The holiday shopping rush is officially here! If you’re stumped on what to get family or friends, consider buying a few energy-saving gifts this year. You might want to grab some for yourself, too!

Here are a few energy saving gifts to keep an eye out for during all the holiday shopping deals:

Smart Home Devices

The idea of buying a gadget for someone’s home might be a little daunting. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few cornerstone smart home gifts to get you started:

·      Smart thermostats: Smart thermostats have gained popularity thanks to their personalization and connectivity features. You can program and use many smart thermostats right from your smartphone, allowing you to set a schedule or routine: less energy use when you’re not at home, etc. Many of the devices will also provide you with weekly and monthly energy reports so you can keep track of trends and do even more to reduce your energy usage.

·      Smart plugs: While it might not seem like a wall plug could make that much of a difference, smart plugs can give you more control over electronics all across your home. Generally, anything that’s plugged in to a smart plug can be turned off or on via a smart home app. This includes things like TVs, cell phone chargers, electric pet feeders and lamps.

·      Smart bulbs: The next time a light bulb goes out, ditch the old bulbs and replace them with smart lightbulbs. These bulbs, like everything else in the smart home category, can be personalized and controlled via an app. Set a schedule so lights turn off & on at a certain time. You might even be able to change the brightness and color, depending on the bulb you choose.

Wireless Speakers

Not only are wireless speakers great because of their portability, they are also more energy efficient than traditional, larger speaker systems. In fact, Energy Star reports that some wireless speakers can use around 45% less energy than their plugged in counterparts. These speakers make a fun gift since many come in various shapes and colors!

Streaming devices

It’s safe to say that most households have some type of streaming service at this point. However, if you’ve got someone on your gift list who hasn’t “cut the cord” yet, then you might consider giving them a streaming device this holiday season. Not only are there many to choose from, but SmarterHouse.org says they’ll use at least 30% less energy than those bulky cable boxes. Some might use as much as 70% less!

Robotic vacuums & cleaners

Even though it’s been several years since their debut, robotic vacuums are still a popular gift. Many people like them for their assistance in day-to-day cleaning. However, they’re also much more energy efficient than upright vacuums. According to CleanersTalk.com, robotic vacuums can use up to less than $1 worth of electricity a month, where uprights can use more than $10 worth a month!

Large appliances

Just like some of the smaller devices we’ve mentioned here, you can easily find larger smart and energy-efficient appliances for the home. You can find smart appliances as small as coffee makers and slow cookers.

Making a bigger investment like a new refrigerator or dishwasher? Check to make sure the appliance is Energy Star Certified, meaning that the manufacturer has gone the extra mile to make sure the device is more energy efficient.

Also, when buying new appliances, make sure to compare the yellow EnergyGuide tags to compare the average yearly operating costs. If two appliances cost the same, but one has a higher operating cost, it will cost you more energy and more money for the life of the product. Checking the label and choosing the appliance with the lower operating cost can save energy and money for years to come.

Get the Most Out of Your Gifts: If you end up with multiple smart devices in your home after the holidays, make sure you look into the best way to connect them. Using them together will allow you to get the most out of your gifts and will allow you to save the most energy in the long run.

For more energy-saving information, click here. Happy Holidays!