6 Electricity Saving Tips for Christmas Season

It feels good to be a bit self-conscious about the amount of energy we consume on a regular basis. Sometimes I enjoy the challenge of trying to keep the electric bill down during the holidays, instead of watching it rocket to unseen heights with all those Christmas lights burning electricity around the clock. I always remember to turn the furnace down a few degrees before leaving the house for the day, and my boys, well, they don't bathe every day unless the circumstances are extreme.

Many people feel as I do, and go to even greater measures to ensure their footprints on the Earth are even smaller. Many people are trying alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind, buying gas efficient or even electric vehicles, and watching their energy consumption closely. As the holidays approach, consider giving energy saving gifts as well. These are all things I'd love to get for Christmas and I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

Energy Saving Power Strip

I'd like to think everyone has worked it into their routine to unplug the television before going to sleep at night, or unplugging counter top appliances before leaving for work in the morning. Unfortunately, it can be a bit of a hassle for some. The TrickleStar energy saving power strip takes the hassle out, by automatically shutting of the power supply to items like televisions and computers, providing surge protection, and reducing a home's energy consumption by up to 12 percent.


Thermal Leak Detector

Leaks in thermal pipes can account for up to 20 percent of heating and cooling losses. Black and Decker's Thermal Leak Detector will sense these leaks with infrared technology, thereby alerting the homeowner to do some patchwork. It's a great do-dad for dads.

Kill a Watt EZ Energy Usage Monitor

This device can plug into all your home appliances, and then give you some valuable information on how much energy it is using. The large LCD screen shows cost forecasts for each appliance you plug in for the week, month, and year. It will give you a great idea which appliances are using the most energy so you can take specific measures to cut back to reduce those costs.

Rechargeable Battery Kit

It kind of makes me cringe when I think about all the batteries my household burns through for toys, headlamps, flashlights, and the like. Using rechargeable batteries can help. The Sanyo Eneloop Rechargeable Battery Kit would be a great gift for families who use a lot of batteries. The batteries will charge up to 1500 times.

Recycling Bin

The Neu Home Stainless Step on Recycle Bin Organizer keeps up to 16 gallons of your recyclable materials organized. Its attractive, so I wouldn't mind keeping it in a common living area like an entryway, kitchen, or porch to make recycling that much easier.

Learning Thermostat

NEST, developed by the makers of the iPhone, is unlike any other thermostat on the market. It's easy to install and program, then it takes over your home heating while reducing your energy consumption. All you have to do is answer a few questions about common energy usage, and program it to turn the temperature down when you leave the house, or at night. Then, it will automatically do it, even if you forget.

Jessica Bosari offers money and energy saving tips at Billeater.com. Stop by for more money saving ideas.