Seven gift ideas for weathering the holiday season

Smart thermostats and portable power will be thoughtful presents — especially when energy bills and power outages hit.

  • By Wire Service
  • Friday, December 3, 2021 1:30am
  • Life

By Snohomish County PUD

This most wonderful time of the year can often be interrupted by windy weather and high energy bills. We’re here to help you find the perfect gifts for everybody on your list (and maybe even yourself) as we all get ready to weather the holiday season.

Google Nest Thermostat: The Google Nest Learning Thermostat can decrease your monthly bill and minimize your environmental impact. This gadget learns your favorite temperature settings and self-adjusts when you’re not in the room. Find rebates on smart thermostats on the PUD’s Marketplace. $54.99 with PUD rebate. snopud.techniartmarketplace.com/default/google-nest-snow.html

Energy efficient light bulbs: For those who light up your life, give them a gift that will light up their living room! Switch out old halogen bulbs to Energy Star certified BR30 Reflectors, which come in two colors, Soft White and Daylight, and shine for 25,000 hours. Six pack for $10 with PUD rebate. snopud.techniartmarketplace.com/default/65w-equivalent-br30-reflector-6-pack-1.html

Hand charger: In case of emergency, this small, lightweight charger can provide immediate power to a phone or other electronic device. It also has three LED lights that can shine for 10 minutes after one minute of cranking. Great for camping and having around the car – or home, in case of a power outage. $9.99. tinyurl.com/EDH-hand-charger

3-Day Emergency Preparedness Kit: This kit prepares you for natural disasters such as an earthquakes or severe weather. It contains basic supplies for one person for three days, including emergency food, water, a crank-powered flashlight/radio/cell phone charger, multi-tool, first aid kit and other survival supplies in a lightweight backpack with extra room for personal items. $88.99. tinyurl.com/EDH-3-day-kit

Solar Lantern: This collapsible solar lantern offers up to 24 hours of light between charges. After a 7-hour full charge, the lantern has 10 LED lights that emit 75 lumens. The lithium-ion battery also has an indicator showing remaining battery life. The lightweight lantern collapses to just one inch thick, making it the idea gadget for camping (or to store bedside in case of emergency). $24.99. tinyurl.com/EDH-solar-lantern

Goal Zero Nomad 10 Solar Panel: This lightweight solar charger has an external USB charger to charge cell phones, power banks, GPS, headlamps and other small devices. The lightweight design is ideal for camping, or just having around the house in case the power goes out. $99.95. www.rei.com/product/180606/goal-zero-nomad-10-solar-panel

Battery Backup Device: This backup charger provides battery backup and surge protection for home offices. It will provide nine minutes of power at “half load” and three minutes for a “full load,” giving you time to save your work and perform a normal system shut down. $179.99. tinyurl.com/EDH-backup

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