How to Host an Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving

Ah, Thanksgiving—the unofficial holiday of food comas, waistband expansions, and enough energy consumption to light up a small town. While indulging in pumpkin pie and that third helping of stuffing is practically a requirement, wasting energy isn’t. Ready to make this year’s celebration an eco-friendly Thanksgiving without sacrificing the traditions you love? Let’s dig in.

Fun fact: cooking eats up 4.5% of your home’s total energy use. Add the hot water for dishwashing, fridge runs for leftovers, and that extra time your oven works overtime, and the kitchen alone can account for up to 15% of household energy use. During the holidays? That number skyrockets faster than your Black Friday credit card bill.

But fear not! A greener Thanksgiving doesn’t mean sacrificing the things that make this holiday great—like arguing with relatives or making room for pie. Here’s how to keep it eco-friendly while keeping your traditions intact:

8 Simple Tips for an Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving

1. Lower Your Thermostat: Got the oven roaring for the turkey? Dial down your heating a few notches and let the oven heat your home. Bonus: it doubles as a built-in excuse for why you’re sweating while cooking.
2. Use Glass or Ceramic Pans: Not only do these make your food look Facebook-ready, but they also hold heat better. That means you can lower the oven temp by 25 degrees without sacrificing Aunt Carol’s famous green bean casserole.
3. Double Up on Dishes: Choose sides that can share oven space with the turkey. Your mashed potatoes and stuffing won’t mind the company, and your oven gets to clock out sooner.
4. Microwave and Slow-Cooker Magic: Microwaves zap things fast, and slow-cookers are energy sippers compared to the oven. Just don’t keep checking what’s cooking—every lid lift costs heat and adds up to 25 minutes of extra cooking time. It’s a slow-cooker, not a reality show.
5. Match Pots to Burners: Using a big burner for a tiny pot is like filling up a kiddie pool with a firehose. Stick to the right size burner to save energy and your sanity.
6. Keep a Lid On It: Literally. Lids trap heat and speed up cooking. No lid? No excuse—cover it with foil or a plate.
7. Ditch the Rinse: Scrape plates instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher. Modern dishwashers are champs and don’t need a pre-wash pep talk unless the food crust is from last year.
8. Use Your Dishwasher: Yes, really. It uses less water and energy than handwashing—unless your dishwasher’s name is Greg, and he keeps leaving spots.

Make Green the New Thanksgiving Tradition

Crafting an Eco-friendly Thanksgiving isn’t about going full pilgrim; it’s about making choices that save energy, water, and maybe even a little money. And guess what? It’s contagious. Get the whole family on board, and suddenly you’re the eco-champion of the holiday season.

Who needs another cranberry sauce debate when you’ve got a planet to save?

From all of us at Hazardous Waste Experts: Have a Happy, Energy-Saving Thanksgiving! And remember, if your turkey grease starts looking like a hazmat situation, give us a call. We’ve got you.

Need expert help? Call us today at (425) 414-3485, or check us out online.