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Energy Conservation Tips
In addition to the Energy for Life features, the following guidelines
provide even more ideas for conserving energy and stretching
your family’s budget.
House Site Plan
Design landscaping to shade both your home and air conditioner’s
outdoor condensing.
| Heating
and Cooling |
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Weather-strip or caulk any cracks
or gaps around doors and windows.
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Utilize a programmable electronic
thermostat to automate your air conditioning system
to match your schedule. |
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Keep all equipment, vents and chimneys
clean and in good working order. |
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Change filters as often as necessary
(generally once a month). |
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Remove dust and lint from return
air grills and warm air outlets. |
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Use the sun to provide heat by
opening drapes in the daytime and closing them at night. |
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Install a properly sealed glass-front
fire screen or close the damper when fireplace is not
in use. |
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Install a humidifier to add moisture
and comfort if the air in your home is unusually dry. |
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In a home that is built off grade,
close crawl space vents in the winter and reopen them
in the summer. |
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Consider gas space heaters as alternatives
or additions to central heating, as well as for emergency
heating. They’re practical and economical when
you want to heat certain rooms but not the whole house,
and they don’t require electricity to operate. |
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| Water
Heating |
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If your water heater is not a
high-efficiency model, insulate it with an insulation
blanket available at most hardware stores. |
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Set the temperature on your water
heater no higher than necessary-120 degrees if you don’t
have a dishwasher, 140 degrees if you do. |
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Install your water heater as close
as possible to where you use the most hot water and
insulate all hot water pipes coming from the water heater. |
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Repair all leaky faucets. |
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Install devices that restrict the
water flow in showerheads and faucets. |
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Drain off one or two gallons of
water from the bottom of your water heater periodically
to avoid build-up and blockage by the solids present
in all water. |
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Don’t wash dishes until your
dishwasher is full. |
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Don’t run the hot water while
you’re shaving-fill the sink with just enough
hot water before you begin. |
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Take quick showers instead of baths-they
usually use less water. |
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If you are going to be away from
home for several days, turn the water heater control
to the “pilot” or “vacation”
position. |
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| Cooking |
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Thoroughly clean your range as
often as necessary. |
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Don’t preheat your oven unless
the recipe calls for it. |
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Allow frozen foods to defrost before
cooking. |
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Adjust the gas flame to fit your
pans-the flame should never come up around the sides
of a pan. |
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Cook with as little water as possible
and cover the pan tightly. |
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Reduce the flame after boiling
has started. |
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Use a pressure cooker to save cooking
time and to cook less expensive cuts of meat. |
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Avoid opening the oven door and
allowing heat to escape while food is cooking. |
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Take advantage of cooking aids
such as meat thermometers, meat probes and time and
temperature charts. |
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To cook effectively with foil,
wrap food so the foil’s dull side is facing out.
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Don’t use foil to line your
oven-it can interfere with air circulation. |
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Place the pan on your gas range
burner before you turn on the heat. |
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Plan to cook more than one dish
at a time, perhaps an entire meal, in your oven or broiler.
If you have a double oven, use the smaller oven for
one-dish cooking. |
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| Washing and Drying Clothes |
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Don’t overwash clothes. |
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Use the right water level for the
size of each wash load. |
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Wash lightly soiled clothes with
cold water. |
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If possible, place your dryer in
a heated/air-conditioned area of your home. |
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Don’t over dry clothes-use
the automatic drying cycle if your machine has one. |
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Have your dryer vented to the outside
to prevent moisture build-up in the laundry area. |
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Remove clothes from the dryer immediately
to prevent wrinkling. |
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Dry all clothes in succession to
use retained heat. |
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Clean your dryer’s lint filter
after each load. |
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Wash and dry full loads rather
than partial loads when possible, but don’t overload
your washer or dryer. |
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Saving
Energy in the Laundry Room
The secret to saving energy while doing the wash is
knowing which washing jobs really need hot water. |
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Greasy soils usually will require
hot water (140°). |
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Warm water will clean many fabrics
and soils just as well and can reduce hot water needs
substantially. |
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The best combination – when
fabrics and soils permit – is a warm water wash
and a cold water rinse. The cold rinse can cut hot water
requirements by a third. |
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Don’t use too much soap.
Oversudsing makes your washer work harder and may require
a second wash to remove the excess soap. You can avoid
a second wash by using a presoak product on heavily
soiled fabrics. |
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Because it takes as much energy
to wash a single item as it takes to wash a full load,
try to wash full loads when possible. |
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Ironing
A hand iron consumes as much energy as ten 100-watt
light bulbs. Here are several ways to increase ironing
efficiency: |
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You can virtually eliminate ironing
by buying “no iron” sheets and clothing.
Use your washer/dryer’s permanent press cycle.
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Remove clothing promptly from the
dryer and hang it carefully to reduce the chore to just
a touch-up. |
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Iron large amounts of clothing
at one time, beginning with low temperature fabrics.
You will reduce warm-up time and get the chore done
sooner. |
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Prevent scorching and energy waste
by not overheating the iron. |
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Steam often removes wrinkles. Hang
your clothes in the bathroom while you bathe and shower.
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Fold and smooth out sheets and
pillowcases on top of the warm dryer to avoid ironing
them. |
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Be sure to turn off your iron when
interrupted and when finished. |
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Economical
Clothes Drying
Producing the high temperature air in the dryer tumbler
is the major energy demand of automatic dryers. Make
sure to set the temperature correctly and remember that
excessive heat can damage certain fabrics. |
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If you plan to iron washed items
later, you can save money by setting your machine to
dry them to a drip-dry condition. |
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If your machine does not have that
feature, simply shorten drying time. |
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Saving Energy
in the Kitchen
Refrigerators and Freezers
Refrigerators and freezers consume 12-14 percent of
the total household energy. You can make sure they work
smoothly and efficiently by locating them properly,
setting temperatures carefully and maintaining them
well.
Choosing a New Refrigerator
or Freezer
Choose the smallest refrigerator or freezer to meet
your needs – one you can keep full, but not too
full. Refrigerators operate more efficiently when they
are not overloaded with food. On the other hand, freezers
operate more efficiently when packed full. Remember,
a large refrigerator or freezer buys more energy than
a smaller one. A chest freezer allows less cold air
to escape when opened than does an upright – cold
air settles to the bottom.
Proper Location
Locate refrigeration appliances away from heating equipment,
heater vents and direct sunlight. As specified in the
unit’s owner’s manual, provide adequate
clearance above, behind and on the sides for good air
circulation. Be sure your unit is level so the door
seals tightly. To level your unit, place a glass of
water on the top and compare the level of the water
with the top of the glass. Turn the unit’s adjustable
feet in either direction to level it.
Temperature Settings
For best operation, keep your refrigerator’s temperatures
between 37° and 40° and your freezer’s
setting at 0°. These settings are recommended by
the Food and Drug Administration and will prevent rapid
bacterial growth. You can use an inexpensive thermometer
to check both units’ settings.
Don’t waste energy or space
refrigerating foods that don’t require it. Before
taking an extended vacation, use up perishable foods.
Prior to leaving, turn controls to “off,”
clean the unit, place an open box of baking soda inside
the cabinet and prop the door open. Never turn off the
appliance and leave the door closed. This invites bacterial
growth. |
| Maintenance |
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Keep condenser coils clean and
unobstructed for maximum energy savings. To reach the
coils, you will probably have to remove the “toe
grill” on the front of the unit at the bottom.
Periodically clean the “toe grill” itself
for good air circulation. Clean the interior regularly
as well. |
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When cleaning or defrosting, be
sure to unplug the unit. |
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Your refrigerator or freezer should
be defrosted before the ice buildup becomes more than
1/4-inch thick to avoid wasting energy and overworking
the compressor. Keep the condensate drains clean on
self-defrosting models. |
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A tight-sealing door gasket is
critical to the efficiency of your refrigerator and
freezer. Clean gaskets with warm water or a detergent
that leaves no residue. |
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Refrigerators and freezers operate
more efficiently when they are not overloaded with food,
as this overloads the compressor as well. Cover all
liquids stored in the refrigerator. Moisture can be
drawn into the air, making the unit work harder. |
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Unless a recipe requires hot foods
to be rapidly chilled or frozen, save energy by letting
them cool outside the refrigerator or freezer. |
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Opening and closing the refrigerator
and freezer doors often – or holding the door
open too long – will waste energy. Know what you
want before opening the door, and remove several items
at once. |
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Instruct small children not to
open the doors, and instruct older children to practice
careful use and good energy habits. |
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Well-organized storage saves time,
and a hand list of items stored in the freezer is economical
and helpful. |
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Your Dishwasher
Here are some valuable tips on operating your dishwasher
effectively and efficiently: |
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Proper loading is important. Never
block the dispenser or spray arms. If blocked, the water
and detergent will not circulate properly and the dishes
will not wash clean, requiring more cycles. Check your
owner’s manual for proper loading instructions.
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Proper amounts of detergent can
eliminate a second wash. Follow the manufacturer’s
instructions carefully |
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Operate your dishwasher only when
it is filled to capacity, but not overloaded. This will
cut the costs of energy, water and detergent. |
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Avoid using the “rinse and
hold” cycle. It uses three to seven gallons of
hot water with each use. Instead, rinse dishes by hand
in cold water. |
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Partial-load cycles, rinse-only
cycle, mid-cycle turn-off and other special features
are designed for better energy use and more convenience.
Look for them when selecting a new dishwasher. |
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Always choose the shortest washing
cycle that will clean your dishes, and scrape off heavy
food accumulations before loading dishes into the dishwasher.
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Clear dishwasher drains and filters
of debris for better efficiency. |
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You can reduce energy consumption
by turning off your dishwasher after the final rinse
and before the drying cycle. If the manufacturer’s
instructions permit, open the door of your dishwasher
after the last rinse cycle to allow moisture to escape
and the dishes to dry as they cool. |
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If your dishwasher has a “power-saver
switch” that automatically eliminates the drying
cycle, be sure to use it. |
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Dishwashers are not economical when used as plate warmers.
Instead, take advantage of your oven’s stored heat
after cooking or place dishes near the oven vent during
cooking. |
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Use only automatic dish washing detergent. Other detergents
can create excessive suds that inhibit washing action
and cause overflow – a messy waste of energy. |
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Newer models have improved, thicker insulation that
saves energy by holding heat inside and reduces operating
noise. |
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On hot days, wait to use your dishwasher at night. You
will avoid extra heat in the house during the day. |
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Lighting
There are many ways to use lighting efficiently without
sacrificing convenience. Making it a habit to turn off
lights that are not being used is the best way to avoid
wasting energy. Here are some more tips: |
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Larger wattage bulbs are generally
more efficient and produce more lumens per watt hour
than smaller wattage bulbs. |
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Fluorescent lighting is more economical
than incandescent lighting. It produces five times more
light with the same amount of energy and lasts 10 to
15 times longer. Flourescent lighting is ideal for use
in kitchens, bathrooms, workshops and laundry rooms.
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Wattage is not a measurement of
light, only energy. A bulb’s light is measured
in lumens. Larger bulbs generally produce more lumens
per watt than smaller bulbs. For example, one 100-watt
bulb generally produces as much light as six 25-watt
bulbs – and is more efficient. Check the bulb
package to get the most lumens for your wattage. |
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Measure the wattage of bulbs against
their intended use. Often, you can substitute a lower
wattage bulb for a higher wattage bulb. |
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“Long-Life” bulbs emit
fewer lumens than a standard bulb of the same wattage.
Use them only where practical, such as a fixture that
is difficult to reach. |
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Lamps with three-way switches are
a good buy. You can lower the settings when less light
is required. |
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It is not true that a surge of
power occurs when a light is turned on. It is also not
efficient to leave a light turned on longer than you
are using it. |
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A bulb turned on for one second
will use one second’s worth of energy. Money is
saved when you turn the lights off when leaving a room.
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Areas such as family recreation
rooms require a high level of light only part of the
time. Energy can be saved by installing dimmers on two
or three circuits so illumination can be controlled.
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Lights in corners will reflect light from two wall surfaces
instead of one. |
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Task lighting over workbenches, desks, etc., can eliminate
the need for whole-room lighting for many activities.
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Use low wattage night-light bulbs. They are available
in four and seven watt sizes. |
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Get more light from each bulb by keeping its surface
clean. |
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Outdoor and security lights equipped with a photoelectric
switch (that automatically turns the light on at dusk
and off at dawn) are a wise investment that pays for itself
quickly. |
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Consider replacing incandescent lights in outside locations
with mercury vapor or sodium lights. These new lights
consume less energy for a given output and have a longer
life. |
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Save money by using low wattage bulbs for decorative
lighting. |
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During winter daylight hours, you can get free light
and heat by opening drapes on south-facing windows. |
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Light colors on walls and ceilings will reflect, rather
than absorb, light. |
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Clock timers that turn lights on and off at preset intervals
make your home appear occupied at all times. They save
up to 75 percent of the energy of continuously burning
bulbs. |
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