5 Ways to Save This Holiday Season

Posted On: December 3, 2020

Every holiday season offers something a little special that’s all its own, and there’s no doubt that this year will be one of the most memorable holidays yet. While you’re taking the time to form some new traditions this year, it’s a great opportunity to think of new ways you can save yourself some time and money during the holidays. Here are a few holiday energy saving tips and tricks to get the most from this wonderful time of the year.

Switch your old lights out for LED.
Still decking the halls with the same old set of lights you bought 10 years ago? Time to recycle them and go with LED holiday lights for your display this year. LED lightbulbs last longer and use 80% less electricity than old incandescent lights. Plus, they come in a variety of colors and shapes to fit your holiday style. Not even Santa will know the difference!

Put your lights on a timer and use power strips to plug them in.
Power strips and surge protectors are a convenient way to help you conserve electricity year-round, but they’re essential to any great holiday decorations. Plug your lights into a power strip so you can easily turn them on and off, and set a timer so they’ll turn off automatically after you go to sleep. It’s one of the easiest ways to save energy during the holidays.

Unplug your electronics when you aren’t using them.
Electronics these days are never truly “off” when you aren’t using them. Instead they sit in standby mode and wait for you to turn them on again, often with a little indicator light shining to let you know they’re ready for action. These standby modes use what’s often called “vampire power,” slowly sucking electricity from the outlets they’re plugged into. When you’re going to bed for the evening, or you’re packing up the family for a holiday vacation, make sure to unplug your large appliances and electronics so that they’re completely turned off. This goes for computers and tablets, too. If it’s plugged in, it’s sucking down electricity and running up your bill.

Plan out your cooking to save energy.
Even when you can’t get the whole extended family over for a big meal, your kitchen works overtime during the holidays. All that extra baking and roasting can quickly drive up your electricity bill if you’re not careful. Thankfully, there’s plenty of room in the oven for multiple dishes. Your oven uses the same amount of electricity to heat up one dish as opposed to a full rack, so you can save on energy by baking several dishes at the same time. Plus, there’s no need to preheat the oven for dishes with a long baking time, such as your Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham. Just pop your dish in at the beginning and add a couple extra minutes to the timer.

Install a smart meter.
Between the added lights and the extra cooking load, it’s easy to overdo it on the electricity consumption during the holiday season. To stay on top of your usage, consider having a smart meter installed in your home. Smart meters are the latest innovations in monitoring your home’s electricity usage. With a smart meter, you can keep an eye on how much energy it’s taking to keep your home comfortable and adjust your habits as needed. You can even set it up to send you alerts if you’re using more electricity than normal. It’s a great way to help you keep your electricity bill low through the holiday season.

Whatever new traditions you’re trying out this holiday season, we hope your family stays happy and keeps warm. For even more ways to save, check out these energy-saving tips for every room of the house.