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Energy Tips
 Make certain that
everyone turns off the lights when leaving the room. For extra
incentive, charge 25¢ when a person leaves a room without
shutting off the lights.
A dimmer switch
will save on light bills.
To save money,
reduce the wattage of the bulbs you use.
It is more
economical to use one large bulb rather than several small ones.
A 100-watt bulb gives as much light as six 24-watt bulbs, but
uses less than 2/3 power.
When your night
light bulb needs replacing, use a Christmas tree light bulb --
it’s the same size.
Don’t forget the
light bulbs when dusting. A dusty bulb will give off 50 per cent
less light.
To save energy,
do not preheat the oven before cooking casseroles or meat
dishes.
For foods which
require a long cooking time, it is more economical to use the
oven than a burner on top of the stove.
Conserve energy
by cooking the entire meal in the oven.
When cooking
dinner in the oven, cook your canned vegetables by removing the
label, taking off the lid and cooking in the tin can in the oven
for about 15 minutes.
When baking, oven
heat can be lowered 25° if you use glass or ceramic baking
dishes, which retain heat better than other material.
Do not fill the
kettle to the brim before boiling if only a few cups of water
are needed. Boil only what you need.
Operating the
dishwasher only once a day will consume less water and
electricity.
To save on power,
wash bath towels in cold water.
Partially dry
bath towels in the dryer, then hang on chair backs or a
clotheshorse to finish the job. This will save energy and will
add humidity to the house.
Instead of using
the dryer, hang clothes outside to dry. In the winter, set up a
clothes line in your basement.
Clean the dryer
vent after every load to reduce energy use.
By purchasing a
simple dryer vent control device, you can use the heat from the
dryer for your basement or garage.
Use a 24-hour
timer for your car block heater and interior warmer.
Installing a
transient voltage surge suppressor at the electrical panel,
could save money when using household appliances.
Use your bathroom
fans sparingly in the winter. The fans remove warm air.
Run the furnace
fan constantly during cold weather to reduce your heating bill.
Keep your furnace
well tuned. A slipping belt can reduce the efficiency of your
furnace by as much as 50 per cent.
Spray the furnace
filter with furniture polish to increase the amount of dust it
picks up.
Be certain your
furnace has the proper amount of oxygen for maximum heat from
your fuel.
Place aluminum
foil behind each of your radiators. It will reflect heat back
into the room instead of allowing the wall to absorb it.
Turn down the
thermostat when you go out for the day.
Before retiring
for the night, turn down your thermostat to 16-17 C (60-65).
To save fuel
costs, install a setback thermostat so that the temperature is
maintained at a lower level while sleeping or when no one is
home during the day. The initial investment is paid back in a
short time through lower heating bills.
Close off heat
and doors to unused rooms.
Keep your closet
doors closed. There is no need to heat or cool them.
Cover your
basement windows with some inexpensive material for the winter
so heat is not lost through the glass and frame. |
