The year is coming to a close, and the holiday season is upon us. With the weather getting colder and the nights longer (not to mention all those decorations and holiday gatherings), now is the perfect time to look at your energy use and find ways to save. If you take action now, you can avoid that post-holiday letdown of higher energy bills.

Holiday decorations

Follow these tips to make sure your dazzling display doesn't lead to eye-popping energy costs.

• Switch to ENERGY STAR®-certified LED decorative lights. LED bulbs use significantly less energy than conventional lights while still providing vivid colors.
• Use a timer to automatically turn lights off late at night and during daylight hours.
• Pull the plug on energy-hogging inflatable decorations.
• Get creative and make handmade decorations that don't use energy, such as a wreath.

Holiday gatherings

All that holiday cooking and hosting can result in unwelcome extra energy use. Consider these cost-cutting measures.

• Cook holiday meals efficiently. All that extra baking and cooking can fatten your energy bills. Match pots and pans to the size of your burners to avoid wasting energy. Use heat-retaining glass or ceramic cookware when possible. Bake multiple batches of cookies and pies at one time to optimize energy use.

• Read the temperature of the room. Turn down the temperature when holiday guests arrive. Extra bodies in the house mean extra heat at no cost to you. A smart, programmable thermostat can adjust the temperature automatically based on your schedule, habits and weather conditions.

• Clean up energy waste. When your holiday meal is done, scrape dishes instead of rinsing them before loading them into the dishwasher. To optimize energy use, wait until the dishwasher is fully loaded before running it.

• Give the gift of energy savings. Energy-efficient devices, such as LED bulbs and smart power strips, make great stocking stuffers. For gadget lovers and do-it-yourselfers on your gift list, consider smart thermostats and water-efficient fixtures.

Save energy next year

Keep your momentum going into the new year with these energy-saving resolutions.

• Adjust your thermostat to save energy late at night or when no one is home.
• Have your heating and cooling system inspected by a qualified professional.
• Change your furnace filter regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Switch to energy-efficient LED lights and turn them off when you're the last to leave a room.
• Take shorter showers and fix water leaks quickly.

These simple resolutions are a great way to start living a more energy-efficient lifestyle next year and every year.