Saving More Than Money

We hear mostly bad news about the energy production side of things – nuclear radiation, oil spills, fracking, gas explosions, grid crashes, and respiratory diseases. Well, if we could reduce demand, the frequency of these bad events would also be reduced.

If we could also increase efficiency, we could reduce the negative impact of energy production even more. In many cases, all we have to do is what others are already doing.

Lester Brown writes in his book, World on the Edge, “If the 40 least-efficient U.S. states copied the 10 most-efficient ones, U.S. electricity use would be cut by one third. That would close the equivalent of 62 per cent of all U.S. coal-fired power plants.”

The Ontario Power Authority cites two mistaken ideas about energy use and how to correct them:

Mistaken Idea #1: It takes less energy to keep my thermostat at a comfortable temperature while I’m away than it does to turn the heat back up when I get home.

If you are away from home for more than a few hours, it is more cost-effective to turn down your heat.  They recommend that you set your thermostat to 20°C while at home and 18°C while sleeping. A properly set programmable thermostat can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10%.

Mistaken Idea #2: Electronics such as my TV, game console, computer, and cell phone charger stop drawing power when they are turned off.

Even when turned off, most modern electronics use electricity when plugged in. This is known as phantom power and is used to run clocks, timers, displays, and give you that “instant on.” Electronics and appliances purchased 10 or more years ago will likely consume even more phantom power than a newer product. Phantom power is good at spiriting money out of your wallet, too.

Use power strips to switch off televisions, chargers, home theater equipment and stereos when you're not using them. Even when you think these products are off, their "standby" consumption adds up to a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously.

By unplugging appliances or using a power bar with a timer or auto-shut off, you can reduce phantom power and help save up to 15% of your electricity.  Set your computer to hibernate or sleep while not in use throughout the day, but be sure to check operating instructions before unplugging items such as satellite receivers and set-top boxes.

While you are at it, reconsider buying that plasma TV. A 42-inch plasma TV can use as much energy as a refrigerator and cost you $200 extra per year.

Here’s my contribution to this list of common mistaken ideas.

Mistaken Idea #3: I really need that beer fridge in the basement, and it keeps us from opening the kitchen fridge so often.

Well, that basement beer fridge could be your home’s biggest energy pig. It is likely old and inefficient, the coils are dirty, and it is straining to chill that brew. That is why Hydro One will pick it up and dispose of it for free. Just contact Fridge and Freezer Pickup.

Here are some other ideas that can really pay off.

Control the Temperature

Your kitchen refrigerator probably accounts for about 20% of your total electricity use. Use a thermometer to set your fridge temperature as close to 3°C and your freezer as close to -16°C as you can. Make sure that energy saver switches are turned on. Does your fridge seem to be running most of the time? Maybe it is. Check the gaskets around your refrigerator/freezer doors to make sure they are clean and sealed tightly. Vacuum the condenser coils at the back or underneath your fridge and freezer because accumulated dust reduces their efficiency by up to 25% and adds that cost to your electricity bill.

Avoid putting uncovered liquids or hot cooked food into the fridge. Their evaporation and heat will make your fridge work harder. Defrost frozen food in the fridge since this helps to cool the fridge. Keeping a fridge or freezer only half full is inefficient, so be sure they are sized to your daily needs.

Turn down your water heater. Thermostats are often set to 60°C when 48°C is usually fine. Check to see if you have a cold-water mixing valve on top of your water heater. If you do, why are you heating water so hot that it has to be mixed with cold so it doesn’t scald you? Shut off the mixing valve and adjust your water heater to suit your preferred shower temperature. Also, consider taking fewer showers; daily showers dry your skin and waste water.

Set your clothes washer to the cold water setting, and use warm only when needed.

Control Your Appliances

Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket, and use less hot water by installing low-flow shower heads.

Make sure your dishwasher is full when you run it and use the shortest cycle possible. Set an egg timer so you can open the door when it is done to let the dishes air dry. This is especially good for your house in the dry winters. Not using heat in the drying cycle can save 20% of your dishwasher's total electricity use.

Rather than turn the oven on for a few potatoes, use the stovetop, microwave, or toaster oven. The mega-users of power are appliances that create heat, especially a large oven.

Only use your clothes dryer in emergencies. A clothesline outside in the summer and inside in the winter is much more sensible. Here is a photo of our living room on a winter laundry day. We find this great for balancing our household moisture while feeling like pioneers.

Clean or replace air filters as recommended. It costs about 5% more energy when air conditioners and hot-air furnaces have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters.

Only buy energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. They are way cheaper in the long run.

Control Your Lighting

The only reason to leave your outdoor lights on all night is to help the raccoons see what they are eating out of your garbage.

Replace all your incandescents with energy-efficient compact fluorescent or LED bulbs. Only 10% of the energy consumed by a normal light bulb generates light. The rest just makes the bulb hot. Good if you are keeping the chickens warm, not so good if all you need is light.

So, are you complaining about power plants, wind and solar farms, or the cost of electricity? Then use less.