Whether your spring break is taking you somewhere warm and toasty or cold and snowy, don’t miss an opportunity to save energy at home while you’re away. A little bit of quick and easy at-home prep before you leave can mean a lower energy bill when you return. And a few extra bucks in your bank account might just be the best vacation souvenir of all. We’ve rounded up 15 ways to power down your home so you can fully relax and unwind this spring break.

Give your HVAC system a break, too.

Hey, maybe your HVAC system would love a little spring break, too? Since heating and cooling your home can make up as much as 55% of your total household electricity use, it’s also a great place to find energy savings. Here are a few things you can do to let your HVAC get some R&R.

1. Set your thermostat to 55° F in the winter or 85° F in the summer. 

The weather in the Southeast is unpredictable. When you leave for spring break it could be 30° F outside or it could be 70° F. It’s anybody’s guess! That being said, adjust your thermostat accordingly. When it’s warmer outside, set your thermostat to 85° F. For every degree above 72° F you can save up to 3% on your energy bill. Now if it’s cold out still, set your thermostat to 55° F. Not only will you save a ton of energy, but you can also rest easy knowing that heat will still flow and your pipes will be protected during a freeze. If you’ve got a smart thermostat, use vacation mode to set it and forget it.

Just remember, when you return home and want to recool or reheat the house, only set it to your desired temperature. Dropping the temperature as low or as high as it can go won’t make your HVAC system work faster, but it will make your system work harder for longer. Not only could that damage your system, but it will also drive up your energy bill. 

2. Unplug space heaters.

If it’s still space heater season in your area by the time spring break rolls around, unplug those guys before you go. Space heaters are energy eaters, and even when they’re off, they’ll continue to use energy just by being plugged into an outlet. In general, whether you’ll be gone for eight hours or eight days, never leave a space heater on in an unoccupied home. It’s a fire hazard.

Keep your energy bill out of hot water. 

3. Drop your water heater thermostat to its lowest set point. 

If no one’s home, nobody needs hot water, right? Go ahead and give yourself some extra savings by turning your water heater thermostat down to its lowest setting. For older electric water heaters, look for a small plate on the front of the machine that unscrews. You’ll find the thermostat dial in there. If you have a newer, more energy efficient model, set the thermostat to vacation mode. For gas water heaters, you’ll want to check your user manual. It’s important to remember, however, that this might be a tip to skip if there’s a chance of freezing temperatures while you’re away.

Keep food fresh and frozen. 

4. Set the refrigerator thermostat to 35° F–38° F and the freezer to 0° F–5° F.

If you’ve never checked your refrigerator and freezer thermostats (or if it’s been awhile), take 15 seconds to give them a quick glance. For optimal energy efficiency, set the refrigerator thermostat to 35° F–38° F and the freezer to 0° F–5° F. Maintain these temperature ranges year-round to keep food fresh, safe to consume and delicious. (Find more energy-saving tips and advice you can use all year.)

Stop vampire energy and give your electronics a breather. 

While we don’t have advice on how to decrease kiddos’ screen time on spring break, we can at least tell you how to give your home a break from all the devices. Here’s the thing: If it’s plugged into an outlet, it’s using energy, even if it’s not technically “on.” We call this “vampire” energy, because it’s sucking up energy — and money — whether the device, machine, etc. is in use or not. So, before you head out of town, do a quick sweep for vampires first! 

5. Unplug all small electronic devices, e.g., de/humidifiers, kitchen gadgets, printers.

6. Unplug all TVs, gaming consoles, entertainment devices, computers and laptops.

7. Unplug all power adapters and charging devices.

8. Unplug the microwave, toaster, coffee maker and appliances with an electronic clock.

Leave only necessary lights on. 

9. Turn off indoor and outdoor lights.

While it’s not a bad idea to leave a light or two on when you’re away, you also don’t need to keep the house lit up like the Fourth of July! Keep a few strategic lights on but turn off the rest. If you have timers or light sensors, you can set those up, too, so that you only have certain lights on, at certain times.

Block out the sun. 

10. Close all curtains, drapes and blinds.

This is another tip that only takes seconds to complete. While you’re going around the house searching for things to unplug, close curtains, drapes and blinds, too. By blocking out heat-producing sunlight, you can maintain a cooler temperature inside. If you’re traveling during warmer months, make sure to check out our tips for saving energy during the toastiest times of the year.

Don’t forget these miscellaneous items.

Keep the energy-saving shutdown going and knock out just a few more remaining things!

11. Turn off ceiling fans and personal fans.

12. Unplug the hot tub heater or drain/winterize hot tub.

13. Turn off or lower the swimming pool heater. (Leave the pump on.)

14. Unplug air conditioners if they’re not needed for humidity control.

15. Unplug landscaping water features if they’re not needed for aquatic life.

Come home to a lower energy bill with the Power Down Before You Go Out of Town Checklist.

Bring a little extra rest and relaxation to your next getaway when you use TVA EnergyRight’s Power Down Before You Go Out of Town Checklist. Enjoy the comfort of knowing you’re saving energy, saving money and maybe even fighting off an energy vampire or two! 

Download the Power Down Before You Go Out of Town Checklist to get started.

Cold weather can do a number on your winter energy bills, especially when temperatures dip into the teens or lower. But it doesn’t have to. There are some simple —and free — steps you can take to help manage your energy bill during the coldest months of the year. Plus, you can access free home energy education and tips year round when you visit the TVA EnergyRight® website. We’re here to help you stay warm, save energy, and keep your energy bills under control. 

1. Set your thermostat to 68°F or lower.

Skip the next battle in your home’s thermostat war by getting everyone on board with using 68° F as a baseline. Here’s why that matters: Heating and cooling your home makes up about 31% of your total electricity use. So, the more attention you focus on improving your heating system’s energy efficiency, the more energy and money you’ll save. If you leave the house for eight or more hours, move that dial back even further. It could save you upwards of 10% annually. As an added bonus, you might just also enjoy better sleep. Studies show that sleeping in cooler temperatures can improve sleep quality.

2. Leave air vents open and unobstructed.

Pop quiz! True or false: Closing vents in unused rooms saves money on heating. Well, if you guessed true, you’re not alone. But the answer is actually false! This is one of the most common home energy myths we hear. While it seems like shutting off the flow of heat to a room that isn’t being used would save energy and redistribute the heat to other rooms, it actually doesn’t. Here’s what could happen instead:

Damage to your HVAC system

Yikes. Not only can too many closed registers (HVAC lingo for air vents) cause damage to your compressor, but pressure can start to build in your air ducts, which can turn tiny leaks into a big problem. 

Lost energy efficiency

The size of your HVAC system is designed to provide the right amount of heating and cooling to your home. So when air vents get blocked off, your system is still going to produce the same amount of air, only now it doesn’t have as many places to flow. That creates pressure and will cause your system to work harder, meaning more electricity use, and you guessed it, a higher utility bill.

Mold and mildew growth

Closed registers can cause condensation to form in the air duct, and that moisture can become the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.

3. Take advantage of the sun.

You know who really loves to help people save energy? Mother Nature herself! On those bright, sunny winter days, pull back the curtains, open the blinds and let the sun pour in. Enjoy the extra light and warmth with no increase to your energy bill. At night, close everything up again for a little added protection from the cold.

4. Weatherstrip doors and windows, DIY style.

A little gap here, a little gap there—if you think those drafty spots around doors and windows aren’t that big of a deal, think again. Even just a 1/8-inch gap around the entryway of a door is equivalent to drilling a five-inch hole through the outside wall! That’s a ton of space for cold air to slip in and your heat (and money) to slip out. 

While caulk and weatherstripping may set you back about $20, you can also try these no-cost tips in a pinch:

• Plastic grocery bags. Flatten out a plastic garbage bag, then roll it up longways. You may need several depending on the window or draft. Open the window and fill any gaps where insulation is missing or damaged with the grocery bag rolls. Then, shut the window. 
• Cotton swabs. A rattling window is not only annoying, but it’s usually a sign of a draft. Take an everyday cotton swab and fold it up slightly at the edges, forming a wide u-shape. Place the cotton swab u-shape side up in any gaps where the window meets the base. 
• Old sheets or towels. Use old sheets, towels or blankets to block drafts at window sills. Roll them up longways for a quick and easy doorstop.

5. Avoid using emergency heat unless it’s a true emergency.

Emergency heat is only for emergencies! It is not for daily use. The only time you should use emergency heat is if your primary heat pump and auxiliary heat (the heat that automatically turns on if the heat pump malfunctions) go out. Emergency heat, which has to be manually turned on and off, costs significantly more than your everyday heat and will drive up your energy bill.

6. Reverse the direction of your ceiling fan.

Yes, ceiling fans can help you feel warmer! Toggle the little switch on your ceiling fans so that they rotate clockwise. This will drive warm air hovering around the ceiling back down into the room and onto your skin. (Remember, ceiling fans cool and warm people, not rooms.) Just don’t forget to set it back to rotate counterclockwise for the spring and summer!

7. Bundle up.

This one is a no-brainer, but it’s so easy to forget! Grab a hoodie, some comfy socks and your favorite blanket, and you can avoid having to crank up the heat to take off the chill. This is the perfect time to slide into your slippers so you can slide into energy savings.

Use home energy rebates when no-cost fixes don’t cut it.

Let’s face it, if your HVAC system goes belly up in the middle of an extreme winter weather event, no amount of no-cost fixes are really going to cut it. But investing in a new heating system, replacing faulty ductwork, or beefing up your home’s insulation isn’t always in the budget. TVA EnergyRight offers a range of money-saving rebates for common home energy upgrades so that improving your home’s energy efficiency can be more affordable. Plus, all rebate-eligible home energy upgrades are completed by a TVA-vetted contractor from our Quality Contractor Network, ensuring your work is backed by TVA quality standards. We’re here to help you make winter weather energy choices that keep you warm

Start exploring rebates today.

Renters, this one’s for you! Saving energy at home isn’t just for homeowners. There are lots of simple, easy and totally free things you can do to lower your household utility costs. Because, let’s face it, unless something breaks, it’s pretty unlikely your landlord will proactively invest in costly energy-saving upgrades or repairs, like ENERGY STAR appliances or a new energy efficient HVAC system. Let’s take a look at a home’s biggest electricity users and some no-cost energy-saving hacks that can put a little extra green back in your pocket.

Heating and cooling

Heating and cooling your home accounts for about 32% of your total electricity use.¹ These small actions can make a big difference, though.

Keep air vents open and unobstructed.

Your HVAC system is built to provide the proper amount of heating and cooling for a home your size. So, when you close air vents and registers, your system will still produce and distribute the same amount of heat or cool air, but only now with fewer places for that air to go. That increased pressure puts a real strain on your duct work, and it forces your HVAC system to work harder. If you have floor vents, make sure nothing obstructs their air flow, like furniture, rugs or curtains.

Set your thermostat to 68° F to 70° F during the day in the winter.

The Department of Energy estimates you can save up to 10% on your annual heating expenses when you cut the heat back 7-10 degrees for eight or more hours at a stretch — perfect for a day in the office or when you’re out of town. When you’re home, aim for around 68° F to 70° F. For every one degree you lower your thermostat, you can save around 3% more energy.

Pro tip: Returning home after a day at work or a trip? Your impulse might be to set your thermostat way beyond your desired temperature to heat your home quicker. But resist the urge to surge! This does not increase the speed at which your home will warm up, but it will put extra stress on your system and use more energy.

Avoid using emergency heat unless it’s a true emergency.

Emergency heat is only for emergencies! It is not for daily use. The only time you should use emergency heat is if your primary heat pump and auxiliary heat (the heat that automatically turns on if the heat pump malfunctions) go out. Emergency heat, which has to be manually turned on and off, costs significantly more than your everyday heat and will drive up your energy bill.

Water heating

Heating water, like for showers and the dishwasher, makes up 11% of your home’s total electricity use, so anywhere you can scale back in this area is going to make a nice impact on your bill.¹

Wash clothes in cold water on the high spin cycle.

Your clothes get just as clean using cold water, so give this tip a whirl. When you wash clothing in hot water, you’ll use more electricity as your water heater works to, well, heat your water! Hot water is also harsh on clothes, which can mean having to replace clothing more often. Set your washing machine to a high spin cycle. This will ensure as much water as possible is spun out of your clothing and they’ll dry faster in the dryer.

Lower your water heater temperature to 120° F.

Most households have the temperature of their electric water heater set too high. By lowering your water heater temperature to 120° F, not only will you save money on your electricity bill (because you need electricity to make hot water) but you can also avoid burning yourself with water that is too hot.

Take shorter showers.

OK, yes, for long shower lovers this might seem impossible. But if you can reduce your shower time to 5-10 minutes, it reduces the amount of energy required to heat enough hot water for a 20-minute dip. Lower your electricity bill and avoid pruney skin — a win-win!

Household appliances: washing machine, dryer, stove & dishwasher

The way you use many household appliances, including your washing machine, dryer, stove and dishwasher, can drive up your electricity bill. These appliances account for 7% of your home’s energy use, and that’s not including the refrigerator or freezer, which we’ll get to in the next section.¹ 

Don’t overstuff the washing machine or dryer.

Unless you’re one of those rare people who loves to do laundry, then you’re probably trying to knock out this chore as quickly as possible. But, if you’re overstuffing your washing machine and dryer, you’re creating more work for yourself — work that will ultimately lead to greater energy use. 

Clothes need room to move around in the washing machine so that detergent can actually reach everything and your items can go through rinse cycles without trapping dirty water. The same logic applies to your dryer: If a dryer is packed full, there’s no room for warm air to move around and through your clothing. This leads to additional drying cycles, which will not only drive your electricity bill up but will also do a number on your clothing. 

Match pot and pan sizes to burner sizes.

If you’re using a small saucepan, use your smaller burners. Large burners use more energy, and if there’s nothing there to heat, then you’re burning up easy savings.

Skip the dry cycle on your dishwasher.

Instead of using your dishwasher’s drying feature, opt to let your dishes air dry. Because, let’s be honest, even with the dry cycle, some of your dishes still come out wet! Once your dishwasher is done, crack the door and let evaporation work its magic.

Refrigerator & freezer

Just this one appliance makes up 7% of your total household electricity use.¹ Keep your food fresh and safe and your electricity bill low with these fridge and freezer energy conservation tips.

Reset your refrigerator temperature to 35-38° F.

Got 60 seconds? Because that’s about all you’ll need to make this free and effective change. Open your refrigerator, look for the temperature gauge and then adjust the temperature to anywhere between 35° F and 38° F. This is the most energy efficient temperature to set your fridge while keeping your food safe. When you’re done with that, head over to the freezer and set its temperature to 0-5° F. 

Keep your fridge full.

High food costs can get in the way of practicing this tip, but when possible, keep your fridge full. Not overstuffed or bursting at the seams, but comfortably full, even if that’s adding a couple of gallon jugs of water. Refrigerated items need enough space for cool air to move around them, but once all your food and drinks are cold, everything works together to maintain the right temperature without too much additional energy from the appliance itself. 

Lighting, TVs & computers

Between lighting, TVs, gaming systems, laptops and all the other devices in our homes, it can all add up to a decent chunk of your electricity bill, about 10%, in fact.¹ Fortunately, lowering energy use in this area is as simple as the flip of a switch.

Turn off the lights when you leave the room.

It really is one of the easiest behavioral changes to practice. When you leave a room, flip that light switch on your way out even if you’ll return in a few minutes. Small habit changes like this also reinforce an energy-saving mindset. Soon you’ll be looking for ways to boost your energy efficiency everywhere!

Turn off and unplug devices.

A common energy myth is that if it’s turned off, it’s not using power. But we’re here to bust that myth! Yes, turning off your TV saves more energy than keeping it on all night after you fall asleep. But it’s still using power even when it’s off. We call that kind of energy “vampire energy,” because as long as something is plugged in, it’s sucking energy and increasing your energy bill. You’ll save more energy when you power down electronics and other devices and unplug them from their outlets. Or, if you have multiple things plugged into a power strip or surge protector, flip the switch when you’re done for the day to cut power to everything.

Want to save more energy and money around your home?

Find out all the ways your home is using (or losing) energy with our free DIY Home Energy Assessment. This self-guided assessment asks you questions about your home, and then provides you with an easy-to-read report with customized energy-saving recommendations. Plus, you’ll receive an exclusive energy-saving kit and a $10 home improvement store gift card in the mail. 

Start your DIY Home Energy Assessment now.

¹ https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=96&t=3

15 ways to save energy at home even when you’re traveling for the holidays 

If you’re heading out of town this holiday season, it’s the perfect time to save some extra energy at home. Fewer people in the house = less energy used. It’s Home Alone, but without the elaborate schemes to stop the Wet Bandits. Take advantage of all the ways you can save energy and money at home even while you’re away. Check out these 15 quick and easy tips to power down your home before you board your sleigh and hit the road.

Find energy savings hiding in your HVAC.

Did you know that heating and cooling your home can account for as much as 55% of your household electricity use? That’s… a lot. But that also means just a few small things can make a big difference. Let’s check them out. 

1. Set your thermostat to 55° F in the winter. 

First things first: If you’ve left Grandma, Fido, or your award-winning exotic plants at home while you hop a flight to Honolulu, please leave everyone at a comfortable temperature. But if your home is unoccupied, it’s time to turn that thermostat down!

Set your thermostat to 55° F. For every degree below 72° F, you can save up to 3% on your energy bill. Not only will you save a ton of energy, but you’re also ensuring heat will still flow and your pipes will be protected should temperatures go below freezing. If you’ve got a smart thermostat, use vacation mode to set it and forget it.

Just remember, when you return home and want to reheat the house, only set it to your desired temperature. Bumping up the temperature as high as it can go won’t make your HVAC system work faster, but it will make your system work harder for longer.

2. Unplug space heaters.

Space heaters are energy eaters. Whether you’ll be gone for eight hours or eight days, never leave a space heater on when no one is home. It’s a fire hazard. But if you’re planning to be away, even for a night or two, don’t just turn your space heaters off. Unplug them. Even when off, they’ll continue to use energy just by being plugged into an outlet.

Keep your energy bill out of hot water. 

3. Drop your water heater thermostat to its lowest set point. 

If no one’s home, nobody needs hot water, right? So go ahead and give yourself some extra savings by turning your water heater thermostat down to its lowest setting. For older electric water heaters, look for a small plate on the front of the machine that unscrews. You’ll find the thermostat dial in there. If you have a newer, more energy efficient model, set the thermostat to vacation mode. For gas water heaters, you’ll want to check your user manual. It’s important to remember, however, that this might be a tip to skip if there’s any chance of freezing temperatures while you’re away.

Keep food fresh and frozen. 

4. Set the refrigerator thermostat to 35° F–38° F and the freezer to 0° F–5° F.

If you’ve never checked your refrigerator and freezer thermostats (or if it’s been awhile), take 15 seconds to give them a quick glance. For optimal energy efficiency, set the refrigerator thermostat to 35° F–38° F and the freezer to 0° F–5° F. Maintain these temperature ranges year-round to keep food fresh, safe to consume, and delicious. (Find more energy-saving tips and advice you can use all year.) 

Stop vampire energy and give your electronics a breather. 

Everything that’s plugged into an outlet in your home is using energy, even if it’s not technically “on.” We call this “vampire” energy, because it’s sucking up energy — and money — whether the device, machine, etc. is in use or not. So, before you leave for vacation, do a little vampire hunting around your home! Your printer, the air fryer, the gaming system your kids aren’t allowed to take? Unplug it all! 

5. Unplug all small electronic devices, e.g., de/humidifiers, kitchen gadgets, printers.

6. Unplug all TVs, gaming consoles, entertainment devices, computers and laptops.

7. Unplug all power adapters and charging devices.

8. Unplug the microwave, toaster, coffee maker and appliances with an electronic clock.

Leave only necessary lights on. 

9. Turn off indoor and outdoor lights.

While it’s not a bad idea to leave a light or two on when you’re away, you also don’t need to keep the house lit up like, well, a Christmas tree! Keep a few strategic lights on but turn off the rest. If you have timers or light sensors, set those up so that you only have certain lights on at certain times. Don’t forget to unplug any outdoor decorations like inflatables and holiday lights.

Let in some sun. 

10. Open curtains, drapes and blinds in sunny rooms.

This is another quick and easy tip that only takes seconds to complete. While you’re going around the house searching for things to unplug, open curtains, drapes and blinds in rooms that get a lot of sun. By allowing heat-producing sunlight in during the day, you can maintain a warmer temperature inside. This will help prevent your heating system from kicking on unnecessarily.

Don’t forget these miscellaneous items.

Keep the energy-saving shutdown going and knock out just a few more remaining things!

11. Turn off ceiling fans and personal fans.

12. Unplug the hot tub heater or drain/winterize hot tub.

13. Turn off or lower the swimming pool heater. (Leave the pump on.)

14. Unplug air conditioners if they’re not needed for humidity control.

15. Unplug landscaping water features if they’re not needed for aquatic life.

Come home to a lower energy bill with the Power Down Before You Go Out of Town Checklist.

Bring a little extra rest and relaxation to your next getaway when you use TVA EnergyRight’s Power Down Before You Go Out of Town Checklist. Enjoy the comfort of knowing you’re saving energy, saving money and maybe even fighting off an energy vampire or two! 

Download the Power Down Before You Go Out of Town Checklist to get started.

Make the holidays merry and bright while keeping your energy bill in check. 

The holidays, and winter specifically, can mean higher energy bills. Maybe you’re hosting fun gatherings or welcoming out-of-town guests. Maybe the kids are home from school. Or maybe dropping temperatures have you reaching for the thermostat more than usual. It can be hard to keep your energy bill under control this time of year, but we’re here to help keep things jolly without costing you more jingle. 

The host with the most (energy savings).

‘Tis the season for at-home socializing, especially if family or friends plan on staying with you. More people means more showers, more laundry, more dishes and, of course, more opinions about the “right” temperature to set the thermostat. While you may not be able to get away with using less energy while hosting overnight guests, you can at least take some measures to reduce the impact of additional energy-users. 

Try the “set it and forget it” thermostat approach.

Everyone’s preferred indoor temperature is different. Rather than drive yourself crazy adjusting the thermostat all day (which makes your HVAC system work harder), take a “set it and forget it” approach, aiming for 68° F or cooler. Body heat goes a long way, and with more people in the house, you can probably go a few degrees lower than your normal setting. For every degree below 72° F, you can save up to 3% on your energy bill.

Unplug space heaters.

Space heaters are energy eaters. But they’re also a game changer in older homes with drafty rooms or spotty insulation. If you have space heaters, make sure someone is always home when they’re on. Unattended space heaters are a big-time fire hazard. Make sure you remind your guests to turn them off or unplug them when they’re not in use. Even when a space heater is off, it will still continue to use energy because it is plugged into an outlet.

Wash clothes in cold water, and don’t overstuff the dryer.

Your washer and dryer may be working overtime, but a gentle request to guests can help manage energy use. It takes electricity to create hot water, so encouraging guests to wash on cold will not only keep more hot water available for showers and hand washing, but it’ll also get clothes just as clean. 

A too-full dryer requires a longer drying cycle, which means more electricity is used. Clothes need to have enough room to tumble so that warm air can get between them. Break up larger wash loads into smaller drying loads, and separate heavier items, like blankets, sheets and bath towels, from clothing. (Don’t forget to clean the lint trap. Your guests may forget or feel uncomfortable tinkering with your machine. A full lint trap not only makes your dryer work harder, but it’s also a fire hazard.)

Don’t pre-rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

This might become a hotter debate than politics over pot roast, but the truth is, the energy efficiency of dishwashers has come a long way, and so has the cleaning power of dishwashing detergents. In fact, quality dish detergents can’t effectively do their job if they don’t have anything to cling to. Food scraps still need to go into the garbage or compost, but skip the pre-rinse and you’ll not only save a ton of water but you’ll also save the energy that would have been used to heat your rinse water.

This might also sound crazy, but it’s true. If you have an energy efficient dishwasher, then it doesn’t need to be full before you run it. An ENERGY STAR^® dishwasher uses less than 4 gallons of water total per cycle compared to washing dishes by hand, which uses 4 gallons every 2 minutes!

It’s the holidays and the kids are home from school. 

If you don’t have out-of-town guests, but your permanent residents (ahem, your kids) are out of school, at home and using energy like it’s going out of style, we can help… at least for a few minutes.

Try a holiday-lights-only night.

Tap into the magic of the holidays while also saving some energy. Turn off all the lights in the house except for any indoor holiday lighting. Eat a picnic dinner, read bedtime stories or make shadow puppets under the sparkly glow. 

Bored teenagers? Send them on an energy-saving mission.

TVA EnergyRight offers a free, online DIY Home Energy Assessment. During the assessment, your kids will move through the house (avoiding any places you deem off limits) to find out how your home uses and loses energy. At the end of the assessment, you’ll get an easy-to-read report with customized energy improvement recommendations specific to your home, plus an energy-saving kit and a $10 home improvement store gift card. Often, these reports include easy DIY home energy upgrades that older kids could tackle, like putting LED light bulbs in lamps and adjusting the temperatures of the refrigerator and freezer.

Create greener, cleaner challenges.

For a lot of kids, the holidays mean gifts. With more physical goods coming into the home, it’s a great time to challenge everyone in the house, not just children, to practice some simple sustainability skills. Try the “One In, One Out” game where for every new gift someone receives, they find a gently used toy, game, article of clothing or accessory to donate. Research as a family where you want to donate everything you’ve collected.

Gifts also usually mean lots of shipping boxes and packaging. Find creative uses for the boxes, like building a box fort or a doll house. Make a game out of breaking down the boxes and work together to make sure they get recycled.  

Energy-saving seasonal hacks. 

Give yourself the gift of a less stressful holiday season with a few basic energy-saving winter hacks. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Leave air vents open and unobstructed.

Shutting off the flow of heat to a room that isn’t being used might seem like it would save energy by redistributing the heat to other rooms, but that’s not quite how it works. Too many closed registers (HVAC lingo for air vents) can cause damage to your HVAC compressor, allowing pressure to build in your air ducts, which can turn tiny leaks into a big, big problem.

Plus, the size of your HVAC system is designed to provide the right amount of heating and cooling to your home. So when air vents get blocked off, your system is still going to produce the same amount of air, only now there are fewer places for it to flow. That creates pressure and will cause your system to work harder, meaning more electricity, and you guessed it, a higher utility bill.

Finally, holiday decorations can often mean furniture and rugs get temporarily rearranged. Double check that you don’t have anything blocking your air vent —  like a couch, drapes, an entertainment center or Christmas tree skirt — to ensure maximum air flow and maximum energy efficiency.

Weatherstrip doors and windows.

A little gap here, a little gap there — if you think those drafty spots around doors and windows aren’t that big of a deal, think again. Even just a 1/8-inch gap around the entryway of a door is equivalent to drilling a five-inch hole through the outside wall! That’s a ton of space for cold air to slip in and your heat (and money) to slip out. Fortunately, weatherstripping is a super simple and affordable DIY project you can knock out quickly. Most home improvement stores carry door sweeps for larger gaps at the bottom of doors and weatherstripping to seal windows and the sides of doors.

Find a contractor before there’s a home energy emergency.

Most people only find out they have an issue with their water heater or HVAC system when it breaks. Combine that emergency situation with the stress of the holidays or house guests and you might find yourself in a real-life nightmare before Christmas. 

Get ahead of any unplanned seasonal snafus and find a contractor now that you can have on speed dial in case of emergency. TVA EnergyRight and local power companies provide customers with free access to the Quality Contractor Network, where you can find licensed and insured contractors vetted by TVA to perform home energy upgrades, like repairing or replacing an HVAC system or water heater. Plus, every Quality Contractor Network contractor can help identify any home energy rebates you may be eligible for through our rebates program and connect you to the affordable financing options we offer.

Find more ho-ho-home energy savings with TVA EnergyRight.

From everyday lifestyle changes to large-scale home energy upgrades, TVA EnergyRight is here to help you boost your home’s energy efficiency. This holiday season, explore all our tools and resources designed to bring more comfort and joy (and a manageable energy bill) all year long. 

Discover everything TVA EnergyRight has to offer.