Tips For Saving Energy/Fuel Costs In The Home

With gas prices and cost of living increasing, here are some ways to save starting at home. Not to mention, helping the environment...

Cooking

• Covered pots or pans will boil or steam faster, allowing lower temperature settings.
• Cook outdoors, (Yes even in the winter) use a microwave oven, or prepare cold meals to avoid heating up the kitchen and adding moisture to the air. Microwaves use less than half the power of a conventional oven and cook food in about one-fourth the time.
• Use small appliances like a toaster oven or electric skillet. On average, they use half the energy of a full-size oven.
• Turn off the surface element or oven a few minutes before cooking time is up. The pot is still hot enough to continue cooking.
• Don't line oven racks with foil. It blocks the heat flow and makes the oven work harder to cook food.
• Do your heavy summer cooking in the cooler early morning or evening hours. Try to use the range top more, the oven less.
• It takes energy to heat water so use as little as possible. Most frozen or fresh vegetables can be cooked in a quarter cup of water. Even eggs will cook in this reduced amount if the pan has a tight-fitting lid.
• In the oven, cook as many dishes as possible at one time. Foods with cooking temperatures within 25 degrees can be cooked simultaneously at the same temperature.
• Preheat the oven only when necessary. Many foods don't require it. Use your self cleaning function while the oven is already hot.
• Don't peek into the oven. Each time the door is opened, the temperature drops 25 to 50 degrees.
• With stews, soups, and other foods that need long cooking times, cook in large quantities and freeze in meal-sized portions.
• Use a pressure cooker. It cuts cooking time to one-third that of conventional methods. Use a pressure cooker if possible. Here's my favorite tip: If you're going to clean your oven using the self cleaning function, do it while the oven is already hot!

Laundry

Most of the energy in a washing machine is used to heat the water. Use warm or cold water when possible, and always rinse with cold water.

• Don't use more detergent than you need. Too many suds may require extra rinsing.
• Put full loads in the dryer, but don't overload. Overloading makes the machine less efficient and more costly to operate.
• Use warm or cold settings to dry, especially for permanent press clothes.
• Always keep the lint filter clean.
• Don't over dry clothes.
• The dryer will run most efficiently when drying clothes of the same thickness.
• Do two or more loads in a row. (The dryer is already hot) When possible, use an outdoor clothesline rather than a dryer. (Especially large blankets)

Heating Your Home This Winter

• Seal around areas where heat can escape such as windows, doors, bathroom vents, and chimneys. Insulate attics and walls.
• Check the manufacturer's label before insulating your water heater; set the temperature to about 120 degrees.
• Properly maintain your heating system - have it inspected and cleaned annually; replace furnace filters once a month during the heating season, or as needed.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure furniture, carpeting and drapes do not block them.
• Reduce the thermostat setting when everyone is asleep or away from the home. Consider installing a programmable thermostat.
• Install storm windows and lock your windows to create a tighter seal; use drapes and shades at night to conserve heat.
• Close the damper on your wood stove and/or fireplace when not in use.
• Invest in energy efficient appliances. Look for appliances with the EnergyStar label.

Conservation leads to savings

It's always a good time to prepare for the seasonal changes by checking your home's insulation and plugging leaks to the outside.

• First, check your attic insulation. If it is sparse or badly settled, consider adding more to bring it up to a minimum of R-30. Air leakage accounts for about 30% of heating expenses. Take time to patch places where heat could escape.
• Use caulk or expanding spray foam to seal around popes and wires that lead from the attic or crawl space into the home.
• Caulk cracks around window and door moldings, and weather-strip around door frames and at the top of the bottom of window sashes.
• Also, caulk cracks around masonry fireplaces and keep the damper closed when not in use. Weather-strip and insulate attic doors and pull downs.
• Under your house, put a polyethylene vapor barrier on the ground. This will keep a lit of moisture from getting into your home.