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Energy Conservation
Here are a few suggestions:
With summer
temperatures skyrocketing over the century mark, keeping cool in the
Valley can be a challenge. Faced with rising energy costs and the prospect
of running out of energy resources, consumers are being asked to lend a
hand and save energy. Here are a few tips to help the cause, while saving
money in your pocket. |
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Air Conditioning:
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Have your air conditioner serviced by a
licensed contractor.
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If your home has air conditioning and
evaporative cooling, be sure to replace the cooler's baffle sheet
before switching to air conditioning.
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Keep your air conditioner's filter
clean. Check it once a month.
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Turn off your air conditioning before
opening doors or windows for fresh air.
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Set your thermostat at 79 degrees or
higher. For every degree warmer you'll save 2 to 3 percent on
the air conditioning portion of your electric bill.
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Use fans to circulate air and make you
feel cooler at a higher thermostat setting.
Windows:
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Cover windows with awnings, sunscreens or
reflective film to keep out the heat.
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close draperies on the sunny side of the
house.
Household:
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Save moisture-producing chores like
laundry, dishes mopping floors or watering plants for early morning or
evening when it's cooler.
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Clean the lint filter after every dryer
load.
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Try washing clothes on a 'delicate'
setting instead of 'regular.' The motor won't have to work as hard.
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Use cold water for wash and rinse cycles
when possible.
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Put clothes through an additional washer
spin cycle before putting them in the dryer and line-dry clothes
whenever possible.
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Try to do all the ironing at one time to
prevent having to heat the iron several times.
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Turn off items such as kitchen
appliances, TV's, stereos, computers, printers, copiers, etc., when
they are not in use.
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Take short (six minutes or less) showers
instead of baths. A short shower uses one-third the amount of water of
a tub bath. Run the exhaust fan or open the bathroom window an inch or
two while bathing to remove humidity.
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Set your water heater temperature to 120
degrees
Kitchen:
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Put lids on pans to hold the heat while
cooking.
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Cook one-pot meals in a crockpot.
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Cook with an outdoor barbecue to keep the
heat out of the kitchen.
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Use a toaster oven to heat or bake small
quantities.
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Use a microwave oven to reheat leftovers,
cook vegatables and casseroles.
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Run full dishwasher loads and use the
'air-dry' setting or turn the dishwasher off after the final rinse.
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Use only cold water in your food waste
disposal and rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
This article was taken from
the Buyers Edge June 20,2001 |