Power Smart tips for energy-efficient use of home appliances

By Kari Kylo, BC Hydro Power Smart

When using your household appliances, there are various, simple energy-efficient habits to implement that will help to reduce your monthly energy bills, as well as be more environmentally friendly.

When cooking, keep preheating to a minimum, and the oven door closed during use. You lose 20 per cent of the heat each time you open the oven door. You can usually turn the heat off about five minutes before the cooking time is up, allowing you to save energy by cooking food with residual heat.

Keep your fridge’s temperature between 2ºC and 3ºC, and the temperature inside your freezer at -18ºC. For each degree below a freezer's ideal temperature, the freezer will use almost 2 per cent more energy.

When doing laundry, wash clothes in cold water as much as possible and attempt to only wash full loads. The most energy-efficient way to dry your clothes is by harnessing solar power; that is, using a clothesline.

If you’re in the market to purchase a new home appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol for the most energy-efficient products. The Power Smart Appliance Rebate program offers a mail-in rebate when you purchase ENERGY STAR® clothes washers, refrigerators and freezers until December 31, 2008.

To learn more about ways to conserve energy in everyday life, as well as BC Hydro’s Power Smart residential programs such as mail-in rebates, the refrigerator buy-back program, ENERGY STAR® windows, PST exemptions and Power Smart New Homes, visit www.bchydro.com/powersmart .