1. Recycle your Jack-O-Lantern after the holiday
Instead of sending your pumpkin to a landfill, why not give
Jack a second life as compost? If you have a yard, composting
a pumpkin is incredibly easy – and fun! First, pick a sunny space in an
area of your yard that isn't heavily trafficked. Here comes the fun part. Either you or your children smash
your pumpkin to bits so it’s easier to decompose. Next, cover the remnants of
your pumpkin with leaves, and the worms in your yard will do the heavy lifting
of decomposition. It’s a great way to add extra nutrition to your yard.
2. Ward off the Energy Vampires
Vampires don’t just come out on October 31. Any appliance or
electronic device that remains plugged into your wall when not in use can still
“suck” your energy. Make it a habit to unplug any device you aren’t using. On
Halloween, if you have outside decorations, make sure to unplug them after all
the trick-or-treaters have left.
3. Light up the night with outdoor solar lights
With children coming up to your home wearing masks and other
vision-impairing costumes, the last thing you want is someone tripping on the
walkway up to your door. However, walkway lighting still costs money to power.
Instead, try outdoor solar lights that create electricity through solar cells
and store the energy in batteries until you need them at night.
4. Don’t leave the door open all night
Even if you want your home to look inviting to
trick-or-treaters, leaving the front door – especially a screen door – open for
an extended period of time will increase you energy use to keep the thermostat
at the temperature you set. Instead, leave a decorative wreath or a sign saying
“Trick-or-Treaters Welcome” to let children know that you’re giving out candy.
It’ll save you money and give the kids the excitement of surprising you with
their costumes when you open the door.
5. Beware of expensive yard decorations
Decorating your home for Halloween is probably one of the
most fun parts of the holiday. But inflatable outdoor black cats and pumpkins
can significantly increase your energy bill to keep them up and running all
month. Instead of going for mass-produced Halloween decorations, try making
your own with ideas from Pinterest and other DIY sites. Trash bags stuffed with
leaves can be used to make giant spiders. Old bed sheets – also stuffed with
leaves – can be hung from trees as ghosts. For anyone who loves crafting,
creating your own Halloween decorations can unleash your creativity, while
saving money on your electric bill.
