7 Easy Ways to Reduce Energy With Family Home for the Holidays

The holidays are the time of year when families come together, no matter how far away they live. And that usually means family members end up staying at your house.

You’ve been planning for weeks and preparing for days to get sheets cleaned, clear out drawer space and line up tons of entertainment options, but have you thought about your energy bill? After having extra people over for the holidays, you may get a surprise that you didn’t ask Santa for. Here’s how you can ease the energy burden of hosting family during the holidays!

1. Keep the Fridge Fully Stocked

It’s known that an empty fridge uses more energy to keep cold than a refrigerator that’s well stocked.

2. Make the Switch to a Smart Thermostat

The biggest advantage is that smart thermostats can detect when people are in a room or in the home. It uses activity to optimize the HVAC system rather than relying on pre-set programs alone.

3. Put the Entertainment System on a Timer

You can use a smart power strip that will shut everything down when it detects no one is actually watching the TV.

4. Plan a Lot of Activities Away From Home

You can save even more by strategically planning to do family outings at dusk and early evening when energy use is at its highest and time-of-use energy plans are the most expensive. 

5. Cook Food in Bulk

Making meals in bulk not only reduces food costs, it also helps reduce energy consumption while making sure everyone has a full belly. Plan out meals so that you’ll have leftovers that can be warmed up in the microwave or toaster oven, both of which are much more efficient than the full-size oven. 

6. Load Up the Dishwasher

When you factor in the amount of water that needs to be heated up, a dishwasher is actually more efficient than hand washing dishes.

7. Try to Consolidate Laundry as Much as Possible

You can ask that guests do their laundry together when possible to cut down on the loads. It will save a significant amount of electricity and the laundry room won’t be so crowded. 

Give yourself the gift of a Lone Star Energy plan this holiday season! We have something for every Texas family from straightforward, fixed-rate plans to electricity that’s powered 100% by renewable energy certificates. 

Join the Lone Star Energy family - see which plans are available in your neighborhood!