10 Energy-Efficient Holiday Activities for a Festive and Sustainable Season

The holidays are a time for joy, togetherness, and celebration, but they don’t have to come with higher energy bills. With a few mindful choices, you can enjoy all your favorite seasonal activities while keeping your home energy efficient and comfortable.

Here are fun, festive, and energy-smart holiday activities that help you celebrate sustainably without sacrificing holiday cheer.

1. Host an LED Holiday Decorating Night

Turn decorating into an event by gathering friends or family to help hang LED Christmas lights and décor. LEDs use far less energy than traditional bulbs and stay cool to the touch.

Energy tip: Use timers so lights turn on at dusk and off automatically at bedtime, so there's no need to remember to flip the switch.

Fun Fact: LED holiday lights use up to 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lights and can last up to 25 times longer.

2. DIY Decorations from Reused Materials

Make ornaments, wreaths, or garlands from items you already have around the house like paper, cardboard, fabric scraps, or natural elements like pinecones.

Why it matters:

• Reduces waste
• Avoids energy used in manufacturing new décor
• Creates meaningful, one-of-a-kind decorations

​​Fun Fact: Reusing materials reduces the energy needed to manufacture new decorations, which can account for more energy use than running holiday lights all season.

Cozy Indoor Holiday Activities

3. Family Movie or Game Night

Instead of heading out on cold nights, host a cozy movie marathon or board game night at home.

Energy-efficient bonus:

• Fewer car trips mean less fuel use
• Keep doors closed and lower the thermostat slightly when everyone is gathered in one room
• Cozy up with blankets and gather together to stay comfortable without constantly adjusting the thermostat.

Fun Fact: Keeping everyone in one room allows you to lower your thermostat by a few degrees without feeling colder, saving energy instantly.

4. Bake Together Efficiently

Holiday baking is a classic tradition. Make it more energy efficient by batching recipes.

Smart baking tips:

• Bake multiple items at once
• Avoid opening the oven door frequently
• Turn the oven off a few minutes early and use residual heat

Fun Fact: Using your oven efficiently (batch baking) can reduce cooking energy use by up to 20% during the holidays.

Make the Most of Winter Warmth

5. Ceiling Fan Winter Mode Activity

Turn energy efficiency into a learning moment. Show family members how switching a ceiling fan to clockwise rotation helps push warm air down during winter.

Fun idea: Make it a “home efficiency scavenger hunt” where kids spot ways to keep heat inside like closed doors, sealed windows, and warm lighting.

Fun Fact: Reversing your ceiling fan to spin clockwise on the lowest setting helps push warm air down from the ceiling, making a room feel up to 4°F warmer without turning up the heat.

6. Hot Cocoa & Draft-Check Walkthrough

Enjoy hot cocoa while walking through your home together to check for drafts around doors and windows.

Make it interactive:

• Use blankets or towels to block drafts
• Add weatherstripping where needed
• Talk about how small fixes save energy

 Fun Fact: Sealing air leaks can cut heating costs by 10-20% in many homes.

Outdoor & Community Activities

7. Neighborhood Light Walk

Take an evening walk to enjoy neighborhood holiday lights instead of driving.

Benefits:

• Saves fuel
• Encourages movement and connection
• Supports a slower, more mindful holiday pace

Fun Fact: Walking instead of driving short holiday trips saves fuel and reduces emissions, plus most car trips under one mile use the most fuel per minute.

8. Gift Experiences Instead of Energy-Intensive Items

Plan low-energy experiences like:

• Holiday potlucks
• Cookie exchanges
• Craft nights
• Volunteering as a group

These activities create lasting memories without increasing household energy use.

 Fun Fact: Experiences have virtually zero ongoing energy use, unlike many electronic gifts that draw power year-round.

Simple, Low‑Energy Holiday Traditions

9. Candlelit Dinner (Safely)

Enjoy a festive dinner using candles or battery‑powered LED candles to create ambiance without relying on extra lighting.

Energy‑smart note:

• Turn off unnecessary overhead lights
• Use LED candles for added safety and efficiency

Fun Fact: Turning off just a few unnecessary lights for an evening can save enough energy to power holiday LEDs for hours.

10. Holiday Reading or Story Night

Swap screen time for a cozy reading or storytelling night with books, poems, or shared family stories.

Why it’s energy efficient:

• Minimal electricity use
• Encourages relaxation and connection
• Perfect for chilly winter evenings

Fun Fact: Reducing screen time also reduces "phantom energy" where the electricity devices use even when they’re not actively in use.

Turn Energy Efficiency Into a Holiday Tradition

The holidays are the perfect time to build traditions that are not only joyful, but also thoughtful and sustainable. By choosing energy-efficient activities, whether it’s decorating with LEDs, hosting cozy nights in, or walking instead of driving, you’re reducing energy use while increasing what truly matters: connection, comfort, and care.

Small changes during the holidays can inspire energy-smart habits that last all year long.

Looking to make your home more energy efficient this season? There may be programs and services available to help you upgrade your home and lower your energy use just in time for the new year.