christmas light will benefit you in the following ways:
- Reduce your electricity bills: Solar will help you save money on electricity bills which you can use to plan for festivities and buy gifts.
- Help the environment: Incandescent lights use 40W per 100 lights, which comes from the grid if you don’t have solar. A solar system will generate energy by using the earth’s resources.
- Stand out from the crowd: Solar is growing in popularity, but few have embraced it. The use of solar in your home makes you a part of energy-conscious homeowners.
Solar energy powers your appliances
Solar systems can power your home appliances during the holidays. Usage of kitchen appliances rises because of cooking holiday feasts. Additionally, the additional number of people in your home can make your energy bills increase because of excess use of cooling and warming appliances.
Energy consumption levels from different appliances
Home equipment and devices account for 25% of the total energy bills. The percentage can change depending on various factors; type of appliances, climate, and usage of appliances.
Here’s how different devices account for energy consumption in Australian homes:
- Heating and cooling appliances use 40%
- Fridges and freezers use an average of 8%
- Cloth dryers- 10%
- TV and home entertainment- 5%
- Pool pump- 18%
During certain times (5 pm and 8 pm), there is a spike in electricity usage from home appliances such as TVs, air-conditioners, and other appliances. During Christmas, most people are at home so using electricity appliances happens almost the whole day.
Air conditioning wastes a lot of energy over the holidays. Most people leave air-conditioning on when they aren’t at home, which adds to excess costs (even during summer).
How to know the exact energy consumption of home appliances?
Calculate the energy each appliance uses before figuring out the total power for all appliances. Electricity usage is measured in watts-hours, so look at the watts your devices use.
The watts are different for every home equipment depending on factors such as:
- Size
- Type
- Time in use
- Device technology
Check the AC power cord, and you will see the wattage of your appliance in amps or watts. Multiply your house voltage with amps to change amps to watts.
Which appliances can use solar power?
Running a household only on solar is impossible because some appliances can’t rely solely on solar power. Refrigerators, heating systems, and washing machines have high energy consumption hence not great candidates for solar.
During the holidays, you can use solar to power appliances such as:
- Toasters
- Microwaves
- Laptops and TVs
- Electric cooktops
Additionally, solar-powered appliances like solar-powered ovens and refrigerators help you save up on electricity bills.
You need an extensive solar system and an efficient air conditioner (AC) to cool your home using solar power. Regular air conditioners use so much energy, making it difficult to run on solar power. A standard AC can use 1.3 kW of power, while average solar systems use 2 to 4 kW. Running your AC on solar will use up most of your solar electricity.
Instyle Solar is here if you need a solar system to power your appliances. We offer residential and commercial solar to help you save money this Christmas and many years. Our experienced team of experts ensures that you have a smooth and seamless transition from the grid to solar.
Solar helps the environment
Energy consumption increases during the holidays due to Christmas lights, heating appliances, and cooking for the festivals. An increase in energy usage means increased use of fossil fuels for energy. Solar reduces your carbon footprint and water consumption, enhancing the environment’s safety.
Australia’s primary energy is fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas). Using solar reduces CO2, sulphur oxides, and nitrogen oxides emissions.
Solar energy is clean, emission-free, renewable, accessible, and readily available.
Why use solar energy to save the environment?
Solar energy will reduce your energy bills and significantly impact the environment. Here are the benefits of using renewable solar energy for the environment:
Solar power decreases air pollution
Using fossil fuels as a source of energy emits CO2, Sulphur oxide, and Nitrogen oxide in the environment. The gases lead to air pollution, which is bad for health, aesthetics, and the environment.
Your solar panels will create clean energy and reduce the contribution to air pollution.
Solar power reduces water usage
Water is another source of energy. Hydropower uses a lot of water to generate electricity. Dams are built for water flow control and energy production, affecting local ecosystems.
Solar only requires the sun to produce energy hence harmless to the environment and ecosystem. The use of solar will help reduce water usage, thus reducing water scarcity problems.
Solar power helps you become energy independent
Solar helps you reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and hydropower that harm the ecosystem. Non-renewable sources of energy will run out eventually. It is crucial to transition to solar earlier to save the environment and animals.
Solar energy enhances your health
Solar is clean energy and doesn’t need fossil fuels or water to produce electricity. Hence, the adoption of solar decreases air pollution and water scarcity, thus improving your health in the long run.
Conclusion
The holiday season involves lighting decorations and excessive use of appliances, increasing energy consumption. Solar power can help reduce your energy consumption from the grid hence saving on electricity bills.
Using solar power during Christmas will help you in three ways:
- Power your Christmas lights which will decrease your energy bills
- Power your household appliance
- Help the environment
Next Steps…
Do you want to save your energy bills this Christmas?
At Instyle Solar, our goal is to help as many people to save with solar. We commit to being honest with you at every stage of solar installation and ensure that you have a smooth transition to solar. Our solar experts will work with you to ensure you get the best solar system for your energy needs.
Click here to calculate your solar savings!
