Enjoy happier holidays with energy-efficiency savings

The most magical time of the year is here! Coloradans will soon be gathering with friends and family to enjoy turkey and stuffing, decorating our homes and spreading holiday cheer. Whether you’re celebrating this joyful holiday season by traveling or safely hosting family and friends, it’s a time to be thankful for those in our lives. 

The holidays also can be stressful due to increased spending, not just for gifts and celebrations, but also because we begin using more energy to heat and light our homes during the colder months. The good news is that being more energy-efficient is simpler than you may think! In fact, all it takes are a few easy behavioral changes — whether you’ll be at home, away from home or both — to make a big impact on your bill.

If you’re traveling: 

— Turn down the thermostat. If you’ll be away from home, especially for several days, there’s no need to keep your home as warm as you usually do. You aren’t there to appreciate it! Simply turn your thermostat down 7-10 degrees to conserve energy while you’re away. Consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat with a heating schedule. This allows you to schedule turning down the heat when you leave and turning it back up before you return so you don’t walk into a cold house. Black Hills Energy offers a rebate on Energy Star certified smart thermostats to help cover the cost of upgrading.

— Unplug appliances. Large appliances, like coffee makers and computers, should be unplugged if you’re not home for the holidays. Even if the appliances aren’t turned on or in use, they can still use energy simply by being plugged in. This is called phantom energy. Get in the habit of unplugging unused appliances on a daily basis to help conserve energy and manage your utility bill. Or use a smart power strip, which can detect when a device is in standby mode and cut power off, to help you reduce that phantom energy use. 

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