With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to think of energy efficient gifts to give your friends and family. This year eco-friendly gift-giving is a growing trend, and we suggest you get on board! Not only are these gifts affordable, but they’ll make you feel better about spreading the word of staying energy efficient and also feel great helping your friends and family stay eco-friendly throughout the new year. Below, are a few energy efficient gift ideas to help get you started on the upcoming holidays.

1The Nest Thermostat

The Nest Thermostat is one of the most popular energy efficient products on the market. Although it isn’t necessarily one of the cheapest gifts you can give on Christmas, it can help your friends and family better manage their heating and cooling bills. This thermostat has the ability to learn and automatically adapt to seasonal changes, as well as your regular daily routines.

As soon as you install it, the Nest thermostat will start learning how to program itself. For example, lowering the temperature when no one is in the house and heating the house when it gets too cold at night. The thermostat can also connect to its companion app, which you can use to track your energy usage and control it over a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Additionally, the Nest thermostat also has built-in security measures which alert you if a pipes burst or if there is something wrong with your furnace.

2The Pressure Cooker

Pressure cookers can help significantly reduce the amount of time you need to cook, compared to regular stovetop cooking. This is because a pressure cooker pressurizes hot air in an enclosed area to cook quicker. Fortunately, pressure cookers can cook anything from meats to soups and rice. However, pressure cookers come in a variety of sizes – from small personal stovetop units to large electronic ones. Shop around to make sure you buy the right one for your loved one.

3SoftBrew Coffee Pots

Who doesn’t love that first taste of coffee in the morning? However, brewing coffee is a very wasteful process requiring disposable k-cups or paper filters. Producing and disposing of these filters and k-cups requires a lot of energy. Luckily, there is a simple and efficient solution. SoftBrew Coffee Pots do not require the use of filters or pods. They offer the same great taste without any of the trash. The only leftover is the used coffee grounds which can be composted or used as fertilizer.

4Dynaco Wireless Bluetooth Speaker & LED Lamp

This is the perfect gift for a teen or any music lover in your life. The Dynaco Wireless Bluetooth Speaker and Touch Lamp provides versatile functionality in a sleek and eco-friendly design. It gives off three levels of light which you can control with your touch. Also, you can connect it to any device with Bluetooth like your phone, tablet, or MP3 player. You can also make hands free calls via the microphone.

5LED Holiday Light Strands

Nothing beats the warm light of a long glowing strand of holiday lights. In addition to making your home feel cozy, they provide a wonderful ambient light. However, traditional holiday lights are incandescent and their warm glow is powered by more than 2 watts per bulb. That power adds up quickly, especially when compared to more efficient alternatives. An entire string of 100 LED holiday lights uses less power than two bulbs from an incandescent strand. With those energy savings, you could light up the whole house!

These are just a few of the many energy efficient gifts you could give to your loved ones this holiday season. In fact, there are so many eco-friendly gift options out there, you may be surprised by all the choices you have. Hopefully our guide sparked some ideas!