Black Friday is knocking at the door. Whether you brave the maddening hoards or plan to wait, here are some gift ideas ranging from less than $20 to $150 for the energy sticklers on your list. You know the ones — always turning down the heat or shutting off extra lights. This is the list for them!
• For the cook. What about a pressure cooker for around $100? Not only do they make meals faster, they use 70 percent less energy than regular pots and pans on a stove burner. Or, a slow cooker? They cook at a lower temperature and are more energy efficient. For between $20 and $60, a slow cooker can also have a meal prepared when the family gets home.
• For the conservationist. Consider low-flow showerheads. While we have an ample water supply in Clark County, it’s always smart to use resources wisely. A 10-minute shower under a low-flow (2.5 gallon-a-minute) showerhead uses only about 25 gallons of water. That’ll save about five gallons of water with each shower. Your gift can also save them about $100 in electric bills each year.
• For the anxious apocalyptic. For $60, you can give the Swiss Army Knife of electronics. The Eton Scorpion is the ideal item for zombie apocalypse emergency kits — or the run of the mill power outage supply kit. Its rugged, all-in-one design holds a radio, flashlight, cellphone charger and the sometimes-critical bottle opener. Anyone will be ready for an emergency outage or off-the grid adventure with one. Solar cells and a windup spring power the unit.
• For the bookish. Give the readers on your list the gift of light — an LED reading light. It lets them read in the dark without disturbing anyone sleeping nearby or traveling next to them on an airplane. There are clip-on models or units that light up just a part of the page. The latter lets the reader slide the lit area down they page as they read. Both run less than $20 for a basic light and go up from there.
• For the thrifty. Give a smart power strip. Some models hold up to 10 plug-ins, auto-switching anything plugged into them on and off as the primary electronic device is powered up or down. Shutting off the whole entertainment system when the TV is turned off, for example, saves the recipient money on the electric bill. Choose one with built-in power surge protection to guard computer and home entertainment centers against power spikes.
• For the pet-owner. Energy-efficient pet doors let cats and dogs come and go as they please, but give a virtually airtight seal to keep the heat in. Choose a model with an insulating foam barrier, multiple flaps and a magnetic seal.
• For the neighbor in need. Help those in financial crisis by giving a tax-deductible donation to Operation Warm Heart. Your gift will help heat homes for local families struggling to make ends meet. You can include a one-time donation with your utility payment or pledge a regular contribution to be included on future bills.
Clark Public Utilities gift certificates in any amount are also available if someone on your list this year could use help with the basics this holiday season.
These eco-friendly, practical gifts can energize your holiday giving and save friends and family money all year.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
