Millions plan to dim Christmas lights this year – even though it only costs 1 cent to operate

SIX in 10 homeowners plan to cut back on Christmas lights this year to save money, even though they cost just 1p a day to run.

A survey of 2,000 homeowners celebrating Christmas found 42% wrongly assumed they were responsible for the biggest rise in energy costs in December.

More than six in 10 people (62%) are concerned about their energy bills for the upcoming Christmas period, with 70% usually seeing an increase around this time.

As a result, 29% will be monitoring their energy consumption more closely throughout December, as 71% believe it is important to make a conscious effort to reduce it.

It also emerged that 31% of celebrating households are considering reducing the heating in their home to try to reduce their energy costs.

And 23% plan to use cooking appliances other than the oven to try to save money.

The study was commissioned by energy experts, Utilita Energy, who created the electricity price list, showing how much 76 commonly used household appliances cost to run per minute, average usage, cycle or when left in standby.

A spokesperson for the brand said: “When you know how much it costs to run an electrical appliance, you can make an informed decision about how long to use it and whether you should avoid leaving it on standby.

“LED Christmas lights, distinguished by their built-in bulbs that cannot be removed, are six times cheaper to run than old incandescent bulbs – where bulbs can be replaced.

“On average, lighting your Christmas tree with incandescent lights costs 6p a day, compared to 1p a day with LED lights.”

The study also reveals that 44% of respondents believe that the use of electronic devices, such as television, contributes to higher energy bills during the Christmas period.

The average holiday household plans to watch an additional 81 hours of movies and TV shows during the holiday season.

And 62% attribute higher energy consumption to increased use of kitchen appliances, with 48% hosting guests, according to data from OnePoll.com.

More than six in 10 people (62%) are worried about their energy bills for the upcoming Christmas period.

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About 70% usually notice an increase around this time.

As a result, 29% will be monitoring their energy consumption more closely throughout December, as 71% believe it is important to make a conscious effort to reduce it.

A Utilita Energy spokesperson added: “Christmas doesn’t have to be so expensive if homeowners are wise and mindful of their household habits.

“It’s easy to get carried away during the holiday season, and it’s usually not until the following month that people realize the impact it’s had on their energy bill.”

4 ways to reduce your energy bills

Laura Court-Jones, small business editor at Bionic shared his advice.

1. Turn your heating down one degree

You probably won’t even notice this tiny difference in temperature, but you will notice a saving on your energy bills as a result. Simply turning your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving money fast. This small action only takes a few seconds and could potentially reduce your heating bills by £171.70.

2. Turn off appliances and lights

It sounds simple, but completely turning off appliances and lights that aren’t in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when 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 of your energy usage, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.

4. Consider switching energy providers

Even if you’re happy with your current energy provider, they may not be offering you the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed rate contract expire without signing a new one. If you haven’t looked at alternative rates recently, you may not know there are better options.