Saturday May 25

savingsSaving Tips for Your Home

Lighting

  • Switch off incandescent lights when they are not in use
  • Dimmer switches help reduce electricity consumption and provide attractive lighting. (Do not use dimmer switches with fluorescent lamps)
  • Use fluorescent lamps where practicable, especially in the kitchen. You’ll get the same amount of light for about a quarter of the cost with fluorescent lamps
  • When replacing old lamps or planning new lighting, consider the new compact fluorescent lamps. These are significantly more expensive to buy than regular lamps, but last many times longer than regular lamps, and have very low energy consumption for the same light output
  • Turn off lights when not being used. Even fluorescents should be turned off if they will not be used for approximately eight minutes or more.
  • Use one large bulb in place of several smaller ones.
  • Keep light fixtures clean.
  • Light colored ceilings and walls reflect light allowing you to use fewer or lower wattage lamps.
  • Take advantage of the sun. Open curtains to allow natural light to brighten your home

Fridges and Freezers

  • Try to keep your freezer and/or fridge full.
  • Do not put hot food in the fridge or freezer, always allow the food to cool first.
  • Try not to leave the fridge door open for too long.
  • If fridge/freezer is not frost-free, defrost regularly.
  • When buying a new fridge or freezer, look for one which is labeled as an energy-efficient appliance.
  • Refrigerators and freezers operate more efficiently when they are full. It takes more energy to keep air cold than food. Leave enough space to allow air circulation, however, avoid overcrowding.
  • Check the temperature control. The refrigerator should be set at 36 to 38 degrees. While the freezer should be set a 0 to 5 degrees.
  • Locate your refrigerator/freezer away from heat sources such as the range, a heating register, or direct sunshine. Allow for air circulation at the sides and top.
  • Make sure door gaskets on your refrigerator/freezer seal properly. To check, take a dollar bill and closed the door on it, if it pulls through easily, the gasket should be adjusted or replaced.
  • Clean the condenser coils (found at the back or bottom of the refrigerator/freezer) two to four times a year. A build-up of dust reduces the efficiency of the unit. Be sure to unplug the appliance before starting to clean.
  • Allow hot foods to cool slightly before putting then into the refrigerator. However, do not leave them out more than two hours.
  • If you have a manual defrost freezer, defrost it regularly. Frost should not be allowed to build up more than 1/4 inch.
  • If you have a frost-free refrigerator/freezer. Keep all liquids tightly covered. Uncovered liquids evaporate causing a frost-free system to work harder.
  • Only open the doors of your refrigerator when necessary.
  • Keep in mind that frost-free models of refrigerators/freezers use more energy than standard models. Also, side-by-side refrigerator/freezers usually use more energy than a refrigerator/freezer with a top or bottom freezer unit. Upright freezers will use more energy than a chest type freezer.
  • Foods that need thawing before being cooked can be thawed in the refrigerator. The food helps keep the refrigerator cool while growth of bacteria on foods thawed at room temperature can be averted.

Laundry

  • Try to use a full load in your washing machine or tumble dryer, but don’t overload the machine.
  • Use cold water for laundry whenever possible.
  • Wash only full loads, being careful not to overload the washer; or for smaller loads, use the appropriate water level setting.
  • Use a cold-water rinse.
  • Keep the lint filter on the washer/dryer clean.
  • Do not overload the dryer. Clothes need room to tumble.
  • Dry clothes in consecutive loads so the drum does not have time to cool down.
  • Use the clothes line as much as possible, taking advantage of the sun's free drying power.
  • Do not over dry clothes. Take them out while still damp if they are to be ironed. Natural fibers, such as cotton need to retain some moisture to prevent wrinkling.
  • Match cycle with laundry type.(i.e. soiled, light knits, towels, etc.)
  • Line dry clothes whenever you can. (Save up to 5%)
  • When you need to use the dryer, run full loads, use the moisture-sensing setting, and clean the clothes dryer lint trap after each use. (save: 0.5%)

Window Air Conditioner

Read this section if you are considering buying an air conditioner. An efficient air conditioner can save you lots of money on your electric bill.

  • Just like furnaces and water heaters, air conditioners have an energy efficiency rating—EER for short. Buy an air conditioner with an EER of at least 10. Although air conditioners with EERs higher than 10 usually cost more, you will recapture this cost by using less electricity.
  • It's important to buy the correct size air conditioner (in terms of how much cooling it produces, not its dimensions). If the air conditioner is too large, it won't operate efficiently and it will use more energy and cost you more money. Ask the salesperson for help in choosing the correct size air conditioner.
  • Window air conditioners have filters. Remove and clean the filter every month to help save money and keep the air in your home cleaner.
  • Make sure the "fresh air" vent on the air conditioner is closed so you're not cooling outside air.
  • If possible, put the air conditioner in a window that faces north or is shaded. Keeping the air conditioner out of direct sunlight improves its efficiency. Remove and store the air conditioner during the winter rather than keeping it in the window.

In the Kitchen

  • Match the pot to the ring or burner size you plan to use.
  • Use a pressure cooker whenever possible to save energy (and time!)
  • Electric kettles are cheaper than using electric stoves for boiling water. Don't boil more than you need, but always cover the kettle element.
  • When baking, whenever possible fill the oven to capacity. This saves energy.
  • Some foods freeze well - you can cook more than your immediate needs of these foods, and freeze the rest for later.
  • Don't open the oven door unnecessarily when baking or roasting.
  • Use a flat bottom pan and match the size of the pan to the burner size. Keeping pans covered will help to hold in the heat.
  • Reflector drip pans allow the heat to be absorbed back into the pan, but if they are not kept clean, they cannot reflect the heat back into the pan effectively. Do not line reflector drip pans with foil because the elements work more efficiently without it.
  • When foods begin to bubble or boil, turn down the temperature. Turn the burner off two to three minutes before you are through cooking. The elements will retain enough heat to finish cooking.
  • During the summer, use the exhaust fan to vent the heat outside. This will help keep the house cooler. For the winter months, take advantage of the heat by keeping the exhaust fan off.
  • Do not use the range or oven to heat the house. Your heating system will heat your home much more efficiently.
  • Preheat you oven only when necessary for the minimum amount of time called for.
  • Determine if food can be cooked more efficiently in the oven or on the range top. In general, use the range for one or two skillet meals and the oven if the whole meal can be cooked in the oven at the same time.
  • Learn minimum cooking times and do not overcook. Food retains more vitamins, and energy is saved if your foods are not overcooked.
  • Avoid peeking! Cook by the time stated in recipes. Each time the door to your oven is opened, up to 20 percent of the heat is lost.· Baking with glass or ceramic will allow you to reduce oven temperature by 25 degrees.
  • Thaw food thoroughly before cooking.
  • Do not line ovens with aluminum foil. Foil blocks air circulation and can change oven temperature by 50 degrees. Also foods wrapped in aluminum foil take longer to cook.
  • Use the self-clean feature only when necessary. The best time is right after you have finished baking, while the oven is still hot.
  • Run dishwasher only when you have a full load.
  • If dishwasher is run once a day, you do not need to pre-rinse your dishes. Scrape them off before putting them into the dishwasher. If a rinse is necessary, use cold water.
  • Do not use the drying cycle. Instead, use the energy-saving selector or open the door after the final rinse and allow dishes to air dry.
  • Match cycle to load. Shorter cycles for less dirty dishes
  • Smaller kitchen appliances are more economical to use than larger appliances.
  • Microwave ovens are more efficient than conventional ovens

Buying appliances in North America

Power is supplied in Grenada at 50 cycles per second (Hz), but in America at 60 cycles per second. This difference can sometimes lead to problems when 60 cycle per second appliances are used in Grenada. Many appliance and electronics outlets in the USA can supply 220 Volts, 50 cycle per second models, so always ask for this option when buying.

Surge Suppressors

Use of a surge suppressor is recommended with sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, stereo systems, TVs, etc. When buying a surge suppressor, avoid choosing the very inexpensive ones - these tend to be of little protective value.

Eliminate wasted energy

  • Turn off appliances, lights and equipment when not in use. (Save: 2%)
  • Unplug electronic devices and chargers when they aren't in use". Most new electronics use electricity even when switched "off." Turn computers and printers off at the power strip. (Save: 1-2%)
  • Unplug or recycle that spare refrigerator in the garage if you don't really need it. This will save you "hundreds of dollars per year! (Save: 10-20%)