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Smart Use of Appliances
You can become more energy efficient by maximizing the way you use your appliances.
- Check the tightness of your refrigerator seals.
- Check your refrigerator and freezer temperatures to be sure the controls are set at the most economical positions. (Side-by-side refrigerator / freezer combination, the freezer should not be higher than 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Separate freezers should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature of your refrigerator should be between 34 degrees Fahrenheit and 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Clean underneath the refrigerator every few months.
- If the freezer is not self-defrosting, don't allow the frost to accumulate more than 1/4 inch.
- Position your refrigerator and freezer away from the direct flow of warm air, such as the oven or sunshine.
- Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator. This adds cold and reduces spoilage.
- Don't use aluminum foil to line the oven unless the manufacturer's instructions permit.
- Keep reflector pans under the heating element of the range clean. These pans reflect the heat and increase the efficiency of the range.
- Match the base of your pots and pans to the stove heating element so heat is not wasted around the sides.
- Never use the oven to heat your kitchen.
- Preheat oven for the recommended amount of time only.
- Restrict opening the oven door to check on baking products.
- Thaw most frozen foods to refrigerator temperature before cooking.
- Use a minimum amount of water in a covered pan to cook foods.
- Use pans with clean flat bottoms for better heat conduction.
- Use a pressure cooker instead of a regular saucepan to reduce cooking time.
- When cooking with electricity, turn the element off several minutes before the allotted cooking time. The element stays hot long enough to finish the cooking without using more electricity.
- When purchasing an electric range, consider that self-clean ovens use less energy for normal oven cooking because of increased insulation.
- Air dry your dishes whenever possible.
- Check the filter screen over the drain in your dishwasher regularly.
- Operate your dishwasher with a full load of dishes for maximum efficiency.
- Scrape excess food from your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. This prevents debris from entering the dishwasher pump and obstructing your dishwater's efficiency.
- Check often to be sure the dryer vent is not clogged.
- Clean the lint filter regularly.
- Don't over-wash clothes. Delicate items don't need to wash as long as dirty work clothes.
- Operate dryer with a full load, but don't overload.
- Place the dryer in a warm area. It will have to operate longer in an unheated area because cool air taken in must be warmed.
- Use the clothesline whenever possible.
- Use hot water only when absolutely necessary.
- Wash full loads or use smaller load settings.