energy wise ■ Is it time to
Pull the Plug?
BY JOHN DRAKE COOPERATIVE ENERGY ADVISOR
aying goodbye to an old friend is never easy, but pulling the plug on an old refrigerator or dishwasher might be the smartest money-saving move you make this year. Replace that clunker with a new energy efficient model and you’re even smarter.
S
A new refrigerator nowadays consumes 75 percent less energy than a 1970s model. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers says if you replace a vintage clothes washer, you could save $60 on utility bills and nearly 5,000 gallons of water a year. Not every new appliance is a good bet, though. Always look for the ENERGY STAR label so you’ll know you’re buying an energy efficient model.
Now, I challenge you to walk through your home and find opportunities to pull the plug!
Cleaning Kitchen, Laundry Costs In the laundry room, a full-sized ENERGY STAR-certified clothes washer uses 15 gallons of water per load, compared to the 23 gallons used by a standard machine. During the machine’s lifetime, this will save 27,000 gallons of water.
Replace that classic refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR-certified model and save between $200 and $1,100 in lifetime energy costs. Today’s average refrigerator uses less energy than a continually lit 60-watt light bulb. I know it’s tempting, but stifle the urge to move
your old fridge to the garage. Instead, say goodbye and recycle the energy-guzzler.
Was your dishwasher built before 1994? If so, you’re paying an extra $40 a year on your utility bills compared to neighbors with an ENERGY STAR-qualified model.
Screen Savings
Televisions are a little more baffling. As screen sizes increase, energy consumption tends to go up, but you can still be a savvy shopper. ENERGY STAR-certified TVs are about 25 percent more efficient than conventional models. LED screens use 20 percent less energy than LCD TVs.
Once you purchase a TV, calibrate it by adjusting the contrast and brightness to a
moderate level. By default, new televisions are set to dynamic, high-contrast settings, which are great but use a lot more energy than low contrast settings.
Smarter Settings
If you can’t part with that old appliance just yet, you can still save by using smarter settings. In the kitchen, don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37 to 40 degrees for the fresh food compartment and 5 degrees for the freezer section. If you own a dishwasher, use the “eco” option or use the air dry feature rather than heated drying.
In the laundry room, wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible, and remember to adjust the load settings for smaller loads. To boost your dryer efficiency, be sure to clean out the lint filter after every load.
If you’re resisting buying a new appliance because you think you can’t afford it, please give us a call. Choctaw Electric offers an appliance loan program to encourage members to purchase the most efficient appliances. The program covers both small and large appliances, and offers a low interest rate that makes for low monthly payments. Call Jia Johnson or Brad Kendrick at 800-780-6486, ext. 248 for details, or visit
www.choctawelectric.coop. ■
John Drake is Choctaw Electric’s energy use specialist. For questions about your home’s energy usage or to schedule a free home energy audit, please contact Drake at 800-780-6486, ext. 233.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY Tip of the Month
Programmable thermostats can save up to $160 a year in energy costs. Match thermostat settings to your schedule: cold when you’re away and warm when you’re at home. In winter, set the thermostat to 68 degrees during the day (lower at night when you’re snug in bed). By turning your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees for at least eight hours, you can shave 5 to 15 percent from your heating costs.
Source:
TogetherWeSave.com
inside•your•co-op | 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156