Olivier Graham
Recession-busting tips to conserve energy dollars
The looming recession has most people looking for ways to save money and might tempt some to toss those lofty environmental goals. In fact it’s the perfect time to go green and save money while doing it.
TRANSPORTATION TIPS
• Idle-free zone — If you are stopping for more than 10 seconds turn off your engine. More than 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting your engine. The best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it. If the temperature drops below -15 C use a block heater for just two hours before driving.
• In tune — Keep your vehicle regularly maintained to reduce fuel consumption by up to 50 per cent. Schedule these tasks to save money and greenhouse gas emissions: check your air filter every six months change your oil on schedule rotate your tires every 10000 kilometres check tire pressure every month align and balance tires once a year and check your brakes whenever you change your tires to make sure brake calipers aren’t dragging.
• Driving habits — Modify your driving habits to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Take it easy when starting stopping and accelerating to decrease fuel consumption by up to 40 per cent. Save fuel by using cruise control on the highway. Plan your trip to combine errands and make the most of your tank. Remove roof racks when not in use as well as any excess weight from your hatch or trunk.
• Alternative transportation — Drive less and save money. Carpooling will reduce your costs by at least 50 per cent walking or cycling is free and public transportation eliminates the hidden costs of operating a vehicle such as wear and tear and parking.
HOUSEHOLD TIPS
• Chill out — Install a programmable thermostat and set it to lower the temperature while you’re away and at night. Increase your furnace’s efficiency by cleaning or replacing the air filter every one to three months depending on the type of filter you are using. Turn the water heater to its vacation setting when you go away. Wrap your water heater with a water heater blanket available from any hardware store to increase everyday efficiency.
• Hurry up — Take a five-minute shower instead of bath and save half the water. Use a low-flow shower head and save even more.
• Cold will clean it — Switch to cold-water detergent for your laundry. Up to 90 per cent of the energy used by washing machines is for heating the water.
• Hang out — Hang your clothes to dry to do away with your dryer. If you must use a dryer make sure you clean the lint filter after each load to use 30 per cent less energy.
• Put your fridge on a diet — Refrigerators are one of the biggest consumers of energy in most homes. Clean the coils at the back of the fridge and the air intake grill below the doors every three months. Cool hot foods on the counter before putting them in the fridge. A loaded freezer and a moderately filled fridge will operate most efficiently. Keep the beer in the cupboard until you need it cooled rather than having an extra fridge for refreshments.
• Smaller is better — Use appropriately sized cooking appliances like a toaster oven or microwave whenever possible. Microwaves use up to 75 per cent less energy than your stove or oven.
• Load it up — Using a dishwasher is more efficient than handwashing your dishes as long as you operate your dishwasher on a full load and use the energy-saving cycle. Air drying will save you an additional 10 per cent in operating costs.
• Light the way — Use compact fluorescents for a 75 per cent energy savings turn off lights when you aren’t using them and use task lighting (a focused light for your task rather than lighting a whole room). Install lights equipped with motion sensors so your lights only come on when someone walks by.
• Power off — Plug electronics into power bars that can be shut off to avoid wasting energy used by electronics in standby mode. Turn your computer off after every use. It uses less energy and does no harm to your computer to turn it off and on for each use.
• Watch your wattage — Use an electricity-usage monitor device such as the Kill-a-Watt to determine which appliances and electronics are using the most energy in your house.
