Ask Focus on Energy

We have a ton of no cost, energy saving tips!

Absolutely. There are a number of ways to save energy without having to spend a lot of money. I’ve listed a few tips below, but you can also visit the Focus on Energy Web site to learn more about saving energy.
 

• Close draperies or shades on south- and west-facing windows to reduce solar heat gain.
• Limit the amount of cooking you do on hot days. Cook outside on the grill if it doesn’t pose a fire hazard.
• Match the appliance to the task; use smaller appliances such as a toaster oven or microwave instead of a conventional oven. Use pots that fit your stove’s burners. • Dry air is easier to cool than humid air. Use the bathroom exhaust fan to remove excess humidity when showering. Hang wet clothes outside to dry, if possible.
• Run your dishwasher only when it is full. Use the energy saver cycle (no heat drying) and run it at night when outside temperatures are cooler.
• On cooler summer days, use a fan to remove heat from your home.
• Use a standard meat thermometer to test the water temperature at your kitchen sink. If it is higher than 120°F, you are spending more than you need to for hot water. Water that is hotter than 120°F poses a burn hazard, especially to children and older people. If you have access to your water heater, lower the temperature setting, or have your landlord do it.
• Fix leaky or dripping water faucets - a leak of one drop a second on a hot water faucet can waste as much as 48 gallons of hot water every week.
• Refrigerators use the most energy of all of your appliances. Keep refrigerator energy use down by keeping the refrigerator’s fresh food compartments at 37° to 40°F and the freezer compartment at 0° to 5°F.
• Regularly defrosting manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers. Don’t let more than a quarter of an inch of frost build up.
• Dehumidifiers can also be big energy users. Clean the dehumidifier coils before you start using it for the summer.
• Turn off lights when you are not using them.
• Make sure your furniture isn’t blocking vents or baseboards.
• If you have baseboard heat, turn down the units in unused rooms. And remember the thermostat is not like the gas pedal on your car—turning it to the highest (or even to a higher)setting does not warm you up any faster.
• Keep the heat in by:
  • Closing your storm windows completely.
  • Installing plastic window film kits on windows that are leaky or that don’t have storms.
  • Installing covers on window and through-the-wall air conditioners.
  • Closing the damper on your fireplace when you’re not using it.
  • Closing your shades or drapes at night (but leave them open on east, south and west windows during the day for solar heating).

Published Sunday, April 19, 2009