Looking for presents that don’t wind up in a junk drawer? These gifts are the rare combo of “fun to unwrap,” “easy to use,” and “hey, our bill is lower.” Grab some cocoa and let’s shop smart.
Solar backpack that actually charges
Great pick: Voltaic Systems
Why it’s a fun gift: A legit panel built into a commuter/camera bag, perfect for travelers and field photographers.
How it saves energy: A few watts harvested during your commute means fewer evening plug-ins. (Voltaic also sells higher-watt “Array” packs for laptops.)
Price Range: $100
The “House but Smarter” Thermostat
Great picks: ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (splurge) or Google Nest Thermostat (budget).
Why it’s a great gift: It feels like gifting a tiny butler for their HVAC, voice control, schedules, and a sleek screen that makes guests go “ooooh.”
How it saves: It learns routines, nudges temps when no one’s home, and can join utility savings programs. Fewer wasted heating/cooling hours and lower bills. Energy Star estimates a saving of about 8% on yearly heating and cooling bills.
Price Range: $90-$250
Lights That Listen (and set the mood)
Great pick: Lutron Caséta Dimmer Starter Kit (P-BDG-PKG1W).
Why it’s a great gift: Create “Movie Night,” “Dinner,” or “Not Getting Out of Bed” scenes with one tap. Even comes with a cute little remote for non-techy relatives.
How it saves: Dimming = less wattage; schedules and vacancy sensing make “did we leave the lights on?” a thing of the past.
Price Range: $90-$120
Portable 100W panel for everything
Great pick: Jackery SolarSaga 100W
Why it’s a fun gift: It’s the “unfold, plug in, smile” panel, great for tailgates, cabin weekends, or emergency kits. Folds like a briefcase and has onboard USB-A/USB-C.
How it saves energy: Recharges phones, tablets, lights, and even small power stations with sunlight, less wall charging = less grid energy. Jackery lists up to ~23–24% conversion on its 100W panels.
Price Range: $200
Tiny Plugs, Big Control
Great pick: TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug HS103.
Why it’s a great gift: Five-minute setup. Suddenly lamps, holiday décor, and coffee makers follow rules (bedtime, sunrise, away mode).
How it saves: Slashes “always-on” trickles by turning things off automatically when they’re not needed.
Price Range: $10-$20 (get a multipack to save)
A compact “solar generator” starter
Great pick: Jackery Explorer 290 + SolarSaga 100W
Why it’s a fun gift: Quiet, no-fumes power you can use indoors. Pair the 290Wh battery with that 100W panel for camping, power outages, or patio work days.
How it saves energy: Shifts small-device charging and LED lighting off the grid, and provides clean backup during outages (no gas). Recent reviews praise the 100W pairing for simple off-grid charging.
Price Range: $350
The Vampire-Slayer Power Strip
Great pick: TrickleStar Advanced Power Strip (Tier 1).
Why it’s a great gift: Perfect for TV corners and gaming caves. When the TV sleeps, the console, speakers, and charging hub stop slurping power.
How it saves: Kills “phantom loads” from accessories that sip energy even when “off.”
Price Range: about $30
Day-hike USB panel
Great pick: Goal Zero Nomad 10
Why it’s a fun gift: Toss it on a backpack and trickle-charge a phone or headlamp while you wander. Built-in kickstand for easy aiming.
How it saves energy: Harvests a sunny day’s worth of top-ups so you plug into the wall less at night.
Price Range: $100
The Instant-Gratification Light Upgrade
Great pick: Philips Hue White A19.
Why it’s a great gift: Tap a phone and boom, warm, comfy light. Add bulbs over time and they’ve got a whole vibe.
How it saves: LEDs use a fraction of the energy and last ages, so the only thing burning out is the memory of old bulbs.
Price Range: about $30 for a 2 pack
Budget foldable charger
Great pick: BigBlue 28W
Why it’s a fun gift: Under-$75 crowd-pleaser with an ammeter (geek-cool!) so you can see the watts you’re making.
How it saves energy: Dual-USB outputs keep two small devices sipping solar all afternoon; maker claims up to ~25%+ cell efficiency.
Price Range: $50
Inflatable lantern + phone top-ups
Great pick: LuminAID PackLite Max
Why it’s a fun gift: It packs flat, inflates in a puff, and throws a bright, cozy glow. Also tops up a phone in a pinch.
How it saves energy: Solar-recharged light = fewer disposable batteries and less grid charging; up to 150 lumens and long runtimes reported by the maker.
Price Range: $50
“Where Do All My Watts Go?” Monitor
Great pick: Emporia Vue 3 (circuit-level).
Why it’s a great gift: It turns electricity into a dashboard. Recipients get that “aha!” moment when they catch the old freezer or always-on dehumidifier red-handed.
How it saves: Real-time data exposes power hogs so they can fix habits, or retire the culprits.
Price Range: $150-$200
The Draft-Dodger Window Kit
Great pick: 3M Indoor Window Insulator Kit.
Why it’s a great gift: Under-$25 magic. A hair dryer, a few minutes, and suddenly that chilly window is a lot cozier.
How it saves: Adds a clear, nearly invisible barrier that stops heat from sneaking outside.
Price Range: $15-$25
Rugged, IP-rated sun lamp
Great pick: Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0
Why it’s a fun gift: Cute, clear, and campsite-proof; charge by sun or USB, then hang anywhere.
How it saves energy: Reusable solar lantern replaces battery-hungry flashlights for power outages and backyard dinners (up to ~50 hours on low, per product pages).
Weather-Sealing Stocking Stuffers
Great picks: Frost King Door Sweep + adhesive weatherstripping (pick their door color).
Why it’s a great gift: Unsexy? Maybe. But it’s the kind of gift people feel every time a winter gust fails to bulldoze their hallway.
How it saves: Seals the gaps that gobble energy, so the furnace doesn’t have to.
Solar oven (!!) for fuel-free meals
Great pick: GoSun Sport
Why it’s a fun gift: It’s a party trick that cooks. Bake/roast/steam a meal for two in about 20 minutes in good sun, campers and backyard experimenters love it.
How it saves energy: Cooks with sunlight instead of gas/electric, so weeknight sides or campsite lunches can be totally off-grid; generates temps up to ~550°F.
Price Range: $150
A Better Shower That Uses Less
Great pick: Waterpik EcoFlow (WaterSense, 1.6–2.0 gpm).
Why it’s a great gift: Easy five-minute swap; feels great; renters can bring it along to the next place.
How it saves: Less hot water per minute = less energy needed to heat it. Small change, big habit impact. Save around 2700 gallons of water according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Price Range: $25-$40
Hot-Water Pipe Cozies
Great pick: Pre-slit foam pipe sleeves (¾″).
Why it’s a great gift: Fifteen minutes of DIY, and their morning routine is instantly nicer, hot water arrives faster and stays hot.
How it saves: Cuts heat loss between the heater and the tap, trimming water-heating energy. The Department of Energy estimates a saving of 3-4% on your yearly energy bills.
Price Range: $10-$25
A Fan That Works All Year
Great pick: Haiku L (ENERGY STAR) by Big Ass Fans.
Why it’s a great gift: Whisper-quiet, gorgeous, app/remote control, and dimmable light, like a ceiling spa day.
How it saves: In summer, you can set the AC a few degrees higher and still feel cool; in winter, reverse mode gently recirculates warm air.
Weeknight Wizard: Induction Cooktop
Great pick: Duxtop 9600LS Portable Induction Burner.
Why it’s a great gift: Heats pans fast, cleans easily, and is brilliant for tiny kitchens or holiday overflow cooking.
How it saves: Induction zaps heat straight into the pan, less waste, more speed, fewer “is this boiling yet?” moments.
Price Range: $70-$130
Wrap-Like-a-Pro Pairings
- “Big Brain + Little Wins” Bundle: Smart thermostat + weatherstripping. Comfort + instant savings.
- “Glow-Up Kit”: Hue bulbs + Caséta dimmer. Vibes all day, fewer watts at night.
- “Couch Command Center”: TrickleStar APS + Kasa plugs. One setup tames the entire entertainment nook.
Quick Buyer Tips
- Match the ecosystem: If they’re all-in on Google, Alexa, or Apple, grab gear that plays nice.
- Think rebates: Smart thermostats often qualify for utility rebates or demand-response perks, extra holiday cheer in the form of cash back.
- Gift the follow-through: Toss a handwritten card with a couple of suggested schedules (“Weeknights: lights off at 11 pm,” “Thermostat: 68°F nights”) so the savings actually happen.
Quick “Best For” Cheat Sheet
- Renters: Nest Thermostat (with permission), Hue bulbs, Kasa smart plugs, TrickleStar APS, WaterSense showerhead, 3M window kits, portable induction cooktop.
- Homeowners: Ecobee Premium, Emporia Vue 3, ceiling fans, pipe insulation, plus everything above.
- Hikers & campers: Goal Zero Nomad 10 or BigBlue 28W + LuminAID.
- Home backup curious: Jackery Explorer 290 + SolarSaga 100W.
- Yard improvers: Solar motion floodlight; add a couple of path lights from a reviewed list.
- Tinkerers & travelers: Voltaic solar backpack + 10W vehicle trickle charger.
- Foodies: GoSun Sport (trust me, it’s a vibe).
About the Author
LaLeesha has a Masters degree in English and enjoys writing whenever she has the chance. She is passionate about gardening, reducing her carbon footprint, and protecting the environment.