Appliances





		Your Path to Healthy Living and a Healthy Life

Finding Cash in Your Appliances

By Beth Yim

In a study conducted by te Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation comparing Canada's environmental record to 29 other industrialized countries, Canada finished in 28th place. This dramatic finding seems at odds with our well-known love of nature. Can we really be getting a failing grade for environmental stewardship and is there any hope?

Yes to both questions! We may b failing on seeral levels, but there is hope and Canada is making headway. Indicators show that we have improved in several areas: increased recycling programs, reducing air pollution, and instituting programs to reduce energy consumption. However, we cannot expect the government, large corporations or non-profit societies to do the work. Each of us needs to participate in reducing energy consumption. The best place to start is in your home.

Appliances, especially the refrigerator, are major energy guzzlers consuming a whoppping 15% of your electricity per month. And if your fridge is older than 10 years, you may be spending far more on energy than you need to.

The Refrigerator

If you are planning renovations or intend to replace applicances, the fridge is a good place to start. Before yo buy your dream appliance consider several key points:

is it the right size? You won't need the largest fridge avialable if teenagers are moving out and/or you won't want a small one if you are planning on starting a family. Get the appliance that fits your family.
Look for EnergyStar, the gold label of energy efficient appliances www.energystar.gov
Understand the EnerGuide label as it is a powerful tool for determining long term energy consumption and operating costs. http://wii.nrcan.gc.ca/energuide/index.cfm
A refrigerator with the freezer on top will save 10 to 15 percent over the side by side models.
Use on large fridge over two small ones and you'll save energy
Look for incentives offered by BC Hydro for "turning in" your old refrigerator. www.bchydro.com
When you are ready for a new fridge make sure it is placed away from direct sunlight, heating vents, or the stove.

Aren't ready to turn in your old fridge? You can still make a difference by following these suggestions:

Train your family to keep the fridge door shut if they haven't decided what they want. My son has a nasty habit of opening both the freezer and fridge and just staring into it, looking inspiration. Curtail this habit and have a rule taht the fridge is only opened when they know what they want!
Replace gaskets. If the door isn't sealing properly you may be loosing unnecessary money cooling your kitchen down. Place apiece of paper between the door and the fridge. If you can remove the piece of paper when the door is shut the gasket is not tight enough. You can also put a powerful flashlight in the fridge to see if light shines through revealing leaky money pits.
Use a thermometer and check the temperature of your fridge. The ideal temperature is 4 degrees Celsius.
Your fridge needs good air circulation around the outside of the unit to vent hot air produced by the heating coils. Make sure there is 3 inches of space in the back and 1 inch on either side.
Twice a year turn the frige off and clean dust from coils located underneath or at the back of the fridge.
Defrost at least twice a year, when ice is at a pencil thickness
Let leftovers cool first before putting them into the fridge.
Moisture from open juice or liquids will increase energy consumption and make a mess if spilt so keep everything covered.
When using the freezer on your fridge make sure it's full. A full freezer takes less energy to cook than a partially filled one.

The Stove

The stove is another energy guzzler. Try to incorporate some of these simple tips to save money and reduce energy consumption.

Consider the appliance you really need for the meal. A toaster oven uses 1/3 the enregy of an oven and a crockpot even more. The pressure cooker cooks quicker and saves money and flavour. Before you use the oven consider one of these other appliances first. For tips and recipes on using a crockpot and pressure cooker: www.crockpot.com and www.getrecipe.com
Preheat the oven only for baking and turn if off just before the items are finished cooking.
Use the self clean feature after the oven has been in use to take advantage of the retained heat.
Check to make sure oven seals are in top working order.
Use foil drip pans for the stove top burners to reflect heat and cook more efficiently.
Use the right element for the size of pot.
Get in the habit of using a timer to avoid overcooking and wasting energy.
Avoid using the oven to defrost food. Thaw in the fridge first.
Twenty percent of heat is lost when the oven door is open. Avoid peeking! Use the inside light instead.

Making the choice to conserve energy in your home doesn't just benefit your pocket book, it also benefits the next generation. The legacy of clean air, adequate energy and skills in good stewardship, are the best figt we can pass on to our children. If each household implemented the above tips and reduce their energy bill by $100.00 per year, imagine what that could mean for the island. With a population of almost 500,000, and an approxiamate 100,00 households, taht's a total island energy savings of $10,000,000. That's a significant amount of money to find in your appliances!

For more eneryg savings tips for your other appliances check out: www.thehealingkitchen.ca/sustainabilityandappliances.htm

For a great interactive website you and your kids can have fun with:

http://www.eere.energy.gov