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Clinton News-Record, 1984-10-03, Page 37Energy Conservation Guide, Page 7 Tips for home energy saving Do you want to save en- ergy but are not sure whore to begin? This list of energy- saving tips can provide you with ideas. You can do some things easily at little or no cost. Other measures require professional help and in- volve a more substantial in- vestment. Many tips involve changing only the way you operate your home and energy -using appliances. Read them- and see what you can do today. Weatherproofing • Locate and seal any leaks in the outer walls and ceil- ing. Pay particular atten- tion to possible air leaks into the attic and around the sill plate on the base- ment foundation. • Weatherstrip windows and doors to ensure air- tight closure. • Install storm windows or double -glazed windows and storm or insulated doors. • Insulate attic, walls and basement to recom- mended levels. Check whether an air -vapour bar- rier is also needed. Space heating • Set your thermostat back to 17°C (63°F) at night and keep it at 20°C (68°F) dur- ing the day. Use the night- time setting during the day if no one is home. • Close unused rooms and reduce their temperature to a minimum of 10°C (50°F). • Close drapes or insulated shutters at night to reduce heat loss; open them dur- ing the day to let in the sunshine. • Keep air registers and radiators clean and free of obstructions. • Clean furnace filters and have your furnace ser- viced annually. • Check the accuracy of your thermostat during each furnace servicing. • Seal furnace ductwork with duct tape and insulate hot air ducts passing through unheated spaces. • Close fireplaces and woodstove dampers tightly when not in use. • If your home has been reinsulated, check with a heating contractor to see if your furnace can be down- sized to reduce its heat output. Hot water heating • Turn the thermostat on your water heater down to 49°C (120°F). This may not be possible if your dishwasher requires water at 60°C (140°F), unless it has a booster. • Upgrade the hot water tank insulation to RSI 3.5 (R20) by wrapping it with glass fibre insulation. Kits for electric and oil- or gas- fired heaters are readily available. There are safety concerns. Phone or write your gas or electrical util- ity. before proceeding. • Insulate long runs of hot water pipe, especially in cool basements or crawl spaces. • Drain about 4.5 litres (1 gallon) of water every two months from the hot water tank to remove sedi- ment and reduce scaling. • Turn off your water heater during vacations or weekends away. • Install flow-restrictors and aerators on faucets and showerheads. • Repair leaky faucets. Space cooling • Use awnings, blinds or drapes to reduce heat gain through windows. • Ventilate your attic with outside air. • Keep air conditioners in good repair and set at 25°C (77°F) or higher. • Plant shade trees on east and west sides of your house. • Increase ventilation at night when air is cool and reduce it during the day to keep the hot air out. Lighting • Turn off all unnecessary lights. • Use lower wattage light bulbs wherever possible • Fluorescent lights are more efficient than the in- candescent bulb type. • Keep bulbs and fixtures clean. • Install dimmer switches whenever possible. • Make the best use of natu- ral light. Appliances • Follow manufacturers' in- structions on use and servicing of appliances. • Select new appliances on the basis of overall energy-efficient design (i.e., fully compare energy conservation fea- tures and durability). Refrigerator/Freezer • Set thermostat to medium range: 4°C (39°F) for re- frigerator; —18°C (0°F) for freezer. • Defrost the,unit regularly; allow no more than 6 mm (1/4 in.) of frost buildup. • Clean the refrigerator coils regularly to ensure efficient heat dissipation. • Leave space around the back and sides of the unit for air to circulate over the coils and to carry the heat away. • Ensure that the door seal is airtight. • Don't keep the door open any longer than necessary. • Avoid overloading the unit. Air circulation, in- side, is important. • If you're shopping for a new unit, look for the Energuide labels, which compare monthly energy consumption of various models under test conditions. Stove • Use pots and pans with tight -fitting lids, and match pot to burner size. • Use energy-efficient dou- ble boilers, pressure cook- ers, slow cookers and steamers when possible. • Use an electric kettle rather than .less efficient stove top models. • Place aluminum reflectors below stove elements to reflect heat. • Keep oven door closed during use; 20 per cent of the heat is lost with every opening., • Turn off oven before the end of cooking period and let the meal finish cooking in the contained heat. (Ex- periment to find out how quickly your oven cools.) • Use top elements instead of the oven when possible. Dishwasher • Use only for full loads. • Eliminate drying cycle by letting dishes air dry. • Clean dishwasher screen regularly. • If buying an energy- efficient dishwasher, en- sure that it has its own hot water booster, so that the thermostat . on your hot water tank can be reduced to 49°C (120°F). Clothes washer • Set the water level of your washer to match the load. • Wash clothes in luke- warm, or preferably cold water, when practical; use a cold rinse cycle. • Clean the dryer's lint filter after each Toad. Remove the lint from the dryer motor, drum and pipes annually. • Keep the drying cycle short to avoid overdrying and set the air temperature as low as possible. • Be sure your dryer is vented to the outdoors. • Hang clothes outside when possible. IF YOU HEAT YOUR HOME WITH WOOD <.o:�Ydt . _ •s=ue:, `n mss,} WE CAN HELP YOU!,. A1:,1 We have a full line of Jonsereds and 23-;;'`,,� Homelite Chain Saws. We stock bars, chains, files etc. for chain saws. ' CHOOSE, THE SEMI PRO. .:.THAT TOPS MOST PROS. The Jonsereds 51 OSP - a completely new chain saw based on new principles, and featuring simplicity and function. It has only half as many parts, weighs only 10'/2 lbs. and is now available at: Fred McGee Auto Electric Ltd. 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