Basic HTML Version
ing, writing, sewing, and other close work. Use dimmer
lighting elsewhere.
• Cut down on outdoor lighting, even eliminating lights
when and where possible.
• Use fluorescent lamps in the bathroom, laundry, and
work areas, say experts. if saving in the cost of energy is
a prime consideration.
• Use reftective, lighter colors for walls, rugs, and drap–
eries to reduce the amount of artificiallighting required.
REFRIGERATORS
&
FREEZERS
• Keep refrigerator temperature setting at 37 F. to 40 F.
and freezer temperatures at zero.
• Defrost refrigerators and freezers regularly. Frost ac–
cumulation cuts down on efficiency. Ice should not be
allowed to become more than
Yl
inch thick in freezers.
• Avoid unnecessary opening and closing. Cutting
down on refrigerator raids will both save energy and
help reduce the waistline!
• Make certain that air vents are not blocked. Refrig–
erator and freezer units should be installed in areas with
adequate air flow and clearance from walls and cabi–
nets. Keep cooling fins and coils clean. Dust accumu–
lations impair cooling efficiency.
• Check door seals for leaks. To do this, close the door
on the middle of a piece of paper. Pull the paper. This
should produce a slight tug along with a squeaky sound.
lf it doesn' t, the seals may either need replacing or the
door should be adjusted to make a tighter fit.
AJR CONDITIONING
&
HEATING
• Proper borne insulation will dramatically reduce the
energy required for air conditioning and heating. Ceil–
ing insulation is the first priority. A mínimum recom–
mendation is 4-inch batts or 6 inches of poured
insulation.
• Glass windows lose heat or allow heat in 14 times
faster than a plaster wall. Double thickness glass cuts
this in half. Drapes, when drawn, help hold warm air in
during winter and keep hot sun rays out in summer.
1
• Check for air leaks. Weather strip around windows
and doors. Caulk small leaks around lighting and
plumbing fixtures, as well as small openings in walls,
ceilings and floors.
• Clean or replace air conditioning filters at recom–
mended intervals. Clogged filters force air conditioners
to work harder and less efficiently.
• In hot weather, use a ventilating fan in the attic to
exhaust trapped heat and lower cooling requirements
for an air conditioner.
• Avoid buying or using an air conditioner if you can do
without it. This may save you as muchas 15 percent of
your electricity consumption.
• Heat or cool only those rooms in use.
IN
GENERAL
• Swimming pool owners can save large amounts of
electricity by running their filler pumps less. lt's safe to
run the filler pump of an unheated swimming pool four
hours a day in winter and six hours a day in summer
PLAIN TAUTH April 1974
instead of the lO or 12 hours usually considered neces–
sary. Sorne pools require even less. In any case, seek
advice from pool manufacturers and health officials.
• Avoid building a swimming pool if possible.
• Fix leaking faucets. Hot water leaks waste energy as
well as water. Insulate hot water pipes where possible.
• Wash dishes by hand rather than using a dishwasher.
• Minimize use of hot water for washing clothes. String
up a clothesline in the yard, attic or cellar and forego
using a clothes dryer. The exercise will do you good.
• Avoid leaving the iron on when it's not in use. Turn
it
off early and use stored heat to tinish the ironingjob.
• Reduce television viewing, and if your set has an
"instant on" feature, unplug it when you're going to be
away for long periods of time.
• Turn off appliances when not using them.
• Consider sacrificing smallluxury appliances. Life was
generally pleasant without them only a few short years
ago. Go back to towel drying your hair indoors or sun
drying your hair outdoors when possible. True, in–
finitesimally small amounts of electricity are used by
any one of these smaller electric appliances, but ·com–
bined, their electricity consumption adds up.
• If you have an electric oven, use the self-cleaning
cycle only during cooler evening hours and only when
absolutely necessary. Do not use the oven - whether
gas or electric - purposely to heat the kitchen.
• Match the size of the cooking utensil to the electric
surface unit of electric ranges, and likewise tit the flame
to the utensil size on gas ranges.
•
Easing the Gas Pinch
The best way to save on gasoline or petrol is simply
to drive less and walk more. Studies show that half of
all automobile trips are local trips less than five miles
long. Walking and bicycle power could conceivably
replace a considerable amount of driving, but obviously
not all of it. In that case, there are a number of gas–
saving considerations to keep in mind:
Keep your car well tuned and in top condition. A
clean air filter is a must. Increasing tire pressure to
maximum recommendations can increase gas mileage
one or two miles a gallon. Remember too that car air
conditioners reduce gasoline mileage from lO percent
under normal operating conditions to as much as 20
percent on exceptionally hot days.
When driving, avoid jackrabbit starts and sudden
stops. Maintain constant speeds when possible. Obey
lower speed limit laws. Car engines run most efficiently
at around 50 miles per hour. Avoid idling the engine for
prolonged periods of time. l f possible, warm the engine
up while driving because there will be no harm to the
engine as long as it is not raced. Make every trip count,
and oombine them when possible. Ifyou are not now
in
a car
pool, consider either joining one or organizing one.
- Patrick
A.
Parne/1
17