Today's Energy Insight

Here are the top ten tips from the Edison Electric Institute for saving energy this Thanksgiving...

·   If a large group of people is expected for dinner, lower the thermostat a degree or two before the guests arrive otherwise, since people generate heat, the space may become wastefully overheated.

·  Check the refrigerator and freezer doors to make sure they seal tightly. This will keep the cold air in and the warm air out. To test it, close the refrigerator door on a dollar bill. If you can slip the bill out easily, or worse, if it falls out on its own, the door requires adjustment, or the gasket needs replacing.

·  Allow hot foods and liquids to cool before putting them in the refrigerator.  Uncovered, hot food and liquids give off vapors that make the refrigerator work harder. Use a lid or plastic wrap to cover the food and place in the refrigerator after cooling.

·  Use a “lids-on” approach to cooking. Tightly fitted lids on pots and pans help keep heat in, enabling you to lower the temperature settings and shorten the cooking times.

·  When boiling liquids, start by using the highest temperature settings to reach the boiling point. Then lower the heat control setting and allow the food to simmer until fully cooked.

·  Use the microwave instead of your regular oven whenever possible. Microwave ovens draw less than half the power of your regular oven, and they cook for a much shorter period of time.

·  When preheating your regular oven, time the preheat period carefully. Five to eight minutes should be enough time.  There is no need to preheat for broiling or roasting.

·  When using an electric oven, cook as much of your meal as possible in it at one time. Foods with different cooking temperatures can often be cooked simultaneously at one temperature – variations of 25 degrees Fahrenheit in either direction still produce good results and save energy.

·  After the feast, many people put the leftovers in a second refrigerator in their garage. This can be bad for both the food and the energy bill. If you live in a cold climate, frozen foods may melt (as the temperature sensor in the refrigerator will not activate the compressor if the temperature in the garage is 42 degrees Fahrenheit or lower).  And if you live in a warm climate, the refrigerator has to work extra hard to keep the food cold. If you have a second refrigerator, consider placing it in the basement or other insulated area of your home.

·  Finally, when all the cooking is done, don’t use your oven’s self-cleaning cycle unless a major cleaning job is needed. Wipe up minor spills and splatters with a damp cloth. When you do use the oven’s self-cleaning feature, start the cycle right after cooking, while the oven is still hot, or wait until late evening hours when use of electricity is lowest.