Halloween is one of the biggest holidays in the United States, and in recent years has become hugely popular in Australia as well.
In the US, festive lighting consumes 6.6 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity consumption yearly, according to the Energy Information Administration—more than the annual consumption of a country like El Salvador.
Related article: Getting lit this festive season? Consider these safety tips
Halloween is catching up to Christmas when it comes to the energy consumed by huge home-lighting displays and inflatable lawn ornaments.
While Aussie Halloween celebrations are dwarfed by their US counterparts, we’re certainly getting in on the act, decorating our homes, taking part in costume parties, and going trick-or-treating.
Some neighbours even work together to put on a show, with certain streets becoming well known for their engaging Halloween displays.
The not so great news? These fun festive displays could become what’s known as ‘energy vampires’—appliances that consume energy even when they’re not in use, accounting for up to 10% of a home’s energy consumption.
Don’t be spooked out of celebrating, however—we’ve put together some tips and tricks on how to hunt down energy vampires in your home.
Unplug anything not in use
Get in the habit of unplugging electrical devices after you finish using them, e.g. toasters, computers, gaming consoles, etc. This is especially important if you are going away on holiday.
Put them to sleep
If you can’t unplug your devices, turn them off or put them in ‘sleep’ or ‘power save’ mode so they use the minimum amount of power necessary.
Use timers
If you’re mad keen on Halloween or festive lighting displays, put them on a timer so they automatically switch off after a certain time. (Your neighbours will also appreciate the reprieve from flashing lights outside their bedroom windows.)
Opt for solar or LED
Solar-powered decorations or battery-powered LED lights are great options that can be easily moved around and won’t run up your electricity bill.
Related article: Weird inventions from energy’s greatest minds
Using button batteries?
Many Halloween and festive decorations contain button batteries, which can be a potentially deadly hazard for young children. If a button battery is swallowed, it can burn through the oesophagus in just two hours, causing internal burns, severe bleeding or death. Always check to ensure these batteries can’t be accessed by curious children, and wrap them heavily in several thick layers of tape before disposing of them.
