The holidays are a time for gathering and celebrating. It can also lead to higher energy use as we whip up favorite holiday dishes and open our homes to family and friends. Not to mention it’s about to get really cold in Alabama!

Here are 12 simple energy-saving tips  that will help save on utility bills, while you enjoy these special holiday times and brace for the frigid weather ahead:

Energy-saving during the holidays

• Full house? Give your furnace a break. In a home crowded with family and friends, and with the oven on full blast with holiday comfort foods, the house will heat itself. So, you can turn down the thermostat a bit.

If the house is full of family and friends, you may want to adjust the thermostat for energy savings. (Getty Images)

• If the party isn’t in the room, close it off. Turn off lights in rooms not being used and close doors to keep the warm air in the rooms that are occupied.
• Get your bake on. Choose oven recipes versus stovetop dishes. Using the oven is more economical than surface cooking. If your oven is already warm, use it to reheat dishes. When warming food for longer periods, set the oven no higher than 140 to 200 degrees.
• Try the air fryer or toaster oven. Using an air fryer or toaster oven to prepare a meal or reheat holiday snacks when appropriate can save energy compared to turning on larger appliances.
• Allow leftovers to cool before opening the fridge. Letting your warm leftovers cool off on the counter can cut the amount of energy your refrigerator would have to use to do the same job.
• Night lights are bright ideas. Sometimes, the youngsters (and oldsters) visiting during the holidays need a little light at night. Using night lights will save on energy compared to leaving on the hall light or a table lamp.

Energy-saving tips for all winter long

• Sun’s out, savings up. Open your window treatments during the day to take advantage of the sun’s natural warmth and light. Be sure to close them when the sun goes down.
• Keep the garage door closed. Make sure you close the garage door when you come in or go out. The same goes for making sure other external doors (and windows) aren’t inadvertently left cracked or open. Remind your family members to do the same.
• Before you leave, turn it down. Before you go out the door, adjust your thermostat to 68 degrees or cooler. Unless you have pets, there’s no need to heat an empty house while you’re gone.

Changing your air filter regularly can help cut energy costs. (Getty Images)

• Use space heaters wisely. If you spend a lot of your day in a single room – when working from a home office, for example – turn the house thermostat down and use a space heater to keep you cozy. Be sure to turn it off when you leave. Select a model that is thermostat-controlled for even greater energy efficiency.
• Change the filter. A clean filter will help your heating system work more efficiently. And you’ll breathe easier, too. Follow the recommendations of the manufacturer and set the calendar to switch the filter on the right schedule.
• Give your clothes the cold shoulder. Wash your clothes with cold water. Many detergents are formulated to give your clothes the same clean in cold versus hot water.

Looking for more energy-saving tips for this holiday season and the wintry weather? Visit AlabamaPower.com/winterize.