Energy Insights: 7 Energy-Saving Gift Ideas
There is nothing better than feeling like you have found the perfect gifts for your loved ones. This year give them a gift they can feel especially good about all season long. Reducing energy costs in the home can not only help potentially save money, but it can also help the environment.
Here are some fun energy-saving gift ideas:
1. Pressure cooker
For those who like to cook on your shopping list this holiday, consider a pressure cooker. These pots can use up to 70% less energy than regular pots and pans by sealing in hot air that allows food to cook more quickly. Plus, you get to eat sooner, which should make this a gift everyone will love!
2. Energy-efficient Pet Door
When it is time for your pets to take care of business, pet doors can be very handy and convenient, but they can also create opportunities for cool and warm are to escape. Energy-efficient pet doors help insulate and create an air-tight seal that can help prevent cool and warm air from getting out, but still allow your furry friends easy access to the outdoors.
3. Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators.
Perhaps items from the bathroom won’t make the top of your friends and family’s wish list this holiday, but they will certainly enjoy the benefits of potentially lowering their energy bills each month. Installing low-flow showerheads can help reduce water consumption by up to 50%, which will help reduce the energy needed to heat the water used.
4. Motion-Sensor Power Strips
Electronics are always one of the top gifts given during the holiday season. Whether it is a new large-screen television, computer or smart tech gadget, connecting those new electronics to power strips can help reduce the energy they consume. When electronics are plugged in but not in use, they still are leeching energy and can account for up to 20% of your monthly energy bill. Give the gift of motion-sensor power strips that will conveniently turn on when you enter the room and turn off when you leave the room.
5. Blankets
Even though it seems very simple, having a warm, comfortable blanket around is a great deterrent to cranking up the heat. When choosing a blanket to serve practical purposes, think about the material of the blanket. When it comes to maintaining and containing body heat, wool is the first choice, followed by down feathers. Some might think wool is a little scratchy so a beautiful down blanket might be a winner.
6. Home electricity monitor.
Sometimes when it comes to saving energy, seeing is believing. Being able to see real-time information about how much energy a home is using and the cost associated will help motivate homeowners to implement energy-saving methods. Home electricity monitors are great gifts to give that can help track homes’ electricity usage by plugging them into the outlets and they also provide ways to help reduce energy usage.
7. Solar Backpack
Taking a simple walk or going for a hike outdoors we can sometimes find ourselves packing more and more battery-operated gadgets. From your navigational devices and high tech cameras, getting from point A to point B has never been as “electronic”. Now with solar backpacks, you can keep your electronics powered longer. Solar backpacks feature solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. The power is then stored in power banks or battery packs. There is a large variety of solar backpacks on the market. These make a great gift for the outdoorsy people on your shopping list!
