This holiday season, give the gift of energy efficiency! From festive travel to hosting joyful gatherings, NES is sharing quick, impactful tips to ensure you maximize your holiday cheer while saving energy and money on your bill.
Let’s make sure your energy habits land you on the “Nice” list!
Travel Nice: Leaving Home for the Holidays
There’s no place like home for the holidays, but if you’re heading out to visit family or loved ones, follow these simple tips to keep your empty house energy-efficient:
- Plan an Efficient Route: Coordinate with friends or relatives to carpool, or research public transit, buses and trains. Planning your travel not only saves money and stress but also helps reduce your carbon footprint.
- The Big Switch Off: Before you head out, make sure all lights—including decorations—are completely turned off. This simple act saves significant energy and helps prolong the life of your bulbs and displays.
- Set the Thermostat Low: For long trips, install a programmable or smart thermostat to avoid needlessly heating your home. If you don’t have one, simply lower your thermostat substantially while you’re away to reduce energy consumption.
- Water Heater Vacation Mode: Set your water heater to the “low” or “vacation” setting. Water heating is one of the biggest energy consumers in the home, so taking this step is a major power saver.
- Utilize Smart Tech: Take advantage of programmable timers for lights and other home electronics. Use apps to monitor and manage lighting, electricity use and consumption from your phone, giving you peace of mind while you’re away.
Host Nice: Keeping Your Gathering Cheerful & Efficient
Hosting a holiday gathering? You can maintain a bright, welcoming home while still being energy-conscious.
- Turn Down the Heat: As guests arrive, the collective body heat will naturally warm your home. Prepare for this by turning your thermostat down before the party starts. Host an ugly sweater party so everyone is dressed warmly, allowing you to turn the heat even lower!
- Encourage Carpooling: Ask your guests to coordinate rides. This is not only an energy-saver, but it also helps free up valuable driveway and street parking space.
- Wrap Responsibly: For gift exchanges or white elephant parties, opt for eco-friendly wrapping. Re-use gift wrap, ribbons and bags from previous years. Get creative by wrapping gifts in newspaper or placing them in reusable containers.
- Give Green Gifts: Encourage the power-saving trend by gifting small, energy-smart items like book lights, colorful LED lamps or other battery-powered gadgets.
Don’t miss our other essential tips for a safe and efficient holiday season: Deck the Halls, Safely: NES’s Essential Holiday Electrical Safety Guide and Smart Holidays, Lower Bills: NES Shares Kitchen Energy-Saving Tips.
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