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Eight Holiday Tips to Help You Save Energy

Reduce energy usage in your home during the holiday season

Energy Savings

Ways to Save Energy During the Holidays

During the holiday season, home energy use can increase due to holiday gatherings, cooking, colder weather, and decorations. Here is a list of eight simple ways to save energy in your home this season – and yes, we checked it twice!

Lower your thermostat before guests arrive

Holiday cooking and more people in your home can automatically raise the temperature. Lower your thermostat a few degrees before guests arrive to save energy and keep your guests comfortable.

Upgrade to a smart thermostat

Consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat which allows you to automatically raise or lower the temperature settings when you are asleep or away from home. More than half of energy use in homes is for heating and cooling.

Set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower in the winter – making the temperature a few degrees cooler will have the most significant impact on your next bill.

Upgrade Your Thermostat Today

South Carolina customers can shop the EnergyWise Savings Store for a smart thermostat.

South Carolina Customers

Shine brighter with LED Lights

Lighting is one of the easiest ways to start saving energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED lights consume 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lights. LED lights also last longer and are safer to use, making them the perfect choice for tree and holiday lighting.

Use a timer for lights and decorations

Utilize automatic timers to minimize your electricity usage by scheduling lights to turn on when it gets dark outside and off before heading to bed.

Find and seal leaks

When putting up decorations in windows or around your home, it is also a great time to feel for pockets of air sneaking indoors. Caulk or weatherstrip windows and doors to seal air leaks and keep your home warm this holiday season.

Beware of "Energy Grinches"

Similar to how the Grinch stole Christmas, many electronics like TVs, gaming consoles and computers ‘steal’ energy when plugged in but not in use. Before leaving your home to visit family for a few days, remember to unplug these devices to save on energy costs or switch to an Advanced Power Strip (APS) that does the job for you.

Bake several dishes at a time

Take advantage of the energy that goes into warming your oven by cooking several dishes at once. And do not open the oven door to check on food while it’s cooking! A substantial amount of heat escapes every time you open the oven door. Turn off the oven about 15 to 20 minutes before the end of cooking time. The leftover heat in the oven will finish the job if you don’t open the oven door.

Ask for energy efficient appliances from Santa

If kitchen appliances are on your Christmas list, consider small appliances like slow cookers, Instant Pots and air fryers. Using these instead of your oven can help you be more energy efficient.