Cold weather, colorful lights, visits from family and friends, and the aroma of sweet confections in the oven. These things can only mean one inevitable yearly occurrence: skyrocketing energy bills. Oh yeah, and the holidays.

With energy prices reaching record highs this year and the environmental crisis that has everyone checking their carbon footprints, it’s impossible not to worry about what number will appear on your monthly gas and electric bills when the weather starts to get chilly.

Thankfully, there are some practical and low-cost ways to keep those bills from cutting into more important expenses, such as gifts, gingerbread and knitted sweaters.

Lights and other Decorations

- Decorative lights use a good amount of energy, but that doesn’t mean you have to scrap them altogether. Use LED Christmas lights, which are smaller and use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights.

- To save even more energy, be sure to wait until dark to turn on your Christmas lights; then, turn them off before you go to bed. Do you have trouble remembering to turn your lights on and off? Then set a timer, and forget about it.

- Try out a cool, fiber optic tree this year. Fiber optic trees have lights that come from a single source, piping light down through a fiber optic cable. This cuts energy use significantly, and you can still enjoy a beautifully lit tree.

Entertaining Family and Guests

- Guests can be useful, and not just to wash dishes for you. Some heater use is inevitable, but extra bodies in the house mean that you can usually lower the thermostat.

- Rather than driving through the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights, grab a coat and take a walk with your friends and family. This is a festive and fun, yet green activity that requires no gas, is good for the environment and a good way to burn off those holiday calories.

In the Kitchen

- A full refrigerator and freezer can be energy efficient because the cold items help keep the temperature inside the fridge or freezer low after the door is opened. However, an overstuffed freezer or fridge will guzzle more energy trying to keep foods cold because air is unable to circulate.

- There is no need to preheat the oven when cooking ham or turkey, since they usually cook at a snail’s pace anyway.

- Use the energy-saving cycles on dishwashers. Machines that have air power or overnight dry settings can save up to 10 percent of dishwashing energy costs.

Saving energy during the holidays is a great way to cut costs not only during the winter season, but it’s a good way to get your family to practice energy-efficient habits all year long. Keep the ball rolling and make a New Year’s resolution to save energy in 2009!

Have any other tips? Share by posting in the comments below.

Written by Tom Debin

Tom Debin is the CEO of Equity Thru Energy, an energy management firm that helps businesses save money on energy bills through innovative technology that monitors energy use and prevents energy waste.

He is a board member and past president of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), and has always been passionate about the business of wise energy use. Tom has recently launched his own blog, Worth the Energy, where he hopes to share his knowledge and passion for energy savings and the environment.

Article photo by kevindoooley

Related article:

- Seven, stupid, simple ways to be green and save green

Buying an eco-friendly car or outfitting your house with solar panels and the latest green tech can be costly and time consuming. Perhaps this is why many are reluctant to go green. However you can be green today with these seven simple ways. Some may seem stupid but they are often overlooked for that reason.

1. Don’t turn your faucet on until you’re ready

This is an interesting habit many of us have. When we want to rinse our toothbrush or fill something with water, we turn on the faucet before the brush or cup is under the water. Think of how many times this is done and how much water is lost over time. It adds up. Hold your cup or toothbrush under the faucet before turning it on and turn off the faucet before moving anything.

2. Take it easy when driving

One of the best ways to save some gas is just to be more relaxed. No tailgating or pushing the petal to the metal. It’ll keep your blood pressure down as well. Also if you’re driving downhill, let your vehicle coast and when you’re coming to a stop don’t slam on your brakes, slowly reduce your speed.

3. Have a dehumidifier? Use the water

It gets very humid in basements during the summer, so you might have a dehumidifier to take the moisture out of the air. Don’t toss the water that fills up the bucket out the window, use it. You can water your flowers and plants. Perhaps you can even use the water to fill a bucket for suds to clean your car.

4. Reuse trash bags

Obviously you can’t do this with your kitchen garbage but you might be able to reuse your bathroom’s trash bag. Most bathrooms have a small can that you throw paper waste in. Well dump that waste into your kitchen garbage and save the smaller bag.

5. Attach funnels to your watering cans

If you’re a gardener, place your watering cans out in the open with some type of funnel in the can’s opening. Then when a rainstorm comes the funnels will catch the raindrops and fill the can.

6. Take the time to start tissue and paper towel rolls

This might seem stupid but when you’re the first one to use a new roll of paper towels or toilet paper, you know what I’m talking about. It always seems impossible to use the first piece of the roll. It always get ripped and shredded, and sometimes if you keep pulling it tears through 5 more sheets. The next time you have to start a roll, relax, breath, and take your time to save that first sheet.

7. Water plant roots, not leaves and flowers

You’d be surprised at how many people don’t understand this. You have to water the plant’s roots, not the leaves and/or flowers. A large percentage of water will evaporate off the leaves and flowers, without the plant getting what it needs. Because of this your plants will probably die. Make sure to water the base of the plant to reduce evaporation.

There are plenty more ways that you can be green. It doesn’t take much and after you practice new ways over and over, they’ll eventually become habits for you.

Photo by Frank E.