Every month you can take part in an energy-efficient home improvement challenge. These challenges include seasonal topics to help you save on your energy bill all year long.

December challenge: Spread sustainability this holiday season

Winter can be a season of high energy consumption. Help your loved ones save on electricity costs with energy-efficient technology! Check out these gift ideas that give back with energy savings:

• Smart thermostats. They learn your preferences and adjust automatically to optimize efficiency. They even factor in weather data to anticipate temperature changes. On average, smart thermostats reduce energy usage by 10%.
• Advanced power strips. They help manage phantom energy, or power consumed when items are on standby. Phantom energy accounts for up to 10% of annual electricity costs. Some advanced power strips even come with sensors to detect when a device is not in use and automatically cut its power.
• Smart LEDs. LEDs reduce energy consumption and costs by about 90% compared to incandescent bulbs. Plus, there are plenty of choices of colors and mood lighting for those who enjoy changing the atmosphere of their home.

Alliant Energy customers can purchase these and other energy-saving products on the Alliant Energy® Marketplace (Iowa) or the Focus on Energy Marketplace (Wisconsin).

As with other appliances and electronics, look for ENERGY STAR certified options for even more savings.

Take the challenge and learn more about giving your holiday an energy-saving edge.

November challenge: Prepare your home for holiday vacation

Enjoy your holiday trip knowing you played it smart. Here are four ways to save energy and lower costs while you’re away.

• Set your thermostat to 55 degrees. That’s low enough to save energy and still keep your pipes from freezing. With a smart thermostat, you can use your phone to warm your home before you return.
• Turn lights off when you go to sleep or are away from home. If you tend to forget, use a timer.
• Clear your fridge of food that spoils easily like milk, then turn its thermostat up a notch. Thirty-eight degrees is still cold enough to keep food safe.
• Give your electronics a vacation too. Unplug them until you return.

Take the challenge and learn more to keep your home energy efficient while you’re away.

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