Dow Energy - Did You Know...

Washing your clothes in cold or warm water can save a lot of energy. A whopping 85-90 percent of the energy used by washing machines is for heating the water!

That you can save $150 a year by drying laundry on a clothes line rather than in a clothes dryer.

Opening your windows and drapes during daylight hours can help heat your home.  Take advantage of the sun's heat radiation and burn less natural gas to heat your home.

Turning down your home's thermostat at night can save money on your energy bills. Why heat a home when nobody is up and about? Put some extra blankets on your bed to keep you insulated through the night.

There are two simple ways to make your dryer more energy efficient: (1) replace any flexible hosing with rigid piping to help reduce air flow restrictions and increase the drying capability, and (2) verify that the outside vent flap is functional and clean; often it is found to be partially open due to lint buildup or mechanical damage.

Fluorescent lighting uses 1/4 of the electricity of an incandescent light bulb for the same amount of light.

That for each degree you lower your thermostat in winter, you can save about two percent on your heating bill.

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

You can set your hot water heater thermostat  to 120 degrees (or “low”) and it will be hot enough for most needs -- including dishwashers, which are generally made with booster heaters. Lowering your hot water heater thermostat  will reduce the amount of energy needed to keep water hot in the tank.

In the summer, we use up to 50 percent more water than during the rest of the year,  primarily on our lawns and gardens. To prevent water loss from evaporation, water your lawn during the early morning and don't water when it's windy.

Research shows that moving air with a fan has the same effect on personal comfort as lowering the temperature by three degrees Celsius.   The air movement created by the fan speeds up the rate at which our body loses heat, so we feel cooler.

To help keep your home cool in warm weather and to save on costs, you should schedule heat generating activities, such as doing laundry or baking for the coolest part of the day.

Your microwave oven is one of the most efficient appliances in your home.  Using the microwave oven on hot days will help reduce the heat in your kitchen.

When renovating, take advantage of natural cooling through appropriate window placement and the choice of windows. Also, use light colors for the roof and siding as dark colors absorb heat into the house.

If you use air conditioning to cool your home,  set the room temperature  to 25°C/77°F.  This is a comfortable temperature that will decrease the air conditioner’s run times and operating costs.

Setting your air conditioner to  a colder temperature than normal when it is first turned on will not cool the room faster.  It will only cool to a lower temperature than required, wasting energy and money.

A hot water faucet that leaks one drip per second will waste 9,000 liters per year. That's enough water for 160 full cycles on an automatic dishwasher.

Many devices can help  reduce the amount of energy used in lighting. Look for automatic timers, motion sensors, dimmers and solar cells.

Energy-efficient shower heads conserve energy without changing water pressure. Low-flow shower heads use up to 60 percent less water than standard fixtures. Flow restrictors reduce water use from 11 to 19 liters per minute and can  reduce your water bill by up to 15 percent.

Dirty bulbs reflect less light and can absorb 50 percent less light than a clean bulb. Dust your light bulbs regularly.

Your thermostat must be kept clean and perfectly level to work properly. Have it checked seasonally when your furnace is serviced.

Halogen lighting produces a more intense and focused light and uses up to 40 percent less energy than traditional  lighting. Halogen lighting is  particularly useful for gardens and pathways.