Saving On Fuel Costs For The Home
Expert Article By: Cecilia Sherrard
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 overdry 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
* 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
Dominion Gas customers saved an average of 4-6% on their heating bills last year thanks to energy improvements and conservation methods.
When natural gas prices reached record highs in 2005, customers responded by insulating and weatherizing their homes and by turning down their thermostats to conserve energy.
The energy conservation methods worked. Even accounting for a milder-than-normal winter, many customers saved energy and money. Do the same this year. Now is a good time to prepare for the change of season 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.
