30 Hot Tips for Using
Energy Wisely
Hot Tips on
Home Heating from Laclede Gas
1. Attic
insulation could be your best investment. It lowers the cost of both heating
and cooling.
2. Be sure
to keep your fireplace damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.
3. Service
the central heating system before the heating season begins to ensure that the
flues are not blocked and the burners are working. Regular checkups will keep
your furnace operating safely and efficiently.
4. Start
the heating season with a clean furnace filter and each month inspect, clean
and replace it as necessary to improve efficiency during both the heating and
the cooling seasons.
5. Install
storm doors and windows to help prevent heat loss. Weather stripping and
caulking block cold outside air.
6. Seal off
unused rooms by closing the registers and keeping the doors shut tightly. Do
not, however, seal off more than one-fifth, or 20%, of your total living space
because your furnace may not operate properly.
7. Keep
your thermostat low. Each extra degree adds about 4% to 5% to your heating
bill. When you leave for the day or over the weekend, lower the setting about
5?. For longer absences, lower the thermostat to 55? (but don’t set it lower
because your pipes may freeze).
8. A
programmable thermostat is a wise investment because it helps keep the
temperature lower automatically while you are sleeping or gone for the day.
9. Don’t
place furniture in front of heating registers.
10. If
radiators are near cold walls, place aluminum or aluminum foil between walls
and radiators to reflect heat back into the room.
11. Open
draperies on sunny days to allow sunlight to help heat your home. Close them at
night to help keep out the cold.
12. Encourage
children not to run into and out of the house unnecessarily.
Hot Tips on
Cooking
13. Preheat
the oven only when necessary (when you bake cakes and quick breads). The
broiler needs preheating only for rare steaks.
14. Plan to
bake several dishes at the same temperature when possible.
15. Do not
block oven air passages with aluminum foil or oven liners. Poor air flow can
cause uneven baking.
16. Thawed
foods cook faster.
17. On top
burners use the smallest flame possible. The flame should never exceed the
pan’s width.
18. Water
boils faster in covered pans.
19. Cook
vegetables in small amounts of water. Avoid overcooking, which reduces
nutritional value.
20. Clean
ovens and cook tops operate more efficiently.
21. If the
burner flame is yellowish instead of blue, clean the burner with soap and
water. A blue flame is more efficient than a yellow one. (Note: Some aerosols,
such as nonstick cooking sprays, may cause the flame to appear yellow. In such
cases the yellow flame does not affect the burner’s efficiency.)
Hot Tips on Hot Water
22. A water
heater setting of "Normal"
or "Low" is usually sufficient.
23. Take showers;
they use less hot water than baths. Also, avoid running hot water unnecessarily
during hand washing or shaving.
24. Wash
full loads in dishwashers and washing machines.
25. Repair
leaky faucets; constant dripping adds up to gallons of wasted hot water.
26. Use the
right-size water heater; heating an oversized tank of water wastes gas. By the
way, heating water is the second-largest use of energy next to heating a house.
Savings on hot water can be significant.
Hot Tips on
Drying Clothes
27. Dry a
full load each time but avoid overloading.
28. Clean
your lint trap before each load to improve dryer efficiency.
29. Don’t
over dry, which can ruin delicate clothing and waste gas.
30. Consider
line-drying clothing inside during the wintertime. You will add humidity to
your home, which can make you more comfortable, and use less gas.
