Quick Summer Conservation Tips

If you’re committed to running a greener household all year long, here are some summertime tips to save on energy, keep the heat at bay, and to prepare your home for better energy efficiency this winter:

In the Laundry Room:

• Wash full loads only, but don’t overload your machine.
• Adjust the water level to suit the size of your load.
• Use cold water—85 to 90 per cent of energy used to wash clothes goes to heating water.
• Put heavy items through a longer spin cycle in the washer to reduce extra moisture.
• Clean your dryer’s lint filter after every use.
• Hang your clothes outside to dry—they’ll last longer and smell fresher.

In the Kitchen:

• When possible, use small appliances such as a toaster oven, kettle, or microwave instead of the range—they use less energy.
• Only turn on the dishwasher when it’s fully loaded and use the ‘energy saver’ cycle if it has one.
• Turn the oven off a few minutes before the cooking time is over. The heat remaining in the oven will finish the job.
• Only preheat the oven for baking—and then, only for about seven minutes. Most foods, such as roasts and casseroles, don’t need a preheated oven to cook properly.

Other Tips:

• Planting trees on the south and west sides of your home will help lower the temperature.
• Install energy efficient-shower heads, and fix leaky taps. One drop of hot water per second for a month adds up to 16 steamy baths.
• Doing renovations and repairs will improve your home’s efficiency. Sealing cracks, holes, and gaps in the exterior of your house and windows can help prevent heat loss and conserve energy in winter.

Courtesy: Homeservice Club