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Let’s Talk Turkey about Electricity!

11/3/2014

Fall has arrived and Thanksgiving will be here before we know it! Therefore, we must talk turkey for a moment. According to the National Turkey Federation, approximately 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving and an estimated 46 million turkeys will be consumed at Thanksgiving. The majority of these average 16 pound turkeys will be cooked in an electric oven. That equates to about 4 hours per bird, totaling 8 kWh (213 million kWh total) of electricity used for a total of $25 million dollars across the nation. This is just the electricity used to cook the turkey! Once we add in the potatoes, stuffing, green bean casseroles and pies, the amount of electricity consumed to cook a Thanksgiving feast is astounding and costly. And, we haven’t even gotten to the warming of the leftovers yet…the feast just keeps on giving and taking….

With all this being said, TXU Energy talks turkey about how you can save energy this Thanksgiving:

Try a new way of cooking your turkey. Grilling or deep frying are increasingly popular ways to prepare a Thanksgiving turkey. This option will be a new taste sensation for your family and guests, and can help you save electricity consumed over roasting.
Wherever possible, use a crock pot or microwave — rather than an electric range — to prep side dishes.
Store cold drinks in an ice chest or cooler so that guests don’t have to keep opening the refrigerator to get a beverage. Electricity gets wasted every time that door opens!
If you have to use the oven to cook your turkey, keep the door closed as much as possible. Opening the door allows heat to escape, making your oven work harder to cook the bird.
Light your holiday table with candles and turn down overhead lights. You’ll save electricity and create a warm, comforting ambiance for the holiday meal.
Leave lights off in rooms you’re not using.
Reverse fan blades on ceiling fans to push heat from the ceiling down into the room.
Set your thermostat back to 68⁰F — especially if you’re using the oven. Let the heat of the stove warm your home.
When it’s time for cleanup, run your dishwasher at full capacity. For most washers, the “light wash” setting is sufficient to clean all but the grimiest pans. And turn off the “heat dry” setting, open the dishwasher door and let the dishes air dry.

Statistics and Energy Saving Tips by: TXU Energy on 11/28/2013.

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Let’s Talk Turkey about Electricity!

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