Bright ideas for a safe and energy-efficient holiday season

ST. LOUIS (Nov. 25, 2024) - The holidays can be a costly and stressful time of year, but there are small things you can do to keep spirits high and energy costs low.

"With all the fun and cheer that the holidays bring, there is also an uptick in energy demand, which translates to higher bills," said Wanda Sams, program supervisor of energy efficiency at Ameren Missouri. "There are a wide variety of sustainable and safe modifications you can make to your energy usage habits to help lower your energy bills and eliminate additional seasonal stress."

Here are some simple ways to minimize energy usage while keeping the holidays merry and bright:

1. Decorate efficiently. String up ENERGY STAR^® certified lights, which use 75% less energy per strand than incandescent lights. LED holiday lights are also available for indoor and outdoor use.
2. Program your holiday lights. Use a smart plug to turn on your outdoor lights only during peak hours when people are most likely to see them. You can control the plug through an app on your phone, set a schedule or turn them on/off from anywhere. This will significantly reduce your energy consumption compared to leaving your display on all night long.
3. Incorporate energy-free decorations. Decorations like wreaths, ribbons and garlands can add beauty to any holiday display without requiring any additional energy usage. In addition, shiny ornaments and tinsel can help magnify the effects of your holiday lighting without adding to your energy bill.
4. Install a smart thermostat. Program the smart thermostat with your schedule so you can lower the temperature in the home while you are away. By simply lowering the temperature of your home for eight hours a day, it's possible to save as much as 10% on energy bills. And remember to turn down your thermostat prior to cooking or having guests over, when your home is likely to get stuffy from extra body heat.
5. Use alternate kitchen appliances. The stove uses a great deal of energy and can increase your emissions and electric bill significantly. Rather than using your stove on a daily basis, make the switch to a crock pot or air fryer.

For a safer holiday season, Ameren also reminds all customers to inspect light strands for damage prior to plugging them in, avoid overloading electrical circuits or outlets, and keep decorations away from heat sources such as fireplaces and space heaters. Nearly half of decoration fires occur because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

"In many cases, energy-efficient products provide additional safety benefits," said Stephanie Robinson, senior program supervisor of energy efficiency at Ameren Illinois. "For example, LED lights stay cooler and pose less of a fire or burn hazard than incandescent bulbs."

Ameren customers looking to manage their energy bills with energy-efficient products throughout the year, such as smart thermostats, can find instant savings at AmerenMissouriMarketplace.com or AmerenIllinoisEEMarketplace.com.

About Ameren Corporation
St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission and distribution services, as well as natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops, owns and operates rate-regulated regional electric transmission projects in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. For more information, visit Ameren.com, or follow us at @AmerenCorp, Facebook.com/AmerenCorp, or LinkedIn.com/company/Ameren.