Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year in the United States. If you’re interested in purchasing energy efficient products for your home or as a gift for someone else, Black Friday is the perfect time to do so. This is because retailers typically offer consumers steep discounts and special offers on Black Friday to kick off the unofficial start of the holiday season. 

This year, with Covid-19 changing the shopping dynamic, you won’t even have to go to the stores to get great deals.  Here’s an overview of some of the best energy efficient Black Friday products to add to your shopping list:

ENERGY STAR® Appliances

Retailers often offer discounts on high-value items on Black Friday, which is why this could be the best time to upgrade to ENERGY STAR® appliances.

ENERGY STAR® appliances are designed to use less energy while performing the same tasks as standard appliances. For example, ENERGY STAR® refrigerators consume about 15% less energy than standard models, whereas ENERGY STAR® freezers consume about 10% less. 

Because these appliances consume less energy, they can help you lower your monthly utility bills. This Black Friday, consider taking advantage of special discounts or deals on ENERGY STAR® appliances so you can start saving energy and money.

Programmable Thermostat

The programmable thermostat is another item to add to your Black Friday shopping list. A programmable thermostat allows you to preset heating and cooling schedules for your home. 

For example, adjust the settings to ensure your heating and cooling system turns off every day during the hours you are at work. You won’t ever have to remember to change the temperature on the thermostat before you head out the door for work—it will automatically adjust the temperature based on your preset schedule.

Switching to a programmable thermostat can drastically lower your utility bills. In fact, heating and cooling accounts for over 40% of the average household’s annual energy expenses. But installing a programmable thermostat can help you reduce heating and cooling expenses by as much as 10%. 

Smart Power Strips

You probably already use one or more power strips in your home. But this Black Friday, consider swapping these traditional power strips out for smart power strips.

If devices are plugged into a traditional power strip, they can continue to consume energy even when they are not in use. This wasted energy can increase your annual energy expenses by up to $200. A smart power strip can help you solve this problem—and save this money.

A smart power strip is designed to cut off power to plugged in devices that are in standby mode. This prevents devices from continuing to consume energy when they aren’t being used. Take advantage of Black Friday deals so you can make sure every device in your home is connected to a smart power strip. 

Smart Lighting System

A smart lighting system is another must-have item for eco-conscious shoppers this Black Friday. A smart lighting system allows you to control the lighting in your home from an app on your smartphone or tablet. Some lighting systems even allow you to control your lighting via your smartwatch, voice, or fitness tracker.

You can turn lights on and off, adjust the brightness, or in some cases, even change the color of the lighting. Having these options at your fingertips makes it easier than ever to save energy on lighting. 

For example, say you forgot to turn the lights off as you were leaving your house. If a smart lighting system is installed, you can turn off the lights using your smartphone. This ensures you aren’t wasting energy on lighting the inside of an empty home.

Smart Chargers

If a smartphone, tablet, or laptop charger is plugged into an electrical outlet, it will consume energy regardless of whether or not it is charging a device. If no device is plugged into the charger, it will consume energy. If a device is plugged in but fully charged, the charger will still consume energy. 

The best way to stop wasting energy on charging your devices is to invest in a smart charger. These energy efficient products are designed to automatically cut off power once it is no longer needed to charge a device. If a phone is plugged in and charging, a smart charger will cut off power once the phone is fully charged. If no device is plugged in to charge, a smart charger will not consume energy. Purchasing these items on Black Friday is the perfect way to start the holiday season this year. ‘Tis the season to be energy efficient!