Prepping your Thanksgiving meal can be a lot of work, but taking a few minutes to think about your energy use can lead to savings. Here are a few tips to keep energy use down — and your home safe — while preparing your Thanksgiving feast.

• Plan side dishes that fit in the oven with your turkey — and resist opening the oven doors until you have to.
• Use an electric pressure cooker for mashed potatoes or other side dishes. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for safe use, and keep children away from the pressure valve.
• Match your pots and pans to the right-size burners so you don’t waste heat.
• Limit trips to the fridge — keeping the door closed saves energy. For large groups, consider storing drinks in a cooler for easy access.
• Decorate your table with LED flameless candles, instead of traditional candles, to reduce the risk of fire.
• Don’t overload outlets, and inspect cords before starting up your appliances, especially if you haven’t used them in a while.
• Ensure any appliances near water (e.g., kitchen sinks) are plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected outlets.

And if you’re hosting, remember to turn down the thermostat as warm bodies and warm ovens provide extra heat.

For more energy-saving tips, including getting your house ready for winter, visit idahopower.com/save.

Alexis Freeman
Marketing Specialist
afreeman@idahopower.com
208-388-2291