Cooperative Living November/December 2022 - 24

ENERGY SENSE
LED holiday lights consume
70% less energy than
conventional incandescent
light strands.
A tree decked out in
festive décor is a welcome
sight to two- and fourlegged
loved ones.
A Gift of Savings
by Miranda Boutelle, Contributing Columnist
Energy-efficiency tips for a festive holiday season
Q:
O
at home.
HOME PRACTICES
If you are hosting guests, your
household will consume more electricity
than normal. Be prepared with efficiency
basics:
* Program your thermostat at 68
degrees when you are home, and lower
it eight to 10 degrees when you leave
the house or go to sleep.
* Run the clothes washer on cold with
full loads.
* When not in use, turn off lights and
the TV; fully shut down computers
and gaming systems instead of putting
them in sleep or standby mode.
* Lower the thermostat when guests
are over or when cooking food. Turn
down the heat in areas of the house
that you are not using.
COOKING EFFICIENCY
Use the oven light to check food.
Every time the oven door is opened, the
temperature inside is reduced by up to
25 degrees, according to the Department
22 ● Cooperative Living ●
How can I save
energy at home during
the holiday season?
A:
ne way to reduce the financial
burden is by implementing
efficiency tips to use less energy
The holidays are a magical time when we come together with our loved ones. It's also
the most expensive time of year for many of us. Along with the costs of gifts, meals
and travel comes colder weather and darker nights that lead to more electricity use.
of Energy. When possible, make use of
a slow cooker, microwave, toaster oven
or warming plate. According to DOE,
a toaster oven can use up to half the
energy of the average electric stove in
the same cooking time.
Let hot food cool to room
temperature before placing it inside
the refrigerator. This ensures you don't
increase the temperature inside your
fridge and cause it to use more energy
to cool down. You can also take some
of the stress and expense out of holiday
cooking by asking guests to bring
a dish.
HOLIDAY LIGHTING
This year, make the switch to LEDs
for all your holiday lighting. LED
holiday lights consume 70% less energy
than conventional incandescent light
strands. For example, it costs 27 cents
to light a 6-foot tree for 12 hours a
day for 40 days with LEDs, compared
with $10 for incandescent lights.
Pick up a few light timers so you
don't have to remember to unplug your
lights every evening. You can also
choose to upgrade to smart holiday
lights that offer a wide range of appNovember-December
2022
controlled options, including time,
colors, music and modes.
OUT-OF-TOWN EFFICIENCY
If you're visiting family and friends
during the holidays, prepare your home
to use less energy while you're away.
Water heating is the second-largest
energy expense in your home,
accounting for about 18% of your utility
bill, according to DOE. Switching your
water heater to vacation mode or
lowering the setting will reduce wasted
energy by keeping the water at a lower
temperature.
Set your thermostat to around
55 degrees so you are not overheating
the home while you're away.
Instead of leaving lights on all day,
consider upgrading a lamp or fixture
to a smart lightbulb. This allows you
to control lights from afar and set a
schedule for the light to go on and off.
Another option is to repurpose your
holiday light timer for one of your
living room lamps. 
Miranda Boutelle writes on energyefficiency
topics for the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
co-opliving.com
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living November/December 2022

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