Tips
- Turn your electric oven and stovetop elements off near the end of the cooking time. Their residual heat will finish cooking your meal.
- If you use glass or ceramic bakeware, you can turn your oven's temperature down 25 degrees and the food will cook just as quickly.
- Choose pots and pans that are the same size as the stove's burner for efficient stovetop cooking. Pans that are too small allow heat to escape from the uncovered part of the coil.
- Remove all of the refrigerated items you'll need for a recipe at once so you can open the refrigerator door less often.
- Fully load your dishwasher before running it. Set its energy-saving features and use a cold-water rinse.
- Instead of opening the oven door to check food's progress, turn on the oven light and peek through the glass in the door. Every time you open the door, heat pours out and makes the oven work harder.
- Schedule heat-producing chores like baking or doing the laundry after the hottest part of the day.
- Use hot water sparingly in the summer - it produces heat and humidity. Wash clothes in cold water and dry outdoors when possible.
- Use kitchen and bathroom fans to remove heat and moisture during and after cooking and bathing.
- If you plan to remodel your home, isolate your heater, washer and dryer from the cooled part of the house. Or, ask a heating contractor if you can install a door between these appliances and the rest of the home.
- When replacing appliances, buy those with the ENERGY STAR labels. These appliances conserve energy and release less unwanted heat.
- If you are home during the day, use a room fan to create a cooling breeze.
- If you live in an area where evenings are cool, don't forget about the cheapest cooling of all. Open your doors and windows, or run window fans. This will move cool air through your home for almost no cost.
- Keep your thermostat set at a constant temperature. If you move it more than two degrees in either direction your heat pump will work harder.