1. Buy the right light bulbs

If buying new string lights to decorate the front porch or your Christmas tree, remember to buy the right type of bulb. Not only can choosing an LED bulb over an incandescent bulb save you a lot of money, but it can also benefit the climate. According to the Danish Ministry of Energy, having lights on for 24 hours a day for 6 weeks can cost you EUR 22 with incandescent lights, while only costing EUR 1,3 with LED lights.

It can also be a good idea to use a self-timing system. That way, the lights only shine when you need them to, avoiding unnecessary CO2 emissions.

[caption id="attachment_90551" align="alignnone" width="2188"] Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency, September 2017[/caption]

To put the CO2 emissions into perspective, 60 kg CO2 is equivalent to drive 237 km in a car. This means that having one incandescent light bulb burn for 24 hours a day for two months is equal to driving a car from one end of Denmark to the other.

2. Utilise residual heat

Most ovens are still hot a while after you turn them off. You can exploit this by shutting off the oven before the food is completely done cooking. The residual heat will still cook the food without using excessive energy.

3. Use the microwave

If heating small portions of food use the microwave instead of the oven or stove. Not only is it typically quicker, but it can save up to 70 per cent in energy.

4. Defrost frozen food in the fridge

If defrosting large goods like a duck or a goose, the temperature from the frozen product will bring down the average temperature of the fridge. That way, the fridge will not need as much energy for cooling.

5. Trust your dishwasher

Many people think that it is necessary to wash your plates before putting them in the dishwasher. However, most modern dishwashers can handle dirty plates as long as most of the food is scraped off. The extra washing is unnecessary and can waste a lot of water and energy.

One last thing…

Many also travel long distances for the holidays to visit family. If this is the case, there are ways to save energy at home while away.

Happy holidays!

Source: The Danish Energy Agency