Changed habits can save energy

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 287, 23 May 1989, Page 12

Changed habits can save energy

Frompagell the hot tap sparingly. Do not use hot water for tea or coffee and avoid the very wasteful practices of rinsing an occasional dish under a running hot tap. Save the dirty dishes for a full sink load. Shower instead of bath Showers use significantly less hot water than a bath. It is also important to have the shower nozzle to match the pressure of water supply in the house. Get the best from other appliances. Refrigerator doors should seal properly and the freezing compartment should be kept free of ice as much as possible. Keep the cooling coils at the rear clean and free from dust and open the door only when it has to be opened. Avoid leaving the door open while

two or three items are taken out of the refrigerator. Plan cooking so that more than one pot shares and element and use flat bottomed pots where the entire area comes into contact with the surface of the element. Fluorescent tubes use 60% less energy than a normal light bulb and lights should not be left on unless they are needed. Clothes will need less ironing if they are folded as they are taken off the line and an iron can be tumed off before the end of ironing to use stored heat. Heating Heating costs can be reduced by insulating the ceiling and walls. Close drapes at night and do not overheat. If the room is getting too hot it is a far cheaper

option to turn down the heating rather than to take off layers of clothing. Keep the doors to utility rooms, such as the laundry and bathroom, shut. Because they produce a lot of vapour they will need

more ventilation than other rooms in the house. An unused room does not necessarily need heating, in fact it is better and healthier to have a bedroom cooler and it will also promote better sleep. Heating an

unused room is a waste of money. During the day the sun should be allowed to fall on heat-retaining areas, such as a slate floor or concrete slab. Do not shut the sun out - it is a valuable and free source of energy.