Some called you courageous while others called you crazy. Regardless, you volunteered to host the big meal for both sides of your family this holiday season. But have you considered the impact thirty people feasting will have on your energy bills? Here are a few ways you can reduce your energy use:
Lower the thermostat. Long before the first vehicle turns into your driveway, lower your thermostat to 65°F and give your furnace a break. When you pack 30 people into a home, they act as a massive, natural radiator. In fact, if you start cooking a few hours before everyone arrives, turn the temperature down before you turn the oven on. Consider installing a smart thermostat or a temporary lockbox. With that many guests, someone will inevitably feel warm or cold; letting people constantly adjust the dial will cause your HVAC system to short-cycle and waste immense amounts of energy.
Keep the fireplace damper closed. Unless you are actively burning wood, an open damper acts like an open window, letting all your expensive heated air escape straight up the chimney.
Use the “Nebraska Walk-In Cooler.” Do not cram your refrigerator to maximum capacity. When a fridge is tightly packed, air cannot circulate, forcing the compressor to run constantly. Instead, utilize the cold weather. Store hard drinks, sodas, condiments, and raw root vegetables in coolers on your porch or in an unheated garage.
Bake multiple dishes at once. If your recipes require similar temperature settings (e.g., 350°F and 375°F), bake them together. It takes nearly the same amount of energy to heat a full oven as it does one that is half empty.
Keep the oven door shut. Every time you peek inside, the oven temperature drops by 25°F to 50°F, forcing it to work much harder to recover. Use the oven light and window instead.
Match pots to burner sizes. Using a small pot on a large electric burner wastes more than half the heat generated. Also, remember that keeping lids on your pots traps heat and cuts cooking time significantly.
Utilize small countertop appliances. Whenever possible, skip the massive standard oven. Slow cookers, instant pots, air fryers and toaster ovens use roughly 50% to 75% less energy than a conventional oven and won’t overheat your kitchen.
Use the dishwasher over handwashing. Modern, Energy Star®-certified dishwashers use dramatically less water and energy than handwashing a mountain of dishes in the sink.
Only run completely full loads. Wait until the dishwasher is full before running it and select the “Eco” or “Normal” cycle.
Turn off “Heated Dry.” This is one of the biggest energy hogs in the kitchen. Instead, unlatch the dishwasher door at the end of the cycle and let the dishes air-dry naturally.
Your local public power provider wishes you, your families and friends the very best this holiday season. For more energy-saving ideas to keep you happily sharing good tidings into the new year, contact your local utility.