Out of office: Energy saving tips for Christmas (and 2025)

Working, volunteering, or feasting and snoozing? However you’re spending silly season, these basic steps effortlessly slash electricity consumption, leaving you to focus on what’s important.

Since the Ofgem energy price cap rose by 10% at the beginning of October, millions of Brits have felt the effects of higher electricity and gas bills. With Christmas just around the corner, many people will be wondering how to limit their energy consumption to counteract the increased expense of the festive season. 

Working with the team at Afforda, we’ve pulled together some simple ways to cut back on energy as we dive into the height of the festive season. These tips are easy to implement no matter whether you’re at home or in the office over the holidays and could make a huge difference to your finances this winter. 

Replace old Christmas lights with LEDs 

LED lights are popular for good reason, as they use around 75% less energy than regular bulbs. However, lots of us still use Christmas lights that are many years old, and these probably aren’t LED. Buying new LED Christmas lights will be a relatively affordable and worthy investment, as LED lighting is much cheaper to run. 

Additionally, make sure all lights in your house have LED bulbs; if you have yet to make the jump to LED, now is a good time to start, as they will save you a lot of money going forward. 

It’s also cheaper to limit the hours your lights are switched on. One kWh costs 24.50 pence under the new price cap, so LED Christmas lights that run at 0.16 kWh for 24 hours a day throughout December would cost £28.62. If these were turned on for only 6 hours a day, the expense would fall to £7.15 – a monthly saving of £21.47. 

While it can be tempting to maintain the sparkle throughout the day, try to avoid switching on your lights during daylight hours at a minimum – they won’t be very effective and other luminous decorations, such as tinsel, will reflect natural light.  

If you’re leaving a room for long periods, switching off all lights is one of the best ways to save energy – be sure to turn them off at the plug. In the evenings, you could keep your Christmas lights on and switch main lights or lamps off, as this can create an intimate environment that evokes the magic of Christmas. 

Light timers will let you schedule your lights to switch on and off at a certain time, so you don’t have to worry about turning them off. Battery-powered lights are a good option for small lights or lights that you don’t intend to keep on for long periods of time. 

You could also try solar-powered lighting if you’re purchasing new lights. Even though these are powered by the sun, they should accrue enough power during the day to light up successfully when it’s dark. Since these don’t use mains electricity, having a solar-powered light could make a difference to your energy bill. 

Keep your thermostat low – particularly when you have guests over 

Many people overestimate how high they need to set their thermostat during cold weather. In general, you shouldn’t need to set your thermostat above 21 degrees, and you may feel comfortable setting it lower than this. When you have guests over, the room is likely to be warmer due to body heat circulating.  

Similarly, cooking can generate natural heat throughout your house, allowing you to lower the temperature. Turning your thermostat down by just one or two degrees will save you energy, and you will be unlikely to feel the drop, particularly with other heat sources adding warmth to your surroundings. However, keep the thermostat to at least 18 degrees, as this is considered the safety minimum. 

Adjusting your thermostat to a lower temperature can also inspire you to embrace a cosy ‘hygge’ as it’s referred to in Scandinavian countries. Layering thick knit jumpers, blankets and duvets will help you feel extra snug and festive. 

Enjoying hot foods and drinks, such as soup and hot chocolate, will encourage you to relax and savour the ambience while keeping you warm. You could always go the extra mile and light some candles too but do so safely and never leave them unattended. 

Ensure heat can circulate properly

One step you can take to limit energy consumption is to ensure that radiators are not blocked by furniture or other obstacles. This will allow heat to flow through the room properly without anything trapping or preventing circulation. 

While this may seem obvious, many people overlook it, and it can significantly limit the effectiveness of your heating system. Sofas are the most obvious culprit but think carefully about where you place your tree – if possible, place it somewhere away from the radiator, as depending on the type of tree you have, the heat may damage it.  

Clearing the radiator area prevents you from needing to turn up the temperature to compensate for the room not heating correctly and will guarantee that you are getting the most out of your heating. 

Additionally, be mindful of your windows, which can be a major source of heat loss, as they are often less insulated than walls. To prevent this, close your curtains at night to create an extra layer of protection against the chill from cold windows.  

You may already do this, but it’s a common error to keep them open or just close the blinds, which can reduce the warmth of your house. Thick, blackout curtains will be especially effective for retaining heat. 

Manage laundry loads effectively and wash at 30 degrees where possible 

Unfortunately, menial tasks such as laundry don’t disappear at Christmas – and since winter clothes are thick and heavy, you may find yourself having more loads to do. However, these don’t have to significantly eat into your energy costs.  

Doing eco-washes or washing at 30 degrees is a great way to minimise your energy use. While these cycles won’t be appropriate for everything, they are fine for lightly soiled clothing. Bedding, towels, underwear and visibly dirty clothing should be washed on a higher temperature.  

Washing at 30 degrees can have other benefits too, such as preventing shrinkage, creasing, and colour bleeding. They are also ideal for delicate fabrics. 

Don’t forget, you don’t have to wash everything after one wear. Jumpers and sweatshirts will probably be able to go multiple wears before washing, especially if you have a layer underneath. Fit’s recommended that you wear jeans 5-10 times before washing them.  

You can decide which items of clothing are clean enough to be re-worn – washing less regularly will reduce energy. At the same time, make sure loads are as full as possible without overloading the machine, as this will ensure the efficiency of your washes and prevent you from needing to do more.  

If you’re fortunate enough to be on holiday over Christmas, or just happen to be a night owl, you may have the means to do laundry at night instead of during the day. Doing laundry during off-peak hours – between 10pm and 8am – is cheaper, and an easy way to cut back on energy costs if you’re awake during these hours.  

Cook your Christmas dinner smartly and efficiently 

You can save energy while cooking this Christmas by selecting the right appliances for your Christmas dinner. Microwaves, air fryers, and slow cookers are more efficient for preparing smaller portion for just one or two people. An oven will be best suited for cooking for larger groups or families. 

Whenever possible, consider batch cooking – prepare your Christmas dinner in one go, and reheat it on the other days that you have it. The same can apply to any other cakes, pies, or treats that you plan to bake. This reduces the need to repeatedly use the oven, which is an energy-intensive appliance.  

Additionally, resist the urge to open the oven door to check on food, as it lets out heat and wastes energy, making it harder to maintain the correct cooking temperature. Instead, keep the oven door clean so you can monitor food through the glass.  

When cooking on the stovetop, keeping lids on pans helps food cook faster and can save up to 10% of the energy, while using fewer hobs will also minimise energy use. 

Check settings on your technology

From movies to Christmas specials, you’ll probably be watching a lot more TV over the Christmas season, so it’s a great time to check the settings on your TV and other gadgets to save energy. Reducing screen brightness to the lowest level necessary will have a positive impact on your energy bill, as higher brightness settings consume more power.  

Many devices also come with an ambient light sensor, which adjusts the screen’s brightness to suit the surrounding environment, further conserving energy. In addition, enabling energy-saving modes can help minimise power consumption.  

Remember to apply these adjustments to laptops, tablets, and smartphones as well; doing so will extend battery life, allowing you to go longer between charges. Finally, be sure to turn off any electrical equipment when it’s not in use to avoid wasting energy, as even idle devices can run the battery. 

Make the most of energy-lite activities  

With work holidays and children at home, most people will inevitably spend more time on activities that use electricity over Christmas. However, there are plenty of activities that require little to no energy consumption to indulge in.  

Reading will help you rest and recuperate over the period, whilst playing board games is perfect for cosy indoor fun with loved ones. You could even use a quiz book to host a quiz for friends and family. 

Alternatively, take advantage of the crisp winter weather by heading outdoors for walks instead of driving to nearby destinations. Not only is this a great way to experience nature, but it also provides a healthy, eco-friendly alternative to relying on energy-consuming transport. 

Christmas Day walks are a tradition for many, but these can be enjoyed on any day and can be a great escape from the hours spent holed up inside in front of a screen – just be sure to bundle up when enjoying the seasonal freshness. 

Check energy grade rating for electronic purchases or gifts 

When buying electronics this Christmas, check the energy grade rating. Devices with a higher energy grade, such as those rated A or B, have a lower carbon footprint and are more cost-effective to run. The A-G energy scale makes it easy to identify products that are both environmentally friendly and budget-conscious.  

Ultimately, spending time with friends and family can help reduce energy costs. Hosting gatherings in one home, rather than celebrating in separate locations, means shared energy. These can ultimately save you and your loved ones money while enjoying the festive season together. 

Image: Kenny Eliason via Unsplash