11 thoughtful, energy-conscious gift ideas for everyone in your life
Gift-giving doesn't have to be a chore. It can be a special way to show someone how much you care. This holiday season, you can make thoughtful purchases (and even try some DIY projects) that will keep your loved ones smiling all year long.
Drying racks. Call it practical, call it old-school...drying racks are a tried-and-true way to cut down on electricity-hungry clothes dryers. Plus, they're portable, so your recipient can pop them up wherever. (Next to the woodstove, perhaps?) This is a great gift for the minimalist in your life. Bonus: There are all sorts of fun designs.
Price range: $0 (DIY)-$100
Solar-powered outdoor lights. No one likes coming home in the dark and fumbling around to get inside. But keeping the porch light on all day seems frivolous. Split the difference with solar-powered outdoor lights, which will guide your giftee home without any excess energy use.
Price range: $70-$500
Heated seat pad or desk pad. You probably have someone on your list who spends a lot of time at a desk. Rather than bundling up or using a space heater, they might appreciate a heated seat pad, floor mat, or desk pad. It's a nice way to take the edge off the chilly days without turning up the thermostat.
Price range: $10-$100
Smart thermostats. Energy-saving smart thermostats connect to your recipient’s Wi-Fi network for convenient remote control of their home’s heating and cooling systems. The thermostats can even learn the household’s typical energy usage and then self-program accordingly, saving energy and money. Efficiency Vermont offers cash-saving rebates of up to $100 on a large selection of smart thermostats from Nest, ecobee, Honeywell, and others.
Price range: $60-$200+ (before rebates)
Induction stove. If your giftee is in the market for a new stove, consider induction. Induction stoves are more energy efficient than traditional electric and gas stoves, and they can improve the air quality at home. They're also lightning-fast at getting up to temperature. Several Vermont utilities offer rebates.
Price range: $1,000+ (before utility rebates)
Smart light strips. Nothing creates ambiance like twinkling lights. While they brighten the holidays, they’re fun to use year-round, too. But are your loved ones still using vintage incandescent string lights? It’s time to switch to longer-lasting LEDs with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity. Your giftee can easily customize and program the lights, right from their phone.
Price range: $14-$100+
Kitchen herb garden. There's nothing like a sprinkle of fresh herbs on a homemade meal. It's easy and fun to grow a kitchen herb garden, and your recipient can do it efficiently with LED grow lights. This is a great gift for the chef or green thumb in your life.
Price range: $25-$150
Smart outlets. A smart outlet turns nearly anything with a plug into a convenient smart device. This gift allows the recipient to turn lights on and off, control small appliances, and get insights into how much energy their plugs are using, right on their phone. Smart outlets make great stocking stuffers for the “smart-home curious” on your list.
Price range: $20-$100+
Woodstove Fans. Maximize the warmth your woodstove provides by moving its heat through your home with one of these clever aluminum fans. Small and whisper-quiet, they can help to warm the room faster. Generating their own electricity from the heat of your stovetop, they require no other external power to operate. Take a look at the simple and dependable Canadian-made Ecofan UltrAir.
Price range: $30-$150.
Advanced power strips. Just because a phone isn't attached to that plugged-in charger doesn't mean it's not drawing electricity. Advanced power strips reduce wasted energy by turning everything off when a certain device on the strip is off. It's a perfect gift for the student or remote worker in your life.
Price range: $18-$100
Washer/dryer combination units. Take laundry duty to the next level with a combination washer/heat pump dryer. The recipient of this spiffy appliance will save time and hassle--no more swapping clothes between the washer and dryer--and money on their electric bill. These units are great for small spaces, too. Efficiency Vermont offers rebates for combination washer/heat pump dryers.
Price range: $1,300-$2,000+ (before rebates)
Happy holidays!
Efficiency Vermont does not endorse any particular manufacturers or products.
