Holiday Energy-Saving Tips

Absolutely, especially with these holiday energy-saving tips.

Holiday Entertaining Tips

Cook as many dishes as possible in your microwave over the holidays. Because microwaves cook food so quickly, the typical model uses as much as 75 percent less energy than a conventional oven.
Use your slow cooker. For about 17 cents worth of electricity, you can prepare an entire meal.
When using your oven, check cooking progress by looking through the window. Opening the oven door for even a few seconds lowers the temperature inside by as much as 25°F.
If your stove doesn't have a window, try not to open the door to check your food until it's as close to the expected finish time as possible.
Turn off your oven several minutes before your food is fully cooked. As long as the door remains closed, enough heat will be stored inside to finish cooking your meal.
If you use glass or ceramic pans, try turning your oven temperature down 25°F. Your dish may cook just as quickly.
When cooking on your stove top, match the size of the pan to the heating element. More heat will get to the pan and less will be lost.
Keep your refrigerator and freezer well stocked. A full refrigerator or freezer saves energy by reducing the recovery time when the door is opened.

Set your thermostat between 66°F and 68°F, a comfortable range for most people. For every 1°F you lower your thermostat, you may reduce your energy use by 1-3 percent.
Start the heating season with a new furnace filter, and clean or replace it monthly to keep your furnace running efficiently.
Setting your hot water heater to 120°F can cut your water heating costs by 10 percent.
Open-hearth fireplaces draw heated air from your home, sending it and possibly your energy budget up the chimney. If you use your fireplace, install a snug-fitting set of glass doors and crack open a nearby window. Doing so reduces the amount of heated interior air drawn into the fireplace and improves efficiency by up to 20 percent.