“Fight The Fat” and Save Energy

Fight the Fat and Save Energy

by Don Ames

Fight the Fat: As renters and homeowners, we get use to living in our homes the same way day after day, year after year. Most likely, in order to save energy and save money, we will need to “Fight the Fat”!

Here are some fat areas that that we might need to start dealing with to help lower our power bills.

“Fat Places”

Thermostat: Research has shown that lowering the setting on your thermostat 1 degree, equals $5 savings per month.

Clothes Dryer: Just let the clothes dryer run an hour, at least the clothes will be good and dry. Let’s see, clean the dryer duct and the lint filter, set the timer for auto dry and presto, 40 minutes later, the clothes are dry.

Clothes Washer: Wash in cool temperatures. With today’s detergents, you can break the hot water wash habit. Remember, it takes a lot of energy for the hot water heater to heat the water for the wash and rinse cycles.

Water Heater: The hottest water I ever measured at a kitchen sink faucet was 162 degrees, peel the skin right off a radish. The home owner simple commented, “Yea, the water seems pretty hot.” For best hot water use and for best energy use, set your hot water tank to deliver water at 120 degrees.

Shower Nozzle: Have you seen the shower nozzles that looks like a giant sun flower head? You could take them gold mining to wash down the hill side. Fight the fat with a shower nozzle that delivers less than 1.5 gallons a minute. Yes ladies, you can still get the shampoo out of your hair.

Big Honkin Flat Screen TV: Yep, the bigger the TV the bigger the electric bill. A new super hero has been invented considering all the electronics we have in our homes,’ The Phantom.’ You see, most of the modern electronic devices we have use energy even when they are not being used. It’s starting to add up, count the devices you have right now, I’ll bet there are more than you think.