Holiday Entertaining Energy-Saving Tips

‘Tis the season for celebrating the holidays with family and friends. Here are some tips for keeping the energy costs down while entertaining this holiday season:

• Remember the Time-of-Use schedule. Take advantage of off-peak periods on the weekends and December 25 and 26. Remember that December 24, 27 and 28 are not considered holidays.
   
• On-peak is 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Mid-peak is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Off-peak is 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
   
• When cooking on your stove top, match the size of the pan to the heating element — more heat will get to the pan and less will be lost.
• Baking holiday treats? Check on your treats by looking through the window on your oven. Opening the oven door, even for a few seconds, will lower the internal temperature of the oven and require more energy to be used to bring it back up to the right temperature.
• Delicious leftovers? Allow leftovers to cool before placing them in the fridge or freezer.
• Pass on preheating. While preheating may be necessary for baking, it's not needed for things like roasts or casseroles.
• Time your holiday cheer. Put your outdoor holiday lights on a timer to only have them on when it’s dark out.
• If someone else is hosting you this holiday season, lower the thermostat in your home while you are away.