However You Celebrate, Save Energy During the Holidays

We all use energy differently, especially during the holidays. Some of us keep a fire going to help warm the house. Some like to leave the holiday lights on at night. Some love hosting Thanksgiving dinners and others would rather be the guests. All these preferences are a factor in your power bill, and whatever you choose, there are always ways for you to conserve energy and save money.

Think about how you use energy when you’re entertaining at home during the holidays. Hosting can be a big part of your traditions and a big part of your energy usage.

If your holiday traditions include staying home and hosting gatherings, those of us who prefer being the guests are thankful for you! Here are some cooking and heating tips to help you reduce energy consumption while preparing those special dishes.

Cooking Tips

When preparing holiday dishes, choose smaller cooking appliances like crockpots, air fryers, and microwaves, which consume less energy than ovens. Adjusting the cooking time and temperature on these devices can save both energy and cooking time.
If you need to use the oven, plan your dishes to be cooked or warmed up simultaneously. This reduces overall cooking time and energy consumption. Efficiently using your oven can free up time for you to enjoy the company of your guests.
Seal up all your leftovers at once, before you put them in the refrigerator. That way you’ll only need to open the refrigerator door once during cleanup, and that will keep more cold air inside.
Let foods cool a bit before putting them away so that fridge doesn’t have to work so hard to keep its cool.

Comfort Tips

Consider the energy used by your heating systems during the holidays. With cooking appliances and the body heat from additional guests in the mix, you can lower your thermostat and still maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.
Using ceiling fans to circulate warm air is a simple yet effective way to enhance the warmth and coziness of your living space. It’s an energy-efficient solution that contributes to both your comfort and your efforts to conserve energy.

If your holiday traditions involve traveling out of town to visit family, here are some tips to help you save energy.

Home Tips:
If you’re traveling, switch off lights, appliances, and electronic devices that you don’t need powered while you’re away. Remember to unplug items like your coffee maker and toaster, turn off power strips connected to TVs, and disconnect any chargers to reduce phantom energy consumption.
For security outdoor lighting, use timers to ensure that they only operate from dusk until dawn. And open blinds and curtains to let the sun naturally warm the house during the daylight hours.
Adjust your programmable thermostat to the lowest temperature during the cooler months. This reduces unnecessary heating or cooling when no one is home.

Finally, utilize our MEL app to receive alerts, notifying you if your home is consuming excessive energy when you’re away. It’s a convenient way to stay informed about any unexpected energy usage while you’re not at home.

And whether you’re the host or the guest, we hope you enjoy this holiday season with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!