Energy Saving Kitchen Tips

1. Use the right size pan for the job, and the right sized burner. It may sound silly but you can waste a lot of time and energy trying to boil a giant-size pot of potatoes on a tiny burner.  And you can waste a tremendous amount of energy warming up a small pan of sauce on a giant burner.  If you can see more than a half inch of overlap, either the pan overlapping the burner or the burner overlapping the pan, see if there’s a better fit.
2. Don’t preheat oven. Have you ever been pressed for time and just shoved that tray of chocolate chip cookies in an oven that hasn’t been preheated?  What happened?  Presumably you may have had to add one or two minutes to the cook time but it certainly didn’t add ten minutes or more to the cook time.  With many ovens it takes 10-15 minutes to warm up to 350 degrees, and that’s wasted energy.
3. Use smaller appliances for smaller jobs. If you’re making an open-faced sandwich, warming up leftovers or eating those frozen and ready-to-cook cookies, then skip the oven and use your toaster oven instead.  It uses less energy to heat up.  Additionally, your microwave can be used to steam, reheat and even to make eggs, melt chocolate and warm up canned foods in much less time and with much less energy.
4. Use a Slow Cooker. When you are making soups, stews and even roasts, consider using a slow cooker instead of cooking them for hours on top of the stove.  Slow cookers use less energy and you can cook your meals during low energy times in your home.

You can save TONS of energy focusing your attentions and habits on JUST your kitchen habits!

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5 Home Energy Saving Tips

Saving energy at home means saving money, something in today’s not so good economy, we can all relate to.

5  simple home energy savings tips

Smart strips. Every day appliances consume energy even when they’re turned off.  Microwaves, coffee makers, computers, televisions, the list goes on and on.  Rather than let this valuable energy go to waste, plug your appliances and electronic equipment into a smart strip.  A smart strip is a strip of outlets with an off/on switch. When you’re not using the appliances and equipment, say at night when you’re asleep, simply turn the smart strip off. You’ll save thousands of watts each year.

If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper works well and is closed when not in use.  You can lose a significant amount of heat during the winter and cool air during the summer through an open fireplace damper.

Check doors and Windows. Some don’t seal well. Particularly if you live in an older home where the walls and floors may have settled and shifted.  Air can easily escape through cracks around your door causing your furnace or air conditioner to work harder thus wasting energy.

Passive solar. The sun is fantastic for heating and lighting our homes.  If your home has a southern exposure you can harness the power of the sun to heat your home in the winter and to provide daylight year round.  Eastern exposures can open the curtains in the morning to heat and light the home and western exposures can open the curtains in the afternoon.

Check your insulation. Too much insulation causes your energy to be lost through your windows while too little insulation causes energy to be lost through your roof or attic.

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Green Tip – (07/15/09) – Go Fluorescent

Compact Fluorescent. Compact fluorescent bulbs use significantly less energy, about 75% less.  The added bonus is that while these bulbs cost a bit more at the store, they last for years.  The average light bulb used in a high traffic area lasts 4-6 months.  A compact fluorescent bulb lasts up to 10 times longer.  This is just one simple way to help save energy in our homes. A few simple steps can save you hundreds of dollars a year and conserves energy.

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Green Water Heater

Making our home green one step at a time will help our environment for years to come. Let’s take today to look at a very important home appliance, the water heater.

Tips for a Green Water Heater

Check the Temperature. You do not want your water heater to over do it’s job. Make sure you keep it at an average setting of 120 degrees. This will save a ton of energy and it will save you money as well. IMPORTANT: Never set it below 115 degrees though. You will be dealing with some nasty mold growth if you do.

Use Insulating Foam. Wrap the first six feet of pipe with insulating foam.

Wrap the water heater in a foil blanket. Be careful when doing this. You do not want to block important vents or controls. You will want to follow the instructions very carefully. Your water heater may not allow for this idea.

Invest in a Tankless system. These water heaters are designed to be “on demand.” They will save a lot of water and energy.

Keep up with it. Check it regularly. Make sure that it is working properly and repair it when needed.

Go Solar. Another option is to buy a solar water heater. This will save you money on your electric bill, save energy and be a better choice for the environment.

Implementing these tips will help you contribute to the environment in a positive way. It only takes one good choice at a time to begin the trek of becoming a better steward of God’s planet.

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Green Friendly Home – Energy

One of the ways that we can help make a difference, is in our homes. There are simple steps to helping our home be more eco-friendly. Being green does not have to be complicated.

The following tips on controlling and managing the temperature and energy of your home are certain to get you on the road to be a better steward of God’s planet. They can also save you some spending green!

Green Home Energy Tips

• Add weather stripping to doors and windows of your home. Everywhere that air can seep in or out.
• Plant trees that lose their leaves in the winter. They will keep your home shady in the summer and help the sun come through in the winter.
• Put awnings and blinds up. They will promote shade and keep your home cool when you want it cool and warm when you want it warm.
• Use ceiling and floor fans as often as possible and limit air conditioning.
• Opening your windows is even better.
• If you live in a very warm climate and must have the air, keep the thermostat set to no lower than 78 degrees during the day, and around 75 degrees at night . If you use fans as mentioned above this will be cool.
• In the winter months keep your thermostat at around 70 degrees during the day and around 65 degrees at night.
• Use your kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans as little as possible. It takes air out of the house. You want to keep the cool or warm air in, depending no the weather.

These simple changes will make a positive impact on the environment and your wallet! You will feel better too, knowing that you are a part of the solution!

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Green Tip of the Day (3/10/09) – Check Your Tire Pressure

Make sure that your tires are properly inflated. Tires that are only slightly under inflated can add many gallons to your overall fuel consumption over time. By having properly inflated tires, you will be using LESS gas and helping save natural resources and money as well.

You can do it your self  by purchasing a simple tire gauge. You can pick one up at  your local auto parts store for less than 10 bucks. Be sure and check all four tires monthly.

Any other ideas to save gas and money? Post them below!

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Green Tip of the Day (3/09/09) – Wind Power Hosting

If you are a website or blog owner, you should consider wind powered hosting. You will be a part of the solution and save energy by using a natural resource…wind!

Why go Wind powered Hosting?

Well…It’s the equivalent of:

1. Removing 444 cars from the road for a year
2. Powering 321 homes with clean energy for a year
3. Saving 5,654 barrels of oil
4. Protecting 551 acres of forest for a year

You will not just neutralizing your environmental impact, you will be helping to reverse it!

Hey, if you already have a website or blog, then it is not additional cost to your budget. All you are doing is making a better, greener choice for God’s planet and being a better steward!

Click Here for wind powered hosting options!

Any other ideas to help save energy and make websites/blogs greener? Post them below!

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Green Tip of the Day (3/04/09) – Natural Light

Open the blinds more. If we would all limit the amount of electricity we use to keep our homes lit, we would make a huge impact on energy resources. Avoid using your lamps and lights as much as possible during the day. Instead, open blinds and doors and let the light shine in.

In the evenings, opt for a more romantic feel and use candles. Sure, you do need to turn on the lights. However, try being creative and limiting the amount of electricity you consume just to have light. Candles are a great option. Especially the ones that smell good and are natural based.

Another positive with going green in the light department is the money you will save consuming less energy!

Make a simple change…go natural light!

Any other ideas to cut the lights? Post them below!

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Green Tip of the Day (3/03/09) – Air Dry

Let’s face it, we all have this not so fun task, we can use it as an opportunity to go green. It can be another way for us to add a little more green into our lives.

One simple way to help laundry time become a more eco-friendly experience is to stop using the dryer to dry clothes. Or, a the very least, limit it. Instead, try air drying them. Hang them out to dry and let the cool (soon to be warm) breeze of God’s planet dry them for you. They will smell and feel better, and even better, you will save energy and money. Plus, you will be a better steward for God’s planet.

Go Green…air dry!

Any other ideas for going green with laundry? Post them below!

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Green Tip of the Day (2/28/09) – Open the Windows!

Using the air and heat on your home uses a lot of energy. It is also quite costly these days. However, we can do something to help the environment and our wallets.

This is the perfect time of year to turn off the heat if you live in a warmer climate. The cold fronts are abating and the breezes are fabulous. Open the windows and let the fresh air flow. You will save energy and money. Plus, it is always good to get fresh air! As the air gets warmer and the windows being open do not cut it, start with fans before you close the windows and turn on the air.

If you live in a cooler climate, try turning the heat off if you can and put some warmer house clothes on. Then, when it warms up a bit, open the windows and enjoy!

Do your best to limit the amount of heat and air you consume. Remember, every little change makes a huge impact over time. Additionally, you will be saving the green in your wallet as well!

Any other ideas on to keep the heat and air off more? Post them below!

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