November is a month for gratitude, gathering, and preparing for the busy holiday season ahead. As temperatures fall and families spend more time together indoors, it's also a great opportunity to think about the energy that keeps our homes comfortable, our businesses running, and our Thanksgiving feasts cooking. This month, we're sharing simple ways to use energy more thoughtfully without taking away from the traditions you love. From smarter Thanksgiving cooking and supporting local businesses to reducing holiday waste, small choices can add up to meaningful savings. And while you're reviewing your holiday budget, don't forget your energy costs—ABC Energy's URate can help you explore competitive energy supply options and find a rate you can feel thankful for.
More Together, Less Energy
A house full of family and friends may be good for more than making memories. Between a busy kitchen and rooms filled with guests, your home may need a little less help staying comfortable during Thanksgiving gatherings.
Turn the thermostat down a degree or two when you're entertaining. Cooking and extra people naturally add warmth to your home.
Gather in fewer rooms and turn off lights, TVs, and electronics in spaces no one is using.
Make the most of natural daylight by opening curtains and blinds during daytime gatherings before November's early sunset.
Being together is what November is all about—and sometimes gathering together can help you use a little less energy, too.
Business Tip/hack: Give Your Business an Energy Budget
As businesses begin looking toward year-end planning, don't overlook energy as an operating expense. November is a good time to review what your business has spent on energy this year and identify opportunities to manage those costs more effectively in the year ahead.
Compare monthly energy expenses and look for unexpected spikes or patterns.
Identify one or two practical efficiency improvements to prioritize in next year's budget.
Review operating schedules to make sure lighting and equipment aren't running unnecessarily during closed hours.
Consider setting an energy-saving goal and tracking progress throughout the coming year.
And with Small Business Saturday arriving this month, it's also a great reminder that smart spending matters at every level. Saving on operating costs can help businesses direct more resources toward the people, products, and services that keep them growing.
Residential Tip/Hack:
Cook Up Savings This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving may be one of the busiest cooking days of the year, but your kitchen doesn't have to gobble up unnecessary energy. A little planning can help you prepare a delicious feast while using appliances more efficiently.
Cook dishes together when they require similar oven temperatures instead of heating the oven multiple times.
Keep the oven door closed and use the window to check on food whenever possible.
Match pots and pans to the right burner size so you're not wasting heat around smaller cookware.
Think small when you can. A slow cooker, toaster oven, microwave, or air fryer may use less energy than the full-size oven for smaller dishes.
Fill the dishwasher before running it and use an energy-saving cycle when available.
The goal isn't to change your Thanksgiving traditions—it's simply to make the energy behind them work a little smarter.
URate - A Rate Worth Being Thankful For
November brings holiday shopping, travel, entertaining, and plenty of other expenses. With so much competing for your budget, it's a good time to make sure you're comfortable with what you're paying for energy, too.
ABC Energy's URate makes it easy to explore competitive electricity and natural gas supply options and find a plan that works for your home or business. Taking a few minutes to review your options now could help you feel more confident about your energy costs as the holiday season gets underway.
After all, using energy wisely is only part of the equation—what you pay for the energy you use matters, too.
Gather, Give Thanks & Waste Less
Thanksgiving is about appreciating what we have—and that makes November a natural time to think about reducing waste, supporting our communities, and enjoying the season without spending more than necessary.
Plan your Thanksgiving menu around your guest count to help prevent unnecessary food waste.
Give leftovers a second life with next-day meals or send guests home with food in reusable containers.
Decorate naturally with pumpkins, gourds, pinecones, branches, and seasonal greenery that can be reused or composted.
Take a family walk after Thanksgiving dinner. It's a wonderful way to get some fresh air, support physical and mental wellness, and enjoy time together away from screens and electronics.
Donate before you shop. Go through coats, blankets, toys, and clothing before the holiday shopping rush and pass along items your family no longer needs.
Shop local on Small Business Saturday and consider combining errands or carpooling with family and friends to save fuel and reduce unnecessary trips.
A more sustainable Thanksgiving doesn't have to mean giving up the things you love. Sometimes it simply means appreciating what you already have—and making the most of it.
From Recent Energy News: Can Streaming Become More Energy Efficient?
As streaming continues to grow, the media and technology industries are taking a closer look at how much energy is used to deliver video from servers and networks all the way to the screens in our homes. New research is moving beyond estimates toward real-world power measurements, helping identify where meaningful energy savings can actually be made.
Some of the solutions being explored include:
Smarter networks: Providers and researchers are looking for ways to move growing amounts of streaming data while reducing unnecessary energy use across networks and infrastructure.
More efficient streaming: Resolution, encoding, device settings, and hardware choices can all influence how much electricity is required to deliver and play video. Recent testing is helping the industry better understand which technical choices make the biggest difference.
Smarter viewing habits: Audio-only modes when video isn't necessary, lower screen brightness, and energy-saving settings can help viewers reduce electricity consumption without giving up the content they enjoy.
Think before upgrading: Replacing an older, inefficient television may reduce electricity use, but if an existing device is already efficient, keeping it longer can avoid the environmental impact associated with manufacturing a replacement.
The bigger story isn't about streaming less—it's about streaming more efficiently. As researchers, technology companies, networks, and device manufacturers learn more about where electricity is actually being consumed, smarter technology and better choices could help make digital entertainment more energy-conscious from start to finish.
🍂 As November unfolds, take time to enjoy what makes this season special: a warm home, good food, local traditions, and time spent with the people who matter most. Whether you're preparing Thanksgiving dinner, supporting a neighborhood business, taking a crisp autumn walk, or finding a few new ways to reduce energy waste, thoughtful choices can benefit both your budget and the world around you.
From all of us at ABC Energy, we wish you a wonderful November filled with gratitude, comfort, and plenty of reasons to be thankful. Here's to full plates, warm hearts, and smarter energy choices all season long. 🦃
