It’s beginning to look a LOT like Christmas, check out our 12 days of Christmas Energy Tips that will help you save on energy whilst keeping in the festive spirit..... 

Day 1: When decorating your tree and house, switch to LED Christmas lights to reduce your energy consumption by 90%. Get creative, make your own decorations from recycled or reclaimed materials, or choose natural decorations such as evergreens, mistletoe and holly,

Day 2: If your Christmas lights are on, turn off your main room lights to maximise the lighting effect.  Turn your lights off when you go out, and when you go to bed or why not buy a timer switch so that they automatically turn off over night.

Day 3: A fibre optic decoration can light a whole tree from a single bulb, and is just as effective as a whole string of Christmas lights

Day 4: Buy local food, buying local food means your Christmas dinner has less of a carbon impact. If you visit a local independent shop instead of travelling to a large supermarket, you can also reduce the time you spend on the road, save on fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions.

Day 5: Look for the energy rating and buy the most energy efficient appliance/device you can afford, and don’t forget to buy rechargeable batteries – check out energy labelling at https://www.seai.ie/home-energy/energy-labelling-and-ecodesign/energy-labelling/

Day 6: Open those blinds and curtains during the day to allow sunlight to heat your home. And close them both at night to reduce the unbearable chill from cold windows.

Day 7: Turn down the thermostat when you’re hosting those festive holiday gatherings. The heat from cooking in the kitchen combined with the extra visitors will warm your home, and if you’re still cold it’s an excuse to put on your Christmas jumper

Day 8: Beware of Festive Vampires.... Make sure to switch those new gadgets and appliances given as presents off standby before you go to bed. The little red standby light on means the appliance is still using power.  Appliances on standby can use up to 20% of the energy that they would use if on, so make sure they are fully switched off, e.g., TVs, PCs, DVDs, VCRs, printers, games consoles, satellite boxes/players/recorders and kitchen appliances etc.

Day 9: Cook smart,  when cooking your sprouts and potatoes on the hob, use the right-sized pan and ring, and don’t forget to put a lid on it. Plus be creative, leftovers are not waste so use them to try new recipes and invent delicious meals.

Day 10: As we gorge on Christmas dinners and –quite likely- spill gravy down our Christmas jumpers, it’s particularly important Save water, (and energy!) during the Christmas period and only use your dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load.

Day 11: Drive smarter If you’re travelling to see friends and family, combining journeys and making some simple changes to the way you drive can reduce the amount of fuel you burn and save money. http://www.theaa.ie/aa/motoring-advice/driving-advice/eco-driving-advice.aspx#).   Even better why not leave the car at home and cycle or walk, the added bonus is to burn off that extra mince pie of slice of Christmas cake consumed over the festive season

Day 12: Hire a professional to conduct an energy audit of your home - https://www.seai.ie/grants/find-a-registered-professional/, apply for an SEAI grant to upgrade your house https://www.seai.ie/home-energy/home-upgrades/ and then watch as your energy savings increase in 2020 and beyond.    

Now, what holiday song is stuck in your head?

We hope you have an Energy Saving Christmas!