Whether it is for a loved one obsessed with electrifying their home, someone struggling with high energy bills, or a Scrooge who roams their house switching off lights and appliances – here’s some gift ideas that will inject some Christmas joy into every billing cycle.
In most cases links have been included to the product page itself, but you can find many of these options at major retailers if time is too tight to wait for shipping.
Note we don’t get any referral commissions for the products listed below – these are just ideas from around the SolarQuotes office that we think could impress the right kind of person. But do choose your target wisely, as not everyone is going to be thrilled about finding a smart lightbulb in their stocking…
Energy Efficiency Gadget Gifts
- Arlec Timers – connect outdoor appliances to external timers like these to control they only consume energy at the time of day they are needed or when electricity prices are cheapest.
- Sensibo – a solution that promises to turn any air conditioner with a remote into a smart device, letting users adjust temperature, change settings, and set schedules remotely via app, optimising energy consumption and making it easier to get your cooling in sync with your solar production;
- Thermopro Thermometers – indoor/outdoor thermometers let you monitor temperature and humidity inside and out, providing insights as to how well your aircon and home insulation is working.
Energy Efficiency Services & Subscription Gifts
- Residential Efficiency Scorecard Audit – a tailored assessment of a home’s energy use along with recommendations for improvements.
- Choice Membership – A comprehensive rundown on consumer products in Australia, including key specs on energy efficiency on refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers.
Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Gifts
- Chooks Cotton Door Snakes – prevent heated or cooled air from escaping out under the door with this basic insulation solution that might not work quite as well as a fitted door seal, but is a safer bet as a gift given it doesn’t need to be measured out precisely.
- AiDot Smart Lightbulbs – LED lightbulbs are already much more energy efficient than halogen options, but you can take things to the next level with smart lightbulbs that offer features like schedule setting and even power usage reports.
Energy Efficiency Book Gifts
- Plug In!: The Electrification Handbook – energy expert Saul Griffith shares his top tips on how to electrify your home, including his five key priority areas – electricity sources, hot water, heating, cooking and transport.
- The Good Solar Guide – 7 Steps To Tiny Bills For Australian Homeowners – published back in 2018, this book by SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock covers the key things to know about solar.
Energy Efficiency Donation Gifts
- Pollinate Group – make a donation on behalf of your giftee with this Melbourne-headquartered social enterprise, a SolarQuotes partner, which helps marginalised women in India and Nepal become entrepreneurs through replacement of dirty diesel generators and wood-fired stoves with solar lights, solar water pumps and induction cooktops.
For more tips on energy efficiency around the home, read our detailed guide.
About Max Opray
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After getting so many stupid electricity comparison phone calls, may I ask that you refrain from selling our details to those idiots? Sorry, but when companies get absolutely filthy greedy, that they need to do this rubbish, then I don’t want to be part of it
Please unsubscribe me, and I hope many others will follow.
What was once a great site is now total junk, based around greed.
Hi Eric, we don’t sell details to electricity comparison companies – what makes you think this has something to do with us? Send the details of your complaint to [email protected]
I’ve not seen an outdoors rated timer before that can just plug in, I suppose there is no reason for them not to exist, i just never looked!!
I will have to investigate, I could certainly use some of those for charging my electric boat batteries off my solar only!
I tried the Sensibo and unfortunately wasted my money. It does not work with any of my three AC units.
I the tried Intesis and it works perfectly with all 3. I think they are now owned by HMS networks – not sure though.
Just sharing my experience to help others make an informed decision.
Sorry to hear that David – what brand AC? For others looking into this, if you scroll down the Sensibo homepage has a tool to check whether aircon compatibility – it is supposed to be any brand with a remote.
Hi Max, 2 X Panasonic and 1 X Mitsubishi – all compatible and fairly modern split systems.
I spent hours with Sensibo support and in the end the juice was not worth the squeeze so I just gave up. Pity
I bought two of the Sensibo Sky units and for me they have worked perfectly. One is on a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and one is on a Daikin.
My needs are simple – I just wanted something that I could use to switch the units on remotely without the guesswork of setting a timer (which would often fail if one of the other house occupants would use the AC briefly in the morning). I now use the ClimateReact function to set a threshold temperature which triggers each unit, which is even better than a timer.
There are a lot of extra smart features available by subscription but I don’t really need / want them. I already have everything I need.
The only criticism I have is the sheer number of emails from Sensibo encouraging me to subscribe or to buy more Sensibos! That’s an easily fixable problem.
I’ve great experience with Sensibos on new MHI ACs and an adequate experience with an older Panasonic.
I think it depends on how the control is transmitted.
The Intersis units are probably the best on the market, but they are usually double the price of a Sensibo (under $100 on sale).
No reason to be a Scrooge with enough storage and solar.
Happy to not be adding to SA’s peak demand this evening.