Holiday Energy Savings Tips for Orlando-Area Homeowners

Central Florida in December is genuinely pleasant — daytime highs in the mid-70s, cool evenings, and almost no humidity. It’s one of the few months of the year when your air conditioning barely has to work. But between holiday lighting, more people in the house, oven use from holiday cooking, and guests who may not think twice about leaving doors open, your energy bill can still creep up. OUC and Duke Energy Florida customers often see December and January bills that surprise them.

Here are practical ways to keep costs down without sacrificing comfort during the holiday season.

Adjust Your Thermostat for Holiday Gatherings

When you have a house full of guests, body heat from cooking, and lights running, your home’s internal heat load increases significantly. Bump your thermostat up 2–3 degrees before guests arrive rather than letting the system play catch-up. If you have a smart thermostat, create a “party mode” schedule that pre-cools slightly before everyone arrives, then holds a slightly warmer temperature during the event. This is easier on the system than responding reactively to a suddenly warm house.

Switch to LED Holiday Lighting

If you’re still using traditional incandescent holiday lights, making the switch to LEDs is one of the best investments you can make this season. LED strings use 75–80% less electricity and produce far less heat. For OUC customers on time-of-use rates, plugging lights into smart plugs with timers ensures they’re not running during on-peak hours (typically 4–9 PM on weekdays). Running holiday lights on timers also extends bulb life considerably.

Take Advantage of Central Florida’s Cool Nights

December and January evenings in the Orlando area regularly dip into the 50s and sometimes the low 40s. If your home is comfortable, turn the system off at night and open windows to let in the cool air. Your home will naturally cool overnight, meaning the AC won’t need to do much work the next morning. This strategy — called night flushing — can meaningfully reduce runtime during the milder months. Just make sure to close windows before the temperature rises the next day.

Don’t Neglect Your Air Filter During the Busy Season

Holiday cooking, extra foot traffic, candles, and guests bring additional dust, particles, and cooking grease into your home’s air. A clogged air filter forces your system to work harder and shortens equipment life. Check your filter in early December and replace it if it’s looking grey. With more activity in the house, you may need to replace it again in January. This is the single easiest maintenance task with one of the highest returns.

Schedule Preventative Maintenance Before Guests Arrive

Winter is actually a good time for HVAC maintenance in Central Florida. The system isn’t under extreme stress, and getting a tune-up ensures everything is working properly before you’re relying on heat during the genuinely cold nights in January and February. Our technicians check refrigerant levels, inspect the heating elements or heat pump components, clean the coils, and make sure the system is ready for whatever the season brings.

Watch for Phantom Loads and Unneeded Equipment

With guests staying over, it’s easy for devices to be left on and plugged in. Use smart power strips for entertainment setups and charging stations. If you’re heading out of town for the holidays, set your thermostat to a “vacation” temperature — around 78°F — rather than turning the system off entirely. Running the AC in setback mode prevents humidity from rising to levels that encourage mold growth, which is always a concern in Central Florida’s climate.

For HVAC maintenance, a pre-season tune-up, or any questions about optimizing your system’s efficiency, call 4 Seasons Air Conditioning at (407) 295-9231. We’ve been helping Central Florida families stay comfortable — and keep their energy bills manageable — since 1953.