Energy Efficient Gift Guide
This year, give a gift that will last: energy-savings. We’ve put together a list of affordable, easy-to-find items that will save your friends and loved ones energy and money for years to come.
LED lights
LED lights are more efficient and long-lasting than other types of bulbs. See our LED buyer's guide.
Savings for your gift-recipient: An estimated $90 per year by swapping just six most used bulbs for LED ENERGY STAR® equivalents.
Smart thermostats
Smart thermostats save energy by minimizing unnecessary heating and cooling, including programmability, remote control via smart phone, and geofencing, which automatically raises or lowers temperatures when you’re away from home and brings them back to a comfortable level when you’re on your way back.
Savings: Smart thermostats can reduce energy use by about 23 percent, according to one manufacturer.
Deal: Central Hudson customers are eligible to receive a $50 rebate on a new ENERGY STAR® smart thermostats. Visit our residential incentives page for more info.
Air purifier
ENERGY STAR®-certified air purifiers offer high-performance filtration and are less expensive to operate than other models that don't carry that seal.
Savings: Over 25 percent more energy-efficient than standard models, saving consumers about 120 kWh/year, according to the Department of Energy.
Deal: Reduced pricing courtesy of Central Hudson is available on select models at Lowe’s and The Home Depot.
Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers are common in the northeast, where humid basements can lead to mold and mildew. But many homes run older models that use a lot of energy.
Savings: Dehumidifiers that have earned the ENERGY STAR are nearly 15 percent more efficient than non-certified models.
Deal: Reduced pricing courtesy of Central Hudson is available on select models at Lowe’s and The Home Depot.
Warm blanket
While blankets themselves don't use energy (electric blankets excluded), they can still help you use less energy overall.
Savings: For every degree you turn down your thermostat, you save up to 3 percent on energy use.
Energy-use meter
An energy use meter shows up much energy is being used by a particular device when powered on as well as when powered off (if anything).
Savings: Many are surprised by how much old appliances (like refrigerators) and using and decide to purchase a new one, which can save about $80 a year. (Central Hudson has a program that will pay you $100 for recycling a fridge/freezer and pick it up for free.) Another common use is to find devices that use a significant amount of electricity when powered off, and take steps to limit this "vampire load," which can account for an estimated 10 percent of all household energy use. Learn more about vampire load and what to do about it on our energy savings blog.
Smart power strip
Speaking of vampire loads, smart power strips are one of the best ways to reduce them. Place them where you have clusters of devices that are apt to use electricity when powered off (like an entertainment center).
Savings: As mentioned above, vampire load accounts for about 10 percent of residential power use, about a month's worth of electricity, so anything you can do to reduce it can yield signicant savings.
Dryer balls
A nice stocking stuffer, dryer balls shorten drying time by preventing clothing from clumping together. They also keep clothing static- and wrinkle-free, like dryer sheets (though without the scent).
Savings: While we couldn't find any sources giving an estimate on the average amount of time/energy saved, clothing dryers use the most energy of any household appliance (after the heating and hot water systems), so savings here can add up. (Read more tips for saving energy in the laundry room.)