epcor.ca efficiency guide AROUND THe HOUSe

epcor.ca efficiency guide AROUND THe HOUSe

in the kitchen There are a number of ways to cut back on your power and water usage in the kitchen. When buying new appliances, be sure to check out the EnerGuide label it s like a second price tag. The label shows how much electricity, in kilowatt hours (kwh), the appliance uses per year as well as the annual energy consumption of the least and most efficient models of the same size and class. This way you can compare the actual energy efficiency and cost of running the various models. Multiply the EnerGuide number by the current price of electricity to estimate the average annual operating costs of that specific appliance. Dishwasher: Avoid putting the dishwasher near the refrigerator or freezer. Heat generated when washing dishes increases the electricity used by these appliances to keep cool. Use the shortest wash cycle possible. The short or econo cycle is the most energy efficient. Check your water temperature for energy efficiency set it no higher than 50 C (120 F). Use the no heat drying cycle. Use full loads to save water and energy. ReFrigerator: Extreme heat or cold make the appliance work harder, using more electricity and reducing its lifespan. Position the fridge away from direct sunlight, heating vents or heat-generating appliances such as the range or dishwasher. Allow enough space for continuous airflow around the appliance. Know what you need before opening the fridge door the more times the door is opened, the longer the fridge has to work to cool the interior back down. Encourage air circulation inside the refrigerator by not lining or completely filling the shelves. Ideal temperature for maximum efficiency and food safety is 3 C (38 F) for the refrigerator and -18 C (0 F) for the freezer temperature. Keep the rubber door gasket clean and in good condition. Make sure that your refrigerator and freezer doors are sealed tightly. Try sliding a five-dollar bill through the closed door; if you can move the bill, the seal is likely not tight enough. Clean the seal if there is residue. Automatic icemakers and water dispensers can save energy if they reduce the amount of time a fridge or freezer door is open.

If your fridge or freezer is more than 10 years old, it is not energy efficient and could be costing you a lot more than you think. Upright freezers with front access (like your fridge) are not as energy efficient as top access models. electric Range: Use good quality pots and pans with flat bottoms that match the size of the burner. Up to 40% of the heat is wasted if the pot base is smaller than the cooking element. Periodically check the oven temperature with an oven thermometer. Repair promptly if the temperature control is inaccurate. Ensure the oven door seals tightly so that heat is not escaping, making your oven work harder to stay hot. DID YOU know? The ideal temperature for maximum efficiency and food safety is 3 C for the refrigerator and -18 C for the freezer. No peeking! Every time you open the oven door, the temperature can drop by as much as 24 C (75 F). While the oven has to work hard to raise the temperature back up, electricity is wasted. If you have a self-clean cycle, use it immediately after cooking while the oven is still hot. Plan meals so you can cook the entire meal in the oven at the same time, from baked potatoes to apple pie. When cooking food on the stove, use a higher heat setting until the liquid begins to boil. Then, lower the temperature and simmer the food until fully cooked. Maintaining a fast boil doesn t cook food faster than a slow boil, and it wastes energy. Only pre-heat the oven for delicate baked goods such as cakes, pastries and yeast breads. Most ovens will heat to 180 C (350 F) in about 10 minutes. Use glass-baking dishes for more efficient heat transfer. Turn the oven off 15 minutes before cooking is done. The temperature will be retained, allowing cooking to continue with the residual heat. Do not use the oven to heat the kitchen. This poses a fire hazard, is an inefficient use of energy and may damage your appliance. Instead of the stove, use your toaster oven, electric skillet, microwave oven, and other small appliances when cooking small quantities or re-heating foods. You will use up to 50% less energy compared to conventional cooking.

be water wise > If you wash dishes by hand, don t leave the water running while rinsing. > When cleaning fruits and vegetables, wash them in a partially filled sink and then rinse them quickly under the tap. When boiling vegetables, use only enough water to cover them and use a tight-fitting lid. Steaming uses even less water while conserving more of the nutrients in the vegetables. > Keep a jug of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until the water gets cool each time you want a drink. Be sure to rinse the container and change the water every few days, if necessary. > Regularly check faucets, pipes, taps and hoses for leaks and repair immediately. Leaks waste water 24 hours a day, seven days a week, costing you money. They can often be repaired by replacing a washer costing only a few cents. > Turn taps off tightly but gently so they don t drip. > A front-loading efficient washer uses less water than a standard toploading washer and needs a small amount of a low-suds detergent for washing. > Wash full loads. Use the water-level selector to match the size of the load. In just minutes, you can find out if your toilet is wasting thousands of litres of water due to an undiscovered water leak. Here s how: 1. Remove the tank lid, then flush. 2. After the flapper/tank ball drops and the tank refills, add several drops of dark flood colouring. 3. Wait at least 20 minutes without flushing. 4. If any trace of color appears in the toilet bowl, there is a leak. 5. Leaks often occur at the flapper valve which is simple and inexpensive to replace. Your local hardware store can recommend the best valve for your model of toilet.

in the laundry and bathroom Follow the manufacturer s recommendation as to the size and length of ducting for dryer venting. Ducting affects the efficiency of the dryer. Try to dry loads right after one another. The dryer will still be warm and you ll save energy. Use the sensor cycle on your dryer instead of timed dry. To save energy, look for models that feature moisture sensors, which automatically turn the machine off when clothes are dry. This will help you avoid over-drying and energy waste. If you have manual timing controls, experiment until you ve determined how long it takes to dry a typical load. Consider using a clothesline indoors or outdoors to dry some of your clothing. It is the most energy efficient dryer of all. Make sure the water is wrung out of the clothes, which minimizes drying time and saves energy. Install a winter/summer vent with automatic bypass that allows warm, moist air from the dryer to circulate back into the laundry room. This allows you to reuse the heat from the dryer in the winter months. Be sure to set it back to summer mode so you don t increase your cooling costs. Clothes Dryer: Clean the lint filter after every load and the exhaust duct every year to increase the dryer s efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Wash the lint screen once a year with a toothbrush and detergent to rid it of film left by fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Sort clothes by thickness. Dry thin, quick drying items in one load and thicker, long drying items in another. Avoid over-drying clothes. This uses extra electricity and sets wrinkles. A shorter drying time also reduces abrasion to clothing and maintains colour. A small amount of moisture will air dry when clothes are hung. Choose a drying cycle with a cool-down or permanent press. No heat is supplied during the last few minutes, but drying continues as cool air is blown instead. Clothes Washer: Locate your washing machine close to your hot water tank to reduce heat loss in the connecting pipes. Choose a wash time dependant on the size of the load and soil level. Longer washes are hard on your clothes; 8 to 10 minutes is enough for most laundry. Always choose a cold water rinse. This not only saves energy, but clothes will rinse cleaner and wrinkle less. Bathroom: Installing an ultra low flush toilet can reduce the cost of flushing by over 50%! Check for toilet leaks twice a year, as a leaky toilet can cost you more than you think. Install low flow aerators on your faucets to reduce water flow by 25%. When washing, brushing your teeth or shaving, don t let the tap run. Fill a glass with water for rinsing. A single 10 minute shower is costly when considering water and sewer charges with a standard water nozzle. Replace your showerhead with a low flow model. Don t use your toilet as a wastebasket.

in the Family & computer room electronic Devices, TVs & DVD Players: When switched off, ENERGY STAR televisions, VCRs, TV/VCR combinations, DVDs and other audio components use up to 75% less electricity than conventional products in the off mode. Standby power is used to operate a clock in a radio or microwave oven, or it is used in a DVD player that has an LED, even though it may be turned off. Install a power bar for use with electronic devices. It is easy to turn everything off with a single switch. Read the owner s manual to determine recharging times for portable electronics to ensure they are not plugged in for longer than needed. DID YOU know? When switched off, ENERGY STAR products and devices use up to 75% less electricity than conventional products in the off mode. Unplug all entertainment electronic components when you are not using them for extended periods of time. This not only saves energy but will reduce wear and protect them from damage should power line surges occur. Computer: The average computer and printer costs you every hour you use it. Remember, even in sleep mode your computer is still drawing power. Turn your printers off when you are not using them. Printers are typically left on for long periods of time but are active for only a small percentage of that time. Choose a computer with power management options the power-down features can reduce electricity use by over 65%. The most important energy saving action is to turn off all your computer components and peripherals when not in use. Switching your computer on and off will have no significant effect on its operation or lifespan. Turn off your monitor, even if you are only away from it for short periods of time, as this is the biggest energy consumer on your system. A screen saver does not reduce energy consumption. Use a laptop. A typical laptop computer has a maximum power consumption of 15 watts (compared to 80 to 160 watts for desktop PCs) and automatically power down after several minutes of inactivity.

in the mechanical room Hot Water Tank: When installing a new hot water tank make sure that you place the unit as close as possible to the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms. Heat is lost in long pipe turns. When shopping for a new water tank, look for a high-efficiency unit. Consider an automatic vent damper on your next hot water tank. This device reduces convection up the exhaust stack that can occur on standard hot water heaters. Consider selecting the electronic ignition option for your next hot water heater. This replaces the old pilot light with a safe and efficient electronic ignition module. Furnace: Have your furnace inspected regularly. Inspect and change the filter frequently. Dirt buildup leads to increased drag on the fan and makes the motor work harder than it needs to. Have your vent system cleaned and balanced. Consider selecting the electronic ignition option for your next furnace. This replaces the old pilot light with a safe and efficient electronic ignition module.

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