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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-10-28, Page 47(continued frorn page 8 free model could use about 1,200 kilowtitts and cost $28. e SAP* holds true for freezers, with the frost -free model Using a good deal more energy. Before you buy any model, .check the quality of in- sulation. In a cheaper unit that is poorly built, the compressor will run more often and consume more energy to keep the cold level want, This *ill tend to reduce the life of the motor so that within a few years you'll either have to replace the motor or the entire unit. Your initial saving on a cheaper model can be swallowed up in hiOar energy costs and shorter life. Ask yourself if you really need a butter warmer, crushed -ice dispenser and other such- frills. They all consume extra energy. Where your refrigerator or freezer is located has a lot to do with how well it performs. Keep froth these major • appliances away from the kitchen stove, direct sunlight and heat vents. Leave enough space around the unit so you have a good circulation of air. If there isn't enough space, the heat generated can't escape and v • - this puts a strain on the cooking system. Condenser coils on the refrigerator should be kept clean. Dirt acts as an in- aulater and makes the compressor work Wager to keep the proper temperature. Use a vacuum cleaner to pull out dirt. (Condenser coils are usually on ----the back, oc- casionally on the bottom.) The door should be airtight so cold air can't escape. Otherwise, both the com- pressor and your furnace have to work harder to correct two problems. , Check the seal by closing the door on a piece of paper. If you can pull it out easily the rubber gasket should be replaced. Read your owner's manual to see if you can fix it yourself; if not call 'a ser- viceman. The frost build-up in a refrigerator or freezer should not exceed % inch. Ice reduces the cooling power by acting as unwanted in- sulation. Defrost regularly. Don't set the temperature any colder than you need. If yqu tell your children a Iittte° more about energy conservation, it may help them understand why you keep nagging them to shut the refrigerator door. Uspecially• importantinSummer. The refrigerator works best when it isn't overcrowded. There must be room for air circulattan inslde other- wise the compressor will work too hard to keep the right tetnperature. Save energy by allowing hot foods to cool -before putting thew/ away. Before you go on Vacation, clean out the refrigerator, wipe it and turn it off. Ws also a good idea to leave the door tt_ jar; if the tight stays on, unscrew it. The dishwasher has become a popular item in the kitchen — especially with teenagers who can escape clean-up duty. Instead of elbow grease it uses electrical energy and a good deal more hot water. The energy consumedby the washer itself (not including hot water) amounts to about 300 kilowatt hours per year depending on how it's useii. Here are some ways to economize: Your dishwasher is most economical at full capacity. Don't use it for a few plates and forks. Save them up (rinse if necessary) and do a full load at the end of the day. Follow your manufac- turer's recommendations for loading and use of detergent. It will run more efficiently and your dishes will be cleaner. Pre -scraped dishes can be washed on a shorter cycle. And you dont have to worry about food particles hurting the machine's performance. The dishwasher has a _heater element to dry the dishes after the wash is completed. Stop the cycle before the element comes on and open the door. The hot dishes will dry themselves and you'll save some elec- tricity. Some people use the heater element of the dishwasher to warm dinner plates for serving. Use the oven's heat instead. Most modern kitchens have an assortment of small ap- pliances, as welt as the standard stove and refrigerator. Sometimes they make Contributions to energy conservation. Often they fall into a wasteful category of electrical gadgets. Use small, efficient ap- pliances. Fry pans, toasters and kettles are more efficient than the stove for small jobs. Example: the pop-up toaster is three times more efficient for toasting bread than the oven grill. Kettles — Clean out scale. Hard -water deposits inside a kettle can reduce heat transfer. Clean them out periodically. Boil only as much as you need. Don't boil a full kettle for one cup of coffee. Toasters — Clean out crumbs and- burnt -on deposits. You'll get better performance. Check filaments. Have a look at the heating filaments from time to time to be sure they're not broken. (Unplug the toaster first!) Not too dark. If you're willing to eat light and medium -brown toast, you'll save a little energy. Frying pans — Check temperature. Check the accuracy •of your tem- perature control. Set it for 212 degrees F (100 degrees C) and see if water boils. If it's cooler than the setting, have a repairman look at it. Multi -use. You can use small aluminum -foil dividers to cook several foods at one time. Conservation and fiscal restraint have become key _ considerations in Ontario Hydro's planning process. Energy Conservation Week needs full support The Government of Ontario has proclaimedthe first week of November "Energy conservation Week" to en- couragc greater public patticibittlon In cutting energy hills throughout the province this winter, Premier William. Davis and Energy Minister Dennis Timbrell announced. Energy Conservation Week will start Sunday, October 31, and end Saturday, November 6. "Throughout September, we will contact thoUsands of organizations across the Province to a* them to •undertake projects of their choice that help conserve energy," said Mr. Davis. Already several large corporations and other public-spirited organizations have expressed willingness to participate in a co-ordinated and continuing energy con- servation,campaign. "We are moving the campaign beyond the educational information phase into an active par- ticipation stage," Mr. Timbrell said. "The need to reduce energy consumption is becoming more *critical now that Ontario's energy bill is estimated at $7.5 billion a year. We want to cut a billion dollars off that bill by 1980. Energy Conservation Week is a way of stimulating the voluntary support necessary to avoid restrictive legislation in the future." The first week of November has been identified as Energy Conservation Week for two * reasOns. Firstbaylight Saving Time endsVctober 31 and with one hour less of daylight in the evenings, there is a pronotmced Surge in energy consumption, par- ticularly in residences, commercial buildings and industrial plants. Second, early November is the time when most people think of winter automobile tune-ups that reduce gasoline consumption and of in- sulating and caulking homes to reduce residential fuel bills. "The Ministry of Energy will be working with private industry, particularly energy suppliers - petroleum, natural gas and electrical - and community groups to promote practical tips on how the individual can quickly undertake conservation activities that save him money," Mr. Timbrell said. "By mid-October, we hope to be in a position to announce a variety of projects for Energy Conservation Week that we are currently plan- ning within the Ontario Government and with private sector groups" he added. The Minister paid that he anticipates the support and involVement of community groups, corporations, business and trade associations and local governments. 141 aurasking the people of Ontario to come up with projects in their communities that willtcontribute to energy conservation in all its forms, ' he said. Through the Ontario Energy Management Program the Government is already working on 95 ex- perimental Conservation projects covering all types of energy use. PROCLAMATION The Council of the Corporation of the Town of Gaderich at a meeting hekl Monday. October 111, 1M resolved that October 31st - November 6th, 1976 shall be observed as "ENERGY CONSERVATION WEEK" in • THE TOWN OF GODERICH hi compliance with the aforesaid resnlution. I hereby proclaim October 31st to November 6th, 1976 11$ RGY CONSERVATION WEEK" THE TOWN OF GODERICH ttif 4