home energy

Energy Savings Tips for Your Refrigerator

August 18, 2020 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

The more energy that you can save around the home the better. Reducing energy waste at home reduces energy bills which saves you money. Moreover, it’s good for the planet. Therefore, we wanted to share our best refrigerator energy savings tips with you today. Here they are:

1. Set the Correct Temperature

Many people mistakenly think that they should set the refrigerator to the coolest possible temperature. While you certainly want to keep the air in there cool, you don’t need to set it as low as it goes in order to keep your food fresh. In fact, it’s best for your food and your wallet if you know and utilize the correct refrigerator temperature settings.

Generally speaking, your refrigerator should be set between 36 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If your refrigerator is currently set at 40 degrees, then try setting it to 36. You might be surprised to discover that it significantly reduces energy waste in the home. The freezer has to be cooler of course; it should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Let Hot Foods Cool Before They Go In The Fridge

I know that I’ve been guilty of this one. I order takeout. When I do, I portion out what I want and immediately put the rest of it away in the fridge. However, when you put hot food directly into the refrigerator, it makes the machine have to work harder to cool it all down. Therefore, you’re wasting energy. Instead, allow the food to cool on the counter first. When it’s room temperature, you can put it into the refrigerator.

Also, when you do put food away, make sure that you’ve properly covered it. Otherwise, the food will release moisture into the refrigerator. This, too, can make the refrigerator less efficient.

3. Cool the Fridge with Food from the Freezer

As you can see, many of the best refrigerator energy savings tips are about how to keep the refrigerator cool. It makes sense; the less the appliance has to work, the more energy you save using it. Here’s one more tip in that vein: thaw your frozen foods in the refrigerator.

Many people take frozen food directly out of the freezer and leave it out on the counter all day to thaw. If you plan ahead, you can let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator instead. This cools off the appliance so that it doesn’t have to do so much energy-wasting work.

4. Look Around the Refrigerator

Heat doesn’t just affect the refrigerator from the inside; it also causes problems when it’s hot around the refrigerator. Therefore, it’s important to look around and make sure that there’s enough space to allow the refrigerator to work efficiently.

First of all, make certain that you have at lest two inches of space around every side of the refrigerator. This provides proper heat-releasing space as well as circulation around the machine. That means the refrigerator can maximize its own efficiency.

Moreover, check that other heat sources aren’t too close to your refrigerator. For example, how close is your oven to your refrigerator? The further apart you’re able to move them, the better. Similarly, check lighting; does your refrigerator receive a lot of direct sunlight? If so then you might want to use drapes to reduce the amount of heat warming up the fridge from the outside each day.

5. But Stop Looking IN The Refrigerator

Every time that you open and close the refrigerator door, you make that machine work harder. This has become a particular problem since the COVID-19 pandemic means that more people are home all day. You get bored, restless, and just a tiny bit hungry and you go get a snack. Perhaps you stand in front of the refrigerator with the door open, trying to decide what you want. You don’t want anything and you’re wasting energy each time that you do this.

Set rules in your house for how often you open the fridge. If this is one of those refrigerator energy savings tips that annoys your family members, make it a game. Whoever opens it least during the day wins, for example. Plan out all snacks and meals in advance. This is good for your diet and your food budget and it means you’re using the refrigerator more efficiently.

6. Turn Off the Extras

Many modern refrigerators have a lot of fun features. Unfortunately, some of these aren’t necessary and end up wasting energy. You can usually switch them off, saving yourself some money on the electric bill each month. Check to see if you can turn these things off on your refrigerator:

Anti-sweat capabilities. If it’s very, very hot and humid then this can help prevent moisture from forming on the outside of your refrigerator door. However, most people don’t need or use this. Turn it off to save more than five percent of the machine’s energy.
Butter conditioner. Sure, it’s nice that this little heater inside of some refrigerators makes your butter soft. However, you’re spending extra energy (and money) to run that. Place the butter in a dish on the counter to soften it instead.

7. Reduce Your Refrigeration Needs

Hopefully, you only have one refrigerator. However, many people keep more than one in the house. Some homes have two small ones. It’s almost always more energy-efficient to have one large one. Even better: reduce your grocery purchases down so that you only need one small one!

Some homes have an extra old refrigerator or freezer in the garage for stockpiling. It might feel like you’re saving money by purchasing food in bulk. However, remember that you’re paying to operate that extra refrigerator. You could easily spend $100 or more per year running that extra fridge. Do you really need it?

In addition to reducing to a smaller refrigerator, pay attention to how much food you put in the refrigerator that you do have. Refrigerators work most efficiently when there is a lot of space for air to circulate around the food. Therefore, you don’t want to overpack the fridge. In contrast, freezers work best when they are full. Therefore, freeze as much as you can and simply thaw it out in the refrigerator as needed.

8. Refrigerator Energy Savings Tips: Cleaning and Maintenance

Keep you refrigerator in good working order to maximize its energy efficiency. Some of the things that you should do regularly include:

If you have a manual-defrost appliance then make sure to run that regularly. There shouldn’t be more than 1/4″ of frost buildup in either the refrigerator or the freezer.
Clean the refrigerator condenser coils. You should do this twice per year to keep the machine running as efficiently as possible.
Check annually that the refrigerator door seals properly. If it doesn’t, make sure to repair it. If the refrigerator is leaking air, then it’s not working well.

9. Buying a New Refrigerator

At some point in your life, you’re going to need to buy a new refrigerator. Making a smart choice at that time will allow you to maximize energy savings for years to come. Look for an Energy Star refrigerator. Choose the smallest size that you truly need. Skip the frills (such as the ice maker). Shop around with an eye towards long-term value, not just immediate price.

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16+ Energy-Saving Reminders While on Home Quarantine

April 10, 2020 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

We could all use a few energy-saving reminders right now. After all, thanks to quarantine and the shelter-in-place rules, most of us are at home now more than ever before. As a result, we are likely using up far more home energy than we did just a few short months ago. Nevertheless, even while home on quarantine, there are a lot of small things that we can do to reduce energy waste.

Why Energy-Saving Reminders Are Important Right Now

Saving energy at home might be the last thing that you want to think about right now. Or at least it might be pretty low on the list when there are so many other things that you are worried about. Between homeschooling the kids, getting safe food prepared, and figuring out how to keep pets entertained when the dog parks are closed, you might just not feel like you have the mental energy to worry about things like home energy. However, it’s important.

These energy-saving reminders matter right now because:

Saving energy at home means saving money at home. Money is increasingly tight for everyone. If you’re concerned about financial costs now or in the near future, then you want to save every penny that you can. Saving energy saves those pennies.
Saving energy at home can be done in a way that reinforces routine. For example, if you always turn the lights off at home when the sun gets bright in the noon sky, then doing so is part of your new routine. Having a new daily routine can help a lot with mood when you’re home all day every day.
You can control your energy use. Many people have found that their anxiety is at an all-time high. You can’t change the world. You alone aren’t going to solve COVID-19. However, you can control small little parts of your environment. This can help your anxiety. Therefore, implementing these energy-saving reminders might help you feel a little bit better overall.
You’ll be establishing good habits. Whether or not you already had an energy-saving plan in place, you could use one. That might be a new one or a tweak to the old one now that your routine is different. These are good habits for yourself, your children, and your whole household. The lessons learned now will last.

Those are just a few of the reasons that saving energy at home continues to matter even though it may feel unimportant in the face of bigger challenges right now.

How Saving Energy On Electronics Use Is Good For Mental Health

As aforementioned, setting up a routine around your house is good for you. People who suddenly find themselves home all day with their family members might easily begin to feel stir crazy. A routine is one of the best ways to give structure to the days. Your home energy use can be a part of that routine.

In particular, you can utilize energy-saving reminders around electronics usage to help structure your routine in a way that gives you downtime from all devices. This is a benefit for your mental health. It’s certainly tempting to get lost in a Netflix binge every day right now. There’s nothing wrong with that being part of your routine. Just remember that the more time spent staring at screens, the more you risk depression and anxiety. Taking screen breaks to do non-electronic activities is good for your mental health. It’s good for the whole family. And, of course, it’s good for your energy bill.

Here are some energy-saving reminders around reducing electronics use:

Set times of day that are screen-free in your home. Do not charge devices during this time.
Set timers on your WiFi so that the entire home internet shuts off during specific hours.
In particular, reduce or eliminate screen time in the hours before bedtime. This is when you are most likely to waste energy on useless screen activity. Moreover, it interrupts your sleep.
Use low-energy settings on devices when you can. If you’re home at noon in bright light then your computer screen doesn’t need to be set to maximum brightness.
Ask yourself, “can I do this without the device?” Get creative.

Take Advantage of Springtime

It is springtime in much of the world (and fall in the other half). In a lot of places, this means beautiful weather for much of the day. Additionally, it means that there are later daylight hours. Use this to your advantage to reduce home energy use.

For example, open your windows. You don’t need to turn on fans or air conditioning if the breeze is coming in from outside. If you live somewhere that’s still cold, you might keep the windows closed except during the nicest part of the day. However, wear sweaters rather than turning on the heater.

Use the increase in daylight hours to keep your home’s lights turned off for as much of the day as possible. Your overhead light bulbs probably don’t need to be turned on. Move your work/play spaces throughout the day to chase the sun. In other words, work in your East-facing rooms in the morning and your West-facing rooms as the sun starts to set.

Other Energy-Saving Reminders During Quarantine

Here are some additional energy-saving reminders that can help you stay green, and reduce utility bill costs, during this time:

Hang your clothing up to dry. Avoid the cost of running the dryer.
What about drying your dishes by hand? Yes, you should do that, too. However, you shouldn’t wash them by hand; The Environmental Center explains that typically dishwashers use less energy than hand washing your dishes.
Wash clothes using cold water. Of course, if you’ve been using hot water because of sanitization that’s understandable. But for normal laundry loads, use cold.
Oh, and wash your hands with cold water too. The Citizens Utility Board explains that it’s just as safe to wash with cold water as with hot water but it saves all of that home energy. Keep that in mind since you’re probably washing your hands much more frequently these days.
Don’t bother ironing your clothes. If you’re not going to work, don’t use the iron.
Move your mirrors around. You can place them strategically to maximize natural light so that you don’t have to turn lights on.
Use candles or your fireplace at night. Keep lights off or dim. This is a chance to embrace the coziness of staying at home.
Close curtains at night, open them during the day. This makes the best use of nature for heating and cooling.
Check your air vents. Are they blocked by furniture? Are they covered up by drapes? Rearrange accordingly so that they work efficiently.
Use appliances only when they are full. For example, don’t run a dishwasher that only has three dishes in it. Keep washing times on appliances as short as necessary to get the job done.
Put a limit on shower time. The more you run the hot water, the more energy you use at home.
Speaking of which, turn down your water heater. Just turn it down a few degrees and you’ll save yourself a nice chunk of change on your next energy bill.
Reduce your cooking time. Do all of your cooking for the week at once. Eat as many raw/cold meals as possible. Use small appliances, such as a toaster oven, instead of large appliances such as your stove.
In that same vein, have specific meal and snack times. Just because you’re all home all day doesn’t mean someone should be opening and closing the refrigerator door every few minutes.
Unplug. We already said this but we’ll say it again. Unplug. Don’t let your devices charge all day every day. Take a break not just from using them but also from literally having them plugged in.
Don’t forget to turn everything off when you leave the house. You probably aren’t leaving the house much these days, which can make you forget good energy-saving habits on those days that you do head outdoors. Make sure you’ve turned off all lights, devices, and home heating/cooling systems.

Check With Your Energy Company For Options

If you find yourself having trouble paying your energy bill during this time, don’t hesitate to find out what help is available. The energy companies are offering people assistance as needed during this time. They may help you get on a reasonable payment plan, see if you qualify for financial aid, or assist you in making energy-saving changes to your home.

Additionally, look for plans that help you save money on your energy use. For example, I use OhmConnect which gives me small amounts of money back when I meet energy-saving goals. This reminds me to look for ways to save energy.

Want to see if your knowledge of energy saving is up to par? Take our household energy use money saving quiz.

Dryer Savings Tips to Reduce Laundry and Energy Costs at Home

August 23, 2019 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

There are so many great dryer savings tips. If you’re not implementing them, then you’re really missing out on savings. When you implement these tips, you reduce energy waste in your home. Therefore, you’re saving the earth at the same time that you’re saving money on your energy bills. When you fail to implement these tips, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to green your home and save more green.

First, Try to Stop Using Your Dryer, Period

Fun Fact: The average clothes dryer uses 5000 watts of energy. That’s likely more than your home air conditioner. It is one of the most expensive appliances in the home to operate.

All of the dryer savings tips in the world aren’t as good as just not using your dryer to begin with. I stopped using my own home dryer a long time ago. I confess, I did that out of necessity. At first.

I live in an apartment building. Therefore, I have to pay quarters to do my laundry. For a long time, the dryer in our building didn’t work properly. It would eventually dry the laundry inside, but each load would take four or five times through the dryer. It simply didn’t make sense to feed $10 or more into the machine just to dry my laundry. After all, it would dry just fine without the dryer.

I live in a damp, foggy city. Plus, I live in an apartment. Therefore, line drying outside doesn’t really work for me either. My sister knew of my apartment’s dryer situation. She kindly sent me an indoor laundry drying rack. It’s the number one best present I’ve ever received. I use it all of the time now. It has a bunch of different racks and hooks to easily dry all sorts of laundry in a really compact way.

My landlord eventually did repair our dryer. However, I’ve gotten used to using the air dry method. I prefer it. Why would I go back?

Therefore, I strongly suggest that before implementing any other dryer savings tricks, you try giving up the dryer all together. If you can adjust to not using it, you’ll save yourself a lot of money. Plus, if you realize that you don’t need your dryer, then you might even decide to sell it. That will put a nice chunk of change into your savings account.

Top 7 Dryer Savings Tips

Fun Fact: Drying one load of laundry per day typically adds up to $200 per year spent on using your home dryer.

That said, you may find that you want or need to use your dryer some or all of the time. If so, then you’ll want to use these top seven dryer savings tips to reduce costs:

1. Dry Them Before You Dry Them

In other words, don’t put sopping wet clothes directly in to the dryer. Here are some alternatives:

Use 1-2 extra spin cycles in the washing machine to help dry thick clothes like towels, jeans, and blankets.
Let the clothes sit in the washing machine or in an open-air basket for 1-4 hours before you put them in the dryer.
Dry the clothes on a rack. When they’re almost dry, run them through a short dryer cycle just to smooth out wrinkles.

As a bonus, remember that clothes will continue to dry a small bit as they cool down in the dryer. Let them sit in there, absorbing that heat and completing their dry cycle.

2. Load the Dryer Properly

There are three key dryer savings tips for properly loading the dryer:

Don’t overload the dryer. The whole load won’t dry which means that you will have to run the clothes through again.
Don’t underload the dryer. Make sure not to waste space. If you only have one towel to dry, it’s better to air dry it than to pay money to run the dryer.
Sort your clothes before loading the dryer. Separate lightweight items from heavy ones. Dry the light ones first to heat up the dryer in preparation for the heavy ones. This way, you run each load for the minimum time necessary to get the clothes dry.

Bonus tip: add a clean, dry towel to an almost-full load of heavy clothes. It will absorb the moisture, reducing the total amount of time necessary to dry that load.

3. Clear All Lint

Hopefully you already know that you should clear your lint tray every single time you’re about to use your dryer. If for some reason you have to run the same load through twice (for example, you made the mistake of overloading the dryer), then you should still clear the lint tray between those loads.

Most people do clear the lint tray regularly. However, a lot of people get lazy about clearing their outside dryer vent. This can clog up the vent with lint. When that happens, clothes don’t dry as quickly in the dryer. Perform those regular lint checks to prevent problems.

4. Set The Dryer on the Least Heat

Whenever possible, use settings with the lowest heat. Delicate and permanent press are two great options. You can use them on any lightweight clothes. Of course, you won’t easily dry a thick blanket with delicate settings. However, you may not need the highest heat setting either. Play around with your dryer to figure out the coolest setting that properly dries each load of laundry.

5. Know Your Settings

By the way, if you don’t pay much attention to your dryer settings, now is the time to learn all about them. Some dryers have dozens of different options. Make sure you understand what each setting is and how to best utilize it.

For example, does your dryer have an automatic censor option? If so then you should use that instead of setting a timer. This will tell your dryer to shut off as soon as the clothes are dry, rather than continuing to run unnecessarily for whatever set period of time you may have chosen.

6. Pay Attention to the Temperature of Your Laundry Room

Your dryer heats up the place. Therefore, you want to think about how hot that room gets. More importantly, you want to think about how that affects the rest of your home heating and cooling.

In the summer, your dryer can make the house even hotter. Therefore, you would spend more trying to cool it down. In that case, close the laundry room door to confine the heat to that room. Use the dryer during hours when you don’t mind the house getting a bit warmer.

In contrast, take advantage of the dryer’s heat in the winter by leaving the laundry room door open so the heat will spread to the rest of the house.

7. When It’s Time to Buy a New Machine …

You don’t want to replace your dryer before it’s necessary. However, once it becomes less cost-effective to keep using it than to buy a new one, it’s time to invest.

First, ask yourself if you can go without. This goes back to rule number one: not using a dryer is better than any dryer savings tips you can implement when using one.

If you do decide that you need one then you want to choose a gas-operated machine. Gas dryers are less expensive than electric dryers, so if that’s an option in your home, then choose it.

If you have to buy a washing machine at the same time, then make sure that you choose a side-loading washing machne. This will dry your clothes more effectively in the spin cycle than a top-loading washing machine can. Therefore, you’ll save on dryer costs over the long haul.

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