Christmas is synonymous with light, color, and excitement, but it’s also synonymous with a certain degree of excess; after all, while it’s the most special time of the year, it’s also the most consumerist. A good example of this is energy consumption, since, according to data provided by the National Association for Energy Savings and Efficiency, during this time of year, electricity use in Spanish households increases by 28%, rising from a typical average of 272.67 kWh to 348.92 kWh. This can result in an increase of up to 19% on each family’s final bill.

Despite this, it’s possible to enjoy the holidays without depriving yourself and without breaking the bank. Today at Culmia, we’re sharing several energy-saving tips for Christmas that can help you optimize your energy use at home, all while putting up a beautiful tree or preparing delicious lunches and dinners for the whole family. Will you join us?

Tips for Saving Energy During the Holiday Season

Controlling Christmas Tree Consumption

At this time of year, the first thing we need to focus on is the lighting for its most iconic symbol: the tree. This tradition wouldn’t be complete without decorations and lights, so the main goal is to use a lighting system that’s efficient without sacrificing its spectacular effect and vibrant colors.

In this regard, it is important to note that old incandescent light bulbs are no longer manufactured in the European Union, which is good news given their high energy consumption. Currently, LED technology reigns supreme; it is estimated to consume approximately 80% less energy than older bulbs. That’s why it’s important to replace old bulbs with LEDs if we’re still using them.

If we want to calculate how much power ours consume, we’ll need to look at the information on the box label: the voltage and wattage. With this information, we can calculate the power consumption based on the number of hours per day they’re turned on. For example, a string of 200 lights consumes about 6 W per hour; and if they’re left on for 12 hours a day for a month (30 days), their energy consumption will be 2.16 kWh. At an average price of 0.20 euros per kWh, that comes to 0.43 euros. In other words, a very small amount that makes the expense worthwhile just to have a tree that looks beautiful.

Turn off the lights when we go to bed

In relation to the previous point about Christmas lights, it’s also important that we monitor our energy use so that we only use them when strictly necessary. The lights are beautiful and brighten up the holidays, but while we’re asleep, they’re an unnecessary expense. So limit your usage to what’s strictly necessary at night—if you turn them off before going to bed, you’ll also save a little on your bill.

Consuming Based on Our Gas and Electricity Rates

The rise in energy prices during the Christmas season is a logical consequence of the increased consumption that occurs during this time of year. However, if we understand our rate plans well and adjust our consumption accordingly, we may very well be able to achieve real savings.

In this regard, the ideal situation is to have a flat rate, so that our bill doesn’t take a hit during these weeks of the year. But if that’s not the case and we’re on a time-of-use, indexed, or regulated rate plan, we should find out the cost of electricity during each hour and try to adjust our habits accordingly—turning on the heat or cooking during the times of day when rates are lowest.

Saving Money in the Kitchen

During these weeks of the year, it’s also common for us to spend more time than usual in the kitchen.Meals with family or friends become more frequent, and if we’re the hosts, we’ll have to go the extra mile to prepare tasty and unique dishes. As a result, our electricity usage will also increase.

To save energy in the kitchen during the Christmas season, we can take several steps:

• The oven is one of the appliances we use most often during the holidays. To minimize its energy consumption, it’s important that, when we use it, we only open the door when necessary so that heat doesn’t escape. And we should take advantage of times when it’s already on and hot to cook several things, one after another, because it will require more energy to start up and reach the optimal temperature.
• Use lids when cooking: Covering both pots and pans is a great way to retain heat and reach the optimal temperature more quickly.
• Steaming: This technique allows you to prepare food without needing to reach high temperatures or spend a lot of time doing so. It is therefore an economical and sustainable alternative to other, more energy-intensive cooking methods.
• Thawing in the refrigerator: In winter, the defrosting process is somewhat slower due to the room temperature, but if, instead of taking them out of the freezer, we keep them in the refrigerator for a few hours, we’ll speed up the process and use energy more efficiently, since we won’t need to heat them up to get them ready for cooking.
• Using the dishwasher: The more guests you have at home, the more energy it takes to wash your dishes. Therefore, if you have guests over, make the most of your dishwasher and run it as few times as possible. And if you don’t have one and have space in your kitchen, consider buying one, because according to the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), using a dishwasher saves 62% more water than washing dishes by hand.

Optimal Use of Heating

Christmas falls during one of the coldest times of the year. And when you add to that the fact that we also tend to spend a lot of time at home with our families, heating usage during this time of year can really skyrocket. However, the key is to find the optimal comfortable temperature and keep it stable.

This article offers several recommendations for protecting your home during the winter, but it’s worth noting that the optimal temperature ranges between 21 and 23°C. Therefore, it’s essential to have good insulation to prevent energy loss and avoid having to keep the heat on constantly. Home automation can also help with this, because if you have a smart heating control system, you won’t have to constantly adjust the settings.

Practical Gifts

Electronic devices, such as cell phones, tablets, televisions, and video game consoles, are often among the most popular Christmas gifts. So we can also do our part to save energy this Christmas by checking the energy labels when we shop to choose the most energy-efficient products.

In addition, prioritize toys or products that come with their own built-in batteries over those that run on disposable batteries. And, whenever possible, choose items that are recyclable or biodegradable, because once they reach the end of their useful life, they can be reused or disposed of without harming the environment.

Energy Efficiency During Visits

If you’re expecting guests, think about how you can optimize your energy use while they’re at your house. Before they arrive, turn the heat down a couple of degrees so that it warms up gradually as your guests arrive. Also, turn off the lights and appliances in rooms where no one will be present. And make sure food and drinks are always within reach, so you don’t have to open and close the refrigerator frequently (which wastes energy).

Save Energy This Christmas with Culmia’s Help

Christmas is just around the corner, but you still have time to put these tips into practice at home so your family’s energy consumption doesn’t put an extra strain on your budget. In fact, we encourage you to combine them with the best practices we suggest in our Guide to Saving at Home, which you can download for free by clicking on the banner below.

Have a happy and sustainable holiday season!

We recommend:

• Energy-Saving Measures for the Home
• Ideas for Creating a Sustainable Home