Energy Saving Tips

Major appliances use about 13 percent of the electricity load in a home. Finding practical and actionable ways to reduce that pull does more than lower your utility bills each month, however. Electricity is a key player in the escalating environmental problems. You can save money and do your part for the environment by giving your home an energy evaluation. Appliances are a good place to start.

Why new appliances matter

The simple answer is improved technology, but keep it in prospective when considering appliance energy tips. Replacing a three year old dishwasher won’t have a huge impact – putting a 12 year old refrigerator out to pasture will, though. Any major appliance that is over a decade old is due for retirement. Just changing out these older units for ENERGY STAR models has the potential to cut electricity use by half.

Refrigertator-

Monitor the Temperature Levels

Temperature is a vital part of energy saving tips for refrigerators. Locate the separate temperature controls for the main compartments, and check to ensure each one is set to the proper level.

• Fresh food – 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit
• Freezer – 5 degrees Fahrenheit

Clothe Dryers-Empty Lent trays,clean out exhaust vent,do your laundry in full loads and also avoid stuffing your dryer.

Washers-

• When appropriate, wash clothes in cold water. This saves the energy needed to heat the water.
• Wash full loads. Washers use about the same amount of energy for all load sizes, so fill up the load to avoid wasting energy.

Dishwashers-Save Time – Rather than pre-rinsing, scrape off any large pieces of leftover food into the trash and put dirty dishes directly in the dishwasher. This not only saves you time, but it saves the initial water used for rinsing.