Thanksgiving is over, and it is officially the start of the holiday season. Regardless of which holiday you celebrate this time of year, there are various ways to save energy that everyone can appreciate.

Ask Santa for a new programmable thermostat! The old round dial thermostats are a thing of the past. New and efficient programmable thermostats are the future! There are basic programmable thermostats, wi-fi thermostats, and thermostats you can even program from your cell phone! Setting your thermostat lower while you are away or sleeping can save you up to 15% on your energy bills this holiday season.

“Dad, you taught me everything I know about exterior illumination.” – Go ahead and be as enthusiastic about your holiday lights as Clark Griswold – but do so with LED lights! LED holiday lights allow you to save tons on your holiday electricity bill while still being able to illuminate your entire street! The average delivery charge from National Grid is $0.07 per kWh. For a string of 100 Sylvania LED decorative mini bulbs it’s only 5 watts, or about $0.27 for 30 days of usage if you leave your lights on all day (which you shouldn’t do), and for the same string of incandescent decorative mini bulbs it’s a whopping $5.40 for a 30 day period!

Time is money! Be sure to put your decorative lights, inflatables, and other lighted decorations on a timer – this way, you don’t have to remember to turn everything off or unplug it! Not only is it taking less off your plate of holiday responsibilities, but it helps save you loads on your electricity bill!

Enjoy the ambiance! Turn off other lights when the tree is lit. You’ll have plenty of light coming from the tree, a cozy ambiance, and use less energy!

Wheels up, lights out! If you’re traveling for the holidays, be sure that all of your electronics are unplugged – including phone chargers, alarm clocks, and even microwaves – all of these draw power even when they’re not in use!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire – everyone loves a beautiful fireplace especially during the holidays. It helps warm your home so you don’t have to run your furnace as much, but be sure that your damper is closed when you’re not using it or it will have the opposite result and cool your house off. So enjoy those cozy nights, but be sure to close the damper when you’re done!

Take care this holiday season, and take these tips to heart to save on your energy bill!