Save Money and Stay Safe While Entertaining at Christmas

National Grid offers some simple energy efficiency and safety tips for families and residents while their entertain guests this holiday season.

National Grid is the electric and gas utility that serves Hamilton and Wenham.

Holiday Entertaining Energy-Saving Tips:

•Holiday Cooking: Use the smallest appliance, pan and burner while cooking to save energy. For example, microwave ovens require less than half the energy of a conventional oven. Slow cookers are great ways to cook for a family and save money. On average, a whole meal can be cooked in a slow cooker for 17 cents worth of electricity.

•Smart Baking: Improve oven efficiency by keeping the doors closed as much as possible and baking several dishes at the same time and temperature.

• Keeping Food Cool: Newer refrigerators are more energy-efficient than older ones. Refrigerators and freezers operate more efficiently when the doors are kept closed as much as possible. If necessary, leaving the doors open for a longer period of time is more efficient than opening and closing them several times.

• Storing the Feast: Keep extra beverages and holiday leftovers cold by storing them in a garage or on a porch, if temperatures permit. Unplugging a second refrigerator saves $23 per month on the electricity bill. Enroll online or call 1-877-545-4113 to schedule a free pickup of your old, second refrigerator or freezer.

•Washing the Dishes: Dishwashers use less water than running the water while hand-washing dishes. However, if washing by hand is the only option, using a wash and rinse basin saves water and money compared with letting the water run.

Holiday Entertaining Safety Tips:

• Holiday decorations: Keep holiday decorations at least 10 feet away from residential electric lines and equipment.

• Approved Lighting: Make sure lights have a safety listing from a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Use lights only as intended.

• Christmas Trees: Make sure artificial trees have been tested for flammability by the Underwriters Laboratories. To prevent electrical shock, never use electric decorations on artificial trees with metallic needles, leaves or branches. Instead, place colored spotlights above or beside the tree—never attached to it. Keep natural trees watered to prevent bulbs from igniting dry branches. Keep extension cords and lights away from the tree stand.

• Open Flames: While enjoying the warmth of a fireplace or ambience of holiday candles, keep open flames away from drapes or flammable materials.