Energy Conservation

Why do we need to conserve energy? We need to save energy because the primary energy sources we depend on cannot be replaced.

Energy Usage Chart

Energy Conservation In the Kitchen

On the Cooktop Blue is better! Watch the flame, if it's burning more yellow than blue, it’s not burning efficiently. Consult the manual or contact the manufacturer for calibration information. Put a lid on it! This will bring the contents up to temperature more rapidly, leading to shorter cooking times. Keep it clean! Clean out the area under the burners frequently, dirt will absorb heat that could otherwise your food. Give away or dispose of cookware that's warped and replace it with pieces that have a smooth and even bottom. Choose recipes that utilize a single pot.

In the Oven Clean your oven! All those spills and burnt spots lead to inefficient heating. Don't preheat. Most foods don't require it and you're just burning energy for an empty oven. During the baking/roasting process, keep the door closed! Every time you open it up to peek, you let lots of heat out, forcing your oven to work harder and burn more fuel.

Small Appliances When possible, use a toaster oven. These countertop ovens don't use as much heat and often cook just as well. Use a crock pot when possible. They use less energy and you can run them overnight, which is especially good if you have your household on a time of use energy plan. Microwaves can be a good choice for steaming veggies, melting chocolate and reheating leftovers.

Fridge & Freezer Keep your refrigerator set to between 38 and 42 degrees, which food safety experts have determined is the optimum temperature for good food storage. Never put warm food in the fridge. This makes the fridge work harder to maintain the proper temperature, leading to increased levels of energy usage. For energy efficiency, keep both the refrigerator and freezer full. If you don't have enough food to fill the space, keep bottles of water in the doors to act as insulators. If you don't use them, turn off the extra features and ice maker, they are classic energy drains. 

More Refrigerator Tips Do the “dollar bill” test! Check your refrigerator and freezer door gaskets by placing a dollar bill between the gaskets and closing the door. If the bill pulls out easily, it suggests either a gasket or door adjustment problem. Don’t open your refrigerator door too often! Every time the door is opened, up to 30 percent of the cooled air can escape. Vacuum your refrigerator condenser coils every six months.

At the Sink For general rinsing and hand washing, use cold water; the hot water requires more energy than cold to produce. When prepping dishes for washing, scrape them clean instead of using water to rinse food particles off. If you're a hand washer, fill a small vessel with water for sponge/rag rinsing and then soap everything with the faucet off. If you're using a dishwasher, don't pre-rinse. Most modern models can handle a bit of stuck-on food. Replace your old faucet with an aerating, water-saving one. Let dishes air dry

Other Kitchen Ideas In the summer, use the outdoor heat to make sun tea, instead of boiling water for iced tea. Consider eating leftovers at room temperature instead of heating them up.

Heating and Cooling Issues Follow yearly maintenance schedules to ensure that your furnace and air conditioner run efficiently Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature when you are not home. Limit heating to 68 degrees (and to 55 degrees when you go to bed or are away) and cooling to 78 degrees. Seal up all windows that have a draft by using a window sealing kit. Open shades during the heating season and close them during the cooling season. Use fans in conjunction with air conditioners to keep from running them to low

Laundry Smarts When possible wash clothes in cold water. Clothes washers and dishwashers are most efficient when operated with full loads. Dry your clothes on a laundry line instead of using a clothes dryer.

Some Bright Ideas in Lighting Clean light bulbs and fixtures regularly. A heavy coat of dust can block up to 50 percent of the light output. Use a CFL (compact fluorescent light bulb) they will save you about $30 over it’s lifetime and will pay for themselves in about six months.

Tips for Other Energy Wasting Items Don’t let your computer run nonstop. That uses a ton of energy. Consider a laptop, they use 5 times less energy than a desktop. Unplug rarely used appliances such as a TV located in the spare bedroom. Reduce water heater temperature to below 120 degrees (unless your dishwasher requires 140 degrees – check your manual).

Energy Star

What is Energy Star? Something with the energy star label is 10-20% more efficient than something without the label The products performance will be about the same as a comparable product. If the product costs more your investment will be recovered through energy savings In a reasonable amount of time.

Energy Star Products Clothes washers Dryers Dishwashers Refrigerators Computers TV’s Furnaces Air conditioners