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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1976-10-28, Page 58• Page. 14 t tern Asa a rs. (continued from page 8 free model could use about 1,200 kilowattsand cost $28. The, same 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. q cheaper unit that is poorly built, the. compressor will run more, often and consume more energy to keep the cold level you want. This will 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 modelcan be swallowed up in higher 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 . both 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 enoughspace, the heat generated can't escape and this 'puts a strain on the cooking system. • Condenser coils on ' the refrigerator should :be kept clean. Dirt acts as an in- sulator and makes the compressor work longer 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'tescape.. 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 1/4 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 you tell' your children a little more. about energy conservation, it may help them understand .why you keep nagging them to shut the refrigerator door. Especially important in summer. The refrigerator works best when it isn't overcrowded. There must be room for air circulation inside — other- wise the compressor will work too hard ' to keep the right temperature.. Save energy by allowing hot foods to cool before putting them away. Before you go on vacation, clean out the refrigerator, wipe it and turn it off. It's also a good ;idea to leave the door ajar; if the light stays en, 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 arid a good deal more hot water. The energy consumed by the washer .itself (not including hot water) amounts to about 300 kilowatt hours per year depending on how it's used. Here ,.are some waysoto 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 don't 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`°ihe 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' • ins tead. for toasting bread than the oven grill. Kettles ='Clean out scale. Hard -water deposits inside a kettle can reduce heat ,4ransfer'. 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 atthe 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. Ydu can use small aluminum -foil dividers to cook several foods at one time. Most modern kitchens have an assortment of small ap pliances, as well 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 plianoes.. Fry pans, toasters and kettles are more efficient than the stove for small jobs.. Example.:• the •pop-up toaster is three times more efficient Conservation and fiscal restraint have become • key considerations in Ontario Hydro's planning process. Energy Conservation Weekneeds full*siipport The Government of Ontario has proclaimed the first week of... November "Energy. Conservation Week" . to. en- courage ' greater ' public participation in cutting energy bills 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 ask them to undertake projects of, their choice that heap conserve energy," said Mr. Davis.' Already several -large corporations and other public-spirited organi2ations 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 wayof stimulating the • voluntary support necessary to avoid restrictive legislation in theluture." The first week of November has been identified asner.gy Conservation Week for two reasons. First, Daylight Saving Time ends October 31 and with one hour less of daylight in the evenings, there is a pronounced 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," 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 .said that he . anticipates the support and involvement of.. community groups, corporations, _ business • and trade associations . and local governments. ' "I am asking the people of .y . Warm Alr Re/peter floor Cold Alr Pool MO C• lmney BireMettIC Damp"! . pumice CINIlOut ui6or F11tar Clrculalna Fan Motor • Typical Warm Air Heatlnp'System (oil fired) Ontario ' to come up with projects in their communities that will contribute to energy conservation in all its forms," he said. Through the Ontario Energy.. MVIanageme.nt Program the Government is already working won' 95 ex- 'perimental conservation projects covering all types of energy use:, PROCLAMATION The Council of the Corporation of the Town of Goderich at a meeting held - Monday, October 18, 1976 resolved .that - October 31 st November 6th, 1976 shall be observed as "ENERGY CONSERVATION WEEK" THE TOWN OF GODERICH In compliance with the aforesi'd resolution, hereby proclaim October 31 st to November 6th, 1 976 as. "ENERGYCONSERVAiJON WEEK" THE TOWN OF GbDFRICH D.J.-Shewfett Mayor.