Energy Star Appliances

MXenergy Wizard Energy Tips

Appliances

• Choose ENERGY STAR - Consider energy efficiency when buying new appliances and electronics. While energy-efficient products may be more expensive to buy, over their life, they can save you about 30 percent on your energy bill. Choose ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, which use 10 to 50 percent less electricity than standard models. A list of ENERGY STAR products is available at www.energystar.gov.
• EnergyGuide Label - Look for the yellow EnergyGuide label to help you compare the efficiency of different major appliances. More information about the EnergyGuide label is available at www.eere.energy.gov.
• Use the energy-saving setting for all appliances, particularly your refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher.
• Unplug Them - Unplug appliances and equipment when not in use, including TVs, cable boxes, computers, and monitors. Turning computers on and off daily will not damage them.
• Use Power Strips - Plug home entertainment and computer equipment into power strips. This way, it's one easy switch to turn them on and off.
• Computer Sleep Mode - Set your computer to �hibernate� when not in use for 30 minutes.
• Turn Your Computer Monitor Off - Turn off your monitor when you leave your computer for more than 20 minutes. Screen savers use electricity.
• Unplug When Charged - Unplug cell phone, MP3 players, and PDA chargers when not in use. They use electricity, even when they aren't charging.
• Refrigerator Settings - Set your refrigerator to 40 degrees, but no higher, and freezer to 0 degrees.
• Buy the Right Refrigerator - Make sure your refrigerator is the right size for your needs. Bigger isn�t better.
• Refrigerator Food Storage - Loosely store food in the refrigerator so air can circulate around it.
• Freezer Food Storage - In the freezer, pack items tightly. If there�s extra space, add bags of ice.
• Keep Refrigerator Door Closed - Open the refrigerator and freezer doors only when necessary.
• Clean the Coils - Vacuum or dust refrigerator coils regularly.
• Install Refrigerator Away From Heat Sources - Install your refrigerator away from the stove, radiator, heating duct, or direct sunlight, if possible.
• Check Refrigerator Seal - Make sure the refrigerator and freezer doors shut tightly and have a good seal.
• Cool Your Food First - Allow hot food to cool before storing in the refrigerator or freezer. But be sure to refrigerate or freeze hot foods within two hours of purchase or preparation, or within one hour if the air temperature is above 90 degrees.
• Cover Liquids in the Refrigerator - Cover liquids in the refrigerator. Uncovered liquids make the refrigerator work harder.
• Replace Your Old Refrigerator - Think about replacing your old refrigerator. Some older models may cost up to 50 percent of your monthly bill.
• Microwave - Use a microwave rather than an electric or gas oven as much as possible. Microwaves use less than half the power of traditional ovens.
• Crock-Pot - For certain recipes that require long cooking times, use a Crock-Pot.
• Use Copper-Bottom Pots and Pans - They heat up faster than regular pans.
• When to Use Preheating - When baking, preheat your oven no more than five to eight minutes.
• Don't preheat for broiling or roasting
• Don't Open the Door - Don't open the oven door more than necessary. Every time you open the door, the oven loses 25 to 50 degrees.
• Cook Meals Together - Cook as much of your meal as possible at one time in the oven.
• Turn Down the Heat - You can turn the oven temperature down 25 degrees when using glass or ceramic pans. The cooking time will remain the same.
• Self Cleaning - Use the self-cleaning oven feature right after you've used the oven to cook a meal, while it's still hot. Try not to use this feature too often.
• Run your dishwasher only when it is full
• Scrape dishes before placing them in the dishwasher
• Prewash or Soak - Use the "soak" or "prewash" dishwasher setting only for burned-on or dried-on food.
• Air Dry - Use the "air dry" feature on your dishwasher or on older machines, prop open the door after the final rinse cycle.
• Use your clothes washer only when it is full
• Wash your clothes in cold water
• Clean the lint filter in the clothes dryer before each load
• Don't Overdry - Don't overdry your clothes, and use the moisture sensor if your machine has one. If not, consider replacing your old clothes dryer with a new energy efficient model with a moisture sensor. This feature can reduce your drying time by up to 15 percent and extend the life of your clothes.
• Separate Fabrics - Dry heavy and light fabrics separately.
• Use the Heat - Dry two or more loads in a row to take advantage of the heat from the first load.

Source: http://www.coned.com/thepowerofgreen/tips/001.asp