HOME ON THE RANGE
America's
refrigerators consume 7% of the nation's total electricity‑ the
equivalent of more than 50% of the power generated by all of our nuclear power
plants.
BACKGROUND.
Energy
specialists repeatedly stress that we can have a significant impact on the
environment simply by properly maintaining major appliances like refrigerators,
stoves, air‑conditioners, etc.
That's
easy to say‑but most of us don't know how.
Here
are a few examples of the simple ways you can save with your appliances. But
there's lots more to learn. Write to the American Council for an Energy‑Efficient
Economy (see Sources) for info.
DID YOU KNOW
If all consumers raised the settings of their air
conditioners by 6
degrees, we could save the energy equivalent of 190,000
barrels of
oil every day.
More than 25% of the average city apartment dweller's
electrical
costs can go for refrigerators.
Washing
machines use about 14% of water consumed at home.
Microwave
ovens use only 1/3 to 1/2 as much energy as conventional ovens. Toaster ovens
are more energy‑ efficient, too.
STOVE / OVEN TIPS
If you're buying a gas stove: An electronic ignition system
will
use about 40% less gas than a pilot light
The pilot light and burner should be burning with a blue
cone
shaped flame. If it's yellow, burners and ports are clogged
or need
adjustment. Pipe‑cleaners work well for unclogging the gas ports.
AIR‑CONDITIONING
TIPS
Don't
switch your air conditioner to a colder setting when you turn it on. It won't
cool the room any faster and will waste energy. 0
Clean or replace the filters once
a month. Otherwise the fan has to work harder and consumes more electricity.
REFRIGERATOR
TIPS
If your refrigerator and freezer are 10' colder than
necessary, your
energy consumption will increase up to 25%. Check the
tempera,
tures of yours: It should be between 38' and 420; the
freezer should
be 0' to 51.
For efficient operation: Clean the condenser coils on the
back or
bottom of your refrigerator at least once a year. (There's a
special
brush you can buy, or you can just vacuum it.)
9 Keep the door
gasket clean to make sure the seal isn~t being brok
en by dried‑on food.
WASHER & DRYER TIPS
You'll save a lot of water if you wait till you've got a
full load of
wash. Washers use 32 to 59 gallons of water for each cycle.
9 Up to 90% of
the energy used for washing clothes goes to heating
the water. A warm water wash and a cold rinse will work just
as
well as a hot water wash and a warm rinse on nearly all
clothes.
(The temperature of the rinse doesn't affect cleaning.)
Clean your dryer's lint trap after every load to keep the
air circu
lating efficiently.
RESULTS
The American Council for an Energy‑Efficient Economy estimates that if each of us increases the
energy efficiency in our major appliances by 10 to 30%, we'll reduce the demand
for electricity by the equivalent of 25 large power plants!
SOURCES
0 As
we mentioned earlier, your local electric utility is probably a good source of
information on energy conservation. Most
utilities have literature dealing with the tips listed here‑often in more
detailand many provide low‑cost home energy audits.
The American Council for an Energy‑Efficient
Economy,
1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 535, Washington, D.C.
20036. They have the
most comprehensive information we've found on
appliance
efficiency and purchasing new appliances. Recommende ' d
heartily:
Booklets entitled "The Most Energy‑Efficient
Appliances" and
"Saving
Energy and Money With Home Appliances." Each is $3.