Thanksgiving is a time for gathering around the table, sharing a great meal with loved ones, and catching a bit of football between bites of turkey. But while you’re focused on getting the house ready for guests and making sure the feast turns out just right, your energy use can sneak up on you — like that family member who always shows up hungry but with nothing to contribute. Fortunately, with a few easy tweaks, you can enjoy the holiday without overworking your oven, furnace, or wallet.

First up is the kitchen, where Thanksgiving magic — and energy consumption — tends to peak. Your oven will be pulling double duty, so be kind to it. Try to resist the temptation to open the oven door constantly to check on the turkey. The temperature drops every time you open it, and your oven has to fight to get back up to speed. Rely on your timer and trust that you’ve got this turkey thing down. And when it comes to sides, let your oven multitask by cooking several dishes together. The more food you can bake at once, the less time and energy you will use. If you have smaller appliances like microwaves or slow cookers, let them pitch in with those less critical dishes.

As your home fills with guests and the oven stays fired up, your house will naturally warm up, making it the perfect time to turn down the thermostat a few degrees. Between all the people and the cooking, you will hardly notice a difference, but your heating system will not have to run at full power. Do you have ceiling fans? Set them to spin clockwise at a low speed, which helps push the warm air back down into the room where it’s needed.

Of course, if you’re tuning in to catch the Thanksgiving Day football game (or just trying to escape the family for a bit), be mindful of your TV setup. Modern TVs are pretty energy-efficient, but turning down the brightness can shave off a bit of extra power use. Plus, it’s easier on the eyes after stuffing yourself with pie.

As the meal winds down and your guests finally start migrating from the table to the couch, you will likely be staring down a mountain of dishes.

Instead of running half-full loads in the dishwasher, wait until it’s packed to the brim. Using it efficiently will save water and energy — two things you’ll appreciate when the holiday rush ends.

Thanksgiving is about good food, good company, and a cozy home. With a few energy-saving moves, you can keep things comfortable without worrying about a high energy bill sneaking up on you later. As you dig into that turkey and settle in to spend time with family and friends — you can be thankful for the little changes that make your home as efficient as it is welcoming.

by TJ Garner
COO/Energy Advisor
Fulton County REMC