The holidays are a great time to spread (clean energy) cheer with friends and family.
Whether you host people for the holidays or travel to see friends and family, it’s a special time of year - even when it comes to your energy use. When you have an eligible Nest thermostat enrolled in Nest Renew, there’s plenty you can do, to both lower your own energy bill and support a clean energy future.
For example, if you’re going to hit the road over the holidays, don’t leave home without adjusting your thermostat’s temperature settings. Also, be sure to reduce the standby temperature of your hot water heater since heating water accounts for about 20 percent of the typical American household’s energy use.
Here are some other ways to help your wallet, the planet and your loved ones during the holiday season:
Cook electric with precision and efficiency.
For many of us, we spend more time in the kitchen during the holidays. To make the kitchen more efficient, consider an induction burner or cooktop. Induction cooking utilizes an electromagnetic field located below a glass cooktop to directly transfer energy to magnetic skillets and pots and pans. Thanks to this direct transfer of energy, induction cooktops are about three times more efficient than conventional natural gas ranges. Induction cooktops also reach precise temperatures quicker than traditional options - they outperformed other range technologies in Consumer Reports’ test kitchen. The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act can also make the purchase of a new induction cooktop cheaper: there is up to $840 in rebates for those who qualify.
Drive electric.
Electrifying your ride is one of the biggest moves you can make to slash your carbon emissions, as transportation is America’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
If you have already made the shift from a gas-powered car or truck to electric vehicle, offer holiday guests a ride. Research from J.D. Power in 2021 showed that people who had the opportunity to ride in an electric vehicle were nearly three times more likely to buy one than those who didn’t have that experience. For drivers that make the switch,they can save up to $14,500 in fuel costs over 15 years when compared to driving a similar gas-powered car. If you are traveling, consider renting an EV, as major rental companies and car sharing marketplaces now offer all-electric options.
The gift of time.
Whether taking someone for a special outing or helping a loved one with a difficult task, the gift of time is one of the best we can give any time of year. One way to gift your time is to help people navigate clean energy incentives offered by local governments or utilities. A good place to start is the Database of Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, or DSIRE, which offers detailed and localized descriptions of available financial incentives from states and utilities. Non-profit Rewiring America also offers a handy calculator to help people know which incentives they qualify for under the Inflation Reduction Act. Depending on the project – whether it’s sourcing rooftop or community solar or installing a heat pump – you can also gift your time to help a loved one find a knowledgeable contractor or installer who is familiar with the latest technology and incentives.
