It’s time to put the green back in the holidays.
Whether it’s clean energy or saving money, green is always a winner this time of year. And when it comes to giving gifts, there are plenty of options for putting things under the tree that are energy efficient, fun and educational.
So, recycle that tired shopping list and take a look at some of these “green” gift ideas:
Smart thermostats: Smart thermostats like NEST and Ecobee save money by learning your habits and connecting to your smart home. The Department of Energy calculates that heating and cooling account for half of a household’s energy budget, so having a smarter thermostat can help lower your bill by adjusting a home’s furnace or air conditioner for maximum efficiency.
PUD customers with electric heat are eligible to save up to $75 on select smart thermostats. Help your home become an efficient heating dynamo with a smart thermostat under the tree. For PUD’s smart thermostat rebates, visit www.smartrewards.snopud.com.
Solar-powered gadgets: The sun isn’t shining much this time of year in Washington, but solar-powered gizmos are always a winner. Solar-powered battery packs, solar backpacks and solar lights are perfect for the outdoorsman or traveler on your list. There also are many solar-powered toys that help kids better understand the power of the sun. Search solar-powered on Amazon for a treasure trove of solar gifts.
Renewable energy kits: Speaking of learning, help your little ones discover more about renewable energy through an interactive educational kit. The K’NEX Education Renewable Energy Set takes STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts and brings them to life. Kids can build nine wind-, solar- and hydro-powered models, allowing them to compare and contrast the power and efficiency of the three alternative energy sources. Find it at www.knex.com.
Snap Circuits Green Alternative Energy Kits are another option for helping kids learn about electronics and green energy. The kit contains circuit components that snap together to create projects that illustrate different sources of electricity. There are 40 pieces and a manual with nearly 130 projects. Find it at www.elenco.com.
Smart light bulbs: Controlling and interacting with your lights with your smartphone or tablet has now become commonplace. Schedule when you want your lights to come on in different rooms, control your lights from your phone and make them change colors. You can also control them from a smart home device like Amazon Echo or Google Home.
For a great gift, grab a few of the rainbow colored bulbs to bring fun colors to any room in your home. For example, the Philips Hue series and Sengled Smart LED Multicolor bulbs allow you to choose from 16 million hues, bringing a particular ambiance to any room in the home. Find smart light bulbs at most hardware stores, including Ace Hardware, Home Depot and Lowe’s.
Don’t forget! You can purchase the gift of power for your friends and family this holiday season. Just drop by one of the PUD’s offices and ask for a gift certificate. For privacy reasons, you must have the customers’ account number and full name to credit their account.
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