The holidays bring warmth, joy, and—let’s face it—higher energy bills. Between extra cooking, decorative lights, and keeping your home cozy, energy use can spiral. Add in the guests and festive gatherings, and it’s no wonder your utility bills start climbing. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to choose between holiday cheer and saving money. You can enjoy the festivities and save energy by being a little smarter about how you use it.
Here are 3 tips to start!
Be Smart About Your Holiday Lighting
Holiday lights are a must, but they don’t have to cost you so much. Switch to LED lights, which use up to way less energy than traditional bulbs and last years longer.
To make things even better, use timers to control when your lights turn on and off. Let them sparkle during the evening hours, then power down overnight. And if you’re decorating outside, consider solar-powered string lights—they’re an eco-friendly choice that saves money too.
Make Your Heating Work Smarter (With Load Calculation)
Heating your home during the holidays doesn’t have to drain your energy budget. A crucial but often overlooked step is calculating your heating and cooling load. This involves considering factors like your home’s size, insulation quality, window placement, and even how many people are inside.
Why is this important? If your heating system is oversized, it cycles on and off frequently, wasting energy. If it’s too small, it struggles to maintain the right temperature, also increasing costs. You can use online heating and cooling load calculators or consult an HVAC professional to determine your home’s ideal heating load.
Beyond that, take small steps to make your heating system more efficient. Seal any drafts around windows and doors with weather stripping or caulk. Layer up with cozy blankets and sweaters instead of cranking the thermostat. And setting your thermostat to 68°F while awake and lowering it when asleep or away can save you up to 10% on heating costs annually.
Plan Energy-Efficient Holiday Cooking
Holiday feasts are a tradition, but they’re also a major energy drain. To save energy, plan your meals strategically. Batch cooking is a great way to reduce oven use. If you’re roasting vegetables or baking desserts, try to do it all at once.
Also, smaller appliances like air fryers, microwaves, and slow cookers are energy-efficient alternatives for side dishes. And match your pots and pans to the size of your stove top burners. Using a small pan on a large burner wastes energy, while a properly sized setup means even heating and efficiency.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can have a festive and energy-smart holiday season. Whether it’s rethinking your lighting, optimzing heating with load calculations, or being strategic in the kitchen, every step adds up to a greener, more affordable celebration.