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.
On the right are two infrared images of the same window, the
bright red color indicates heat loss. In one image the window is not covered,
in the other, an insulating drapery has been installed. The images make it
clear and easy to see heat being lost where there is not sufficient insulation.
During cold weather months, 40% of heat in the average home escapes through
under insulated windows.
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