Here are some tricks from Sierra Club Green Home to made the appliances you already have use less energy. First off, don’t use the timed setting on your clothes dryer. The automatic setting uses moisture sensors to tell when clothes are dry. Not only does this use less energy, it saves wear and tear on your clothes. (Photo )
[nggallery id=108 template=carousel images=4][imagebrowser id=108] By Linda Foss
Clothes Dryer Automatic Settings
Don’t use the timed setting on your clothes dryer. The automatic setting uses moisture sensors to tell when clothes are dry. Not only does this use less energy, it saves wear and tear on your clothes. Set it somewhere in the middle. The “more dry” setting can over dry clothes and waste energy. The “less dry” setting leaves clothing damp for ironing. And when an automatic cycle is done, an “extended tumble” setting without heat prevents wrinkles if you don’t remove clothes immediately.
Television Sleep Timers and Brightness Settings
I know so many who fall asleep each night with the television on. Not only does this waste energy, it also interferes with your ability to sleep well (and good sleep which is vital for good health). Every television I’ve had or used for the past two decades has had a sleep timer. There’s a sleep button on the remote of most Sony televisions. With others, you may have to navigate the onscreen menu. Sleep timers usually offer 30, 60, 90, etc. minute increments and then the television shuts itself off when the time is up. Plug the TV into a smart strip and it can cut the power to your cable box, DVR, or other peripherals at the same time. Many TVs also have the ability to turn on at a set time, so you can be awakened by the morning news or your favorite exercise program.
You can also lower the backlight brightness on your TV to both reduce energy usage and extend the life of the lamp, which cannot be replaced in most TVs.
Tank Water Heater Vacation Mode
Try the lowest setting on your water heater, sometimes called “vacation mode.” After I forgot to turn it back up when I returned for a trip, I discovered that it produces enough hot water for me in the summer months.
I hope that you find these tips useful. If you have a few energy-saving secrets of your own, please comment on this post to share with the rest of the Sierra Club Green Home community.
For related article, see: Top 10 Tips to Lower Your Home Energy Bills
© 2012 SCGH, LLC.
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