The Holidays and Your Electricity Usage

As the holidays roll in, so do bustling kitchens, festive decorations, and gatherings that turn our homes into welcoming spaces for friends and family. However, the energy demands associated with holiday festivities can add up quickly, both in terms of electricity usage and in costs. Thanksgiving, the official kickoff of the holiday season, is a particularly high-energy day for many households, followed by weeks of festivities that continue to boost electricity consumption. Here’s a look at what drives these increases in energy use and how to be mindful of it without sacrificing any holiday cheer.

1. The Thanksgiving Feast: Kitchen Appliances at Full Throttle

Thanksgiving is one of the most cooking-intensive days of the year, which means kitchen appliances are working overtime. Preparing a large holiday meal requires hours of stove, oven, and even microwave use. Here’s a quick breakdown of typical electricity usage:

• Oven: Baking a turkey for several hours, along with casseroles and pies, consumes a significant amount of electricity. On average, an electric oven can use around 2.3-5 kWh per hour, depending on its efficiency and the cooking temperature.

• Stovetop: Side dishes and sauces are often cooked on the stovetop, which uses about 1-1.5 kWh per burner per hour.

• Microwave and Small Appliances: Microwaves, blenders, and mixers can add up too, particularly when they’re used continuously in the lead-up to the meal.

According to estimates, Thanksgiving Day can see a 20% increase in household energy use, with much of it happening in the kitchen.

Energy-saving Tip: Pre-planning the cooking schedule and minimizing door openings in the oven can help you cook efficiently. Consider using a slow cooker for side dishes or a pressure cooker, which consume less energy than an oven.

2. Decorations and Lighting: Brightening Up the Holidays

Once Thanksgiving passes, it’s time to light up the house! Holiday lights and decorations are an iconic part of the season, but traditional incandescent bulbs can significantly increase electricity consumption.

• Holiday Lights: Older, incandescent holiday lights use about 10 watts per bulb, while newer LED lights use only about 0.07 watts per bulb. For example, a standard 100-light incandescent string could use around 40 watts, while an LED version of the same length uses around 4 watts.

• Inflatables and Yard Decorations: Outdoor holiday inflatables typically use 50-200 watts per decoration, depending on size and type. When these are running for hours each night, the energy consumption can add up.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, switching from incandescent to LED holiday lights can reduce energy use by up to 75%. While these decorations are beautiful, it’s worth considering energy-efficient options.

Energy-saving Tip: Choose LED holiday lights and consider putting your decorations on a timer to automatically shut them off during daylight or late-night hours.

3. Increased Heating Needs and Guest Usage

With holiday gatherings come extra people—and extra demand for heat and hot water. Cold winter months often require more heating, and when you add in guests, homes see higher usage of showers, laundry, and general electricity. Heating accounts for about 30% of a home’s energy use, and even small adjustments in temperature can lead to higher costs.

• Heating and HVAC: Setting the thermostat a couple of degrees lower and using smart thermostats can help keep energy costs manageable. When guests are around, try to close off unused rooms to conserve heat in high-traffic areas.

• Hot Water Usage: With more people showering, using the dishwasher, and washing up, hot water heaters work overtime. Setting the water heater temperature to a more moderate level (120°F is typically recommended) can prevent energy waste while still keeping water warm enough for everyone’s comfort.

Energy-saving Tip: Encourage guests to take shorter showers and use cold-water laundry settings. If you have a smart thermostat, use its scheduling feature to adjust temperatures based on when people are home or sleeping.

4. Electronics and Entertainment: TVs, Games, and Music

Gathering around the TV to watch football games, playing video games, and streaming holiday movies are part of the holiday experience. Electronics are in high demand during this time, but they are often overlooked contributors to energy use.

• Television and Streaming: Today’s modern TVs are more energy-efficient, but the hours of entertainment can still add up. For example, a 50-inch LED TV uses about 100 watts per hour on average. Watching several hours of football or holiday movies can consume a fair amount of electricity.

• Gaming Consoles: Video game consoles like PlayStation or Xbox can consume anywhere from 90 to 200 watts per hour. While newer models come with energy-saving modes, extended gaming sessions can still increase electricity bills.

Energy-saving Tip: Turn off electronics completely when not in use, and consider using “sleep” or “eco” modes for your devices. Grouping devices on a single power strip can help ensure everything is turned off at once.

5. Tips for Lowering Your Holiday Energy Costs

While it’s almost impossible to avoid a spike in electricity usage during the holidays, there are some simple strategies to keep it manageable:

• Switch to LED lights for decorations to cut down on holiday lighting costs.
• Use smart power strips to prevent “phantom load” from devices in standby mode.
• Cook efficiently by planning and using multiple dishes in the oven at once to maximize each cycle.
• Unplug unused electronics and chargers when not in use.

With these small adjustments, you can keep your holiday electricity use under control, allowing you to enjoy the season to the fullest without worrying about a hefty energy bill.

Thanksgiving and the holiday season are meant to be enjoyed, but being mindful of energy use can benefit both the planet and your wallet. At 4Change Energy, we’re here to support your energy needs year-round, with affordable electricity plans that make it easy to keep energy costs manageable. Embrace the holidays with joy, light up your homes, and cook those delicious meals—knowing that you’re making smart energy choices along the way!