Christmas Week Green Home: Your 60-Minute Holiday Quick Fix Plan
Christmas week is when your house goes into “event mode.” Lights, cooking, guests, doors opening nonstop, heat running harder. It’s festive. It’s also when small issues become expensive ones.
This guide is the one-hour plan that keeps your home safer and a little greener, without killing the vibe.
Step 1 (10 minutes): The cord and outlet audit
-
Inspect every light string for frayed wires, cracked sockets, or loose connections.
-
Keep outdoor lights outdoor-rated.
-
Avoid overloading cords and turn lights off when you go to bed or leave.
CPSC’s holiday decoration safety tips call out inspecting light sets, avoiding overload, and turning lights off when asleep or away. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Step 2 (10 minutes): Swap one big strand to LED or ENERGY STAR
If you do nothing else, do this.
-
ENERGY STAR-certified decorative light strings can use dramatically less energy than incandescent strands. ENERGY STAR
-
DOE notes residential LEDs use far less energy than incandescents and last much longer. The Department of Energy’s Energy.gov
Step 3 (10 minutes): Put lights on a timer
A timer is the easiest upgrade you will not regret.
-
Set lights for “prime time” only (early evening to bedtime).
-
This cuts waste and reduces the risk of leaving lights on unattended.
Step 4 (15 minutes): Tree safety, in plain English
If you have a live tree:
-
Water it every day.
-
Keep it at least 3 feet from heat sources.
-
Do not block exits.
USFA and NFPA emphasize watering daily and keeping trees away from heat sources. U.S. Fire Administration
Step 5 (15 minutes): One fast efficiency win
Pick one:
-
Draft stopper on the most-used exterior door
-
Quick weatherstripping where you feel cold air
-
Furnace filter swap if it looks rough
Small wins stack up fast when the house is in heavy-use mode.
Make it a neighborhood block plan (Pigybak Ride)
This is where Christmas week becomes a community win.
The idea: multiple homes book the same “Holiday Quick Fix” window.
Why it helps: contractors drive less, work more, and homeowners get quicker availability.
Good Ride-friendly jobs this week
-
Outlet and GFCI check
-
Draft sealing pass
-
Small handyman fixes before hosting
-
Light hanging and safe setup
Read More at…
Community good news (real examples)
If you want holiday cheer that actually does something:
-
Cleveland’s last-minute events and giveaways roundup via Signal Cleveland Signal Cleveland
-
Chicago volunteers lighting up King Drive with My Block, My Hood, My City ABC7 Chicago
-
Cuyahoga County support for foster and kinship youth holiday collections Cuyahoga County Government
FAQs
Are ENERGY STAR holiday light strings really worth it?
Yes. ENERGY STAR-certified decorative light strings use dramatically less energy than incandescent strands. ENERGY STAR
How do I reduce risk with holiday decorations?
Inspect lights for damage, avoid overloading extension cords, and turn lights off when you sleep or leave. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
What’s the biggest Christmas tree safety tip?
Water your tree daily and keep it at least three feet from heat sources. U.S. Fire Administration
What’s the fastest green win this week?
Swap one high-impact light strand to LED or ENERGY STAR and put it on a timer. ENERGY STAR
