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Fall and Winter Energy Saving


As the days get shorter and the air gets colder, energy use goes up. With energy prices at all-time highs, let’s consider some energy saving tips that will also come with some real cost savings on your electric bill.

Drop one-degree
Turning your thermostat down by just one degree Celsius can save you up to $165 this season. When setting your thermostat, aim for the lowest setting that keeps the room at a comfortable temperature. Consider putting it down an extra degree and wearing a sweater.

Smart cooking
Baking and cooking in an oven can be a large source of energy usage. When preheating any conventional oven, only preheat for the designated time to not waste energy and heat. Avoid opening the oven door while cooking—doing so drops the oven’s temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit each time. And when you’re done cooking, open the oven door to heat up the kitchen a little.

Do fewer, larger loads of laundry
Your washing machine and dryer are some of the most heavily used appliances in any household. No matter the size of the load, they use the same amount of energy. Wait to do laundry until you have a full load and try washing at a cooler temperature. This way, you can get your clothes just as clean, with less heat and save on your energy. If you have the option, go for the economy mode of the appliances.

Defrost your freezer
Your freezer unintentionally builds up ice, causing more work for its motor, meaning more energy used. Over a year, this difference can add up to between $100-$200 on your energy bills. The easiest way to defrost a freezer is to let the ice melt on its own. Unplug the appliance, leave the door open, and wait for the ice to melt on its own. To expedite the process, you can put a fan near the freezer. Some new freezers, such as those equipped with Samsung’s No Frost technology, eliminate ice-build up to begin with by extracting air and humidity to maintain an even temperature.

Posted by Maximum Energy Professionals “MEP”, a mechanical engineering firm located in Torrance, CA. Sustainability Services, ENERGY STAR utility benchmarking and award certification, California AB802 Compliance, City of Los Angeles EBEWE Compliance, ASHRAE energy audits, LEED, energy conservation/green Mechanical-Electrical-Plumbing systems and equipment design. Call us at 310-782-1410 or visit our website at www.mep-llc.com.