Energy Awareness Month
Beauregard Electric offers saving checklist
Every day people unknowingly waste countless hours of electricity
because they do not practice energy conservation around the house. October
has been proclaimed Energy Awareness Month to encourage people to be
more efficient when using energy.
Mike Pigott, general manager of Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc.
(BECi), said that 55 percent of residential energy use goes to heating
and cooling our homes. An additional 20 percent goes to heating water,
with 20 percent to refrigerators, freezers and small appliances. The
remaining 5 percent goes into lighting our homes.
"We can conserve our energy usage and help control living costs
by making our homes efficient," Pigott said. "Most of the
things we can do involve little or no cost and can be put into practice
immediately."
BECi is offering this simple checklist to help its consumers improve
the energy efficiency of their homes. Pigott said that following these
conservation tips would also help hold down electric costs.
Kitchen:
- Allow dishes in the dishwasher to air dry.
- Use cold water to flush the garbage disposal.
- Line burner well on the stove with aluminum foil to reflect heat
and cook more efficiently.
- Cook several small dishes in the oven at a time. Store them and
heat later.
Refrigerators and Freezers:
- Close a dollar bill in the door of the refrigerator and freezer.
If it pulls out easily, the appliances are wasting energy and their
seals should be replaced.
- Defrost the freezer when ice is 1/4 inch thick.
- Clean the coils on back of the refrigerator frequently.
- Let dishes come to room temperature before storing them in the
refrigerator or freezer.
Washers and Dryers:
- Vent dryers to the outside.
- Run full loads.
- Close laundry room door when air conditioning is on.
- Hang clothes outside to dry on nice days.
Lights, Radios and Televisions:
- Install fluorescent lights if possible. They use less energy than
incandescent lights.
- Turn off lights, radios and TVs when you are not in the room.
Water Heaters:
- Set temperature at 120 degrees to 140 degrees.
- Drain sediments 3-4 times a year.
Heating and Cooling Systems:
- Clean or replace filters regularly.
- Have your furnace and air conditioner serviced yearly.
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees in summer; lower it in winter
to 68 degrees.
- Turn the heat down or the air conditioning up when you are gone
for several hours.
- Don't set a higher temperature to warm up faster or a lower temperature
to cool quicker. It only wastes energy.
General:
- Check to see if weather stripping and caulking are needed by moving
a moistened finger slowly around windows, doors and air conditioning
units. If the finger chills, air is leaking. Weather strip or caulk
the openings.
- Feel for air drafts around electrical outlets. Inexpensive pads
are available, as are plugs for unused sockets.
- Close doors, heat and air conditioning vents in unused rooms.
"Nobody likes to pay high monthly energy bills," Pigott
pointed out. "That's one reason why we need to use energy more
wisely. Beauregard Electric is dedicated to providing its consumers
with the energy they need, but the ultimate responsibility for how it
is used is left in the hands of the person who flips the switch."
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