We use a wood burning stove to heat our house. That in itself saves us alot of money. And we also use it for cooking. We can put things like corn on the cob & potatoes inside and then put pots/pans/aluminum foil on top to cook. Saves alot of money.
We made sure to buy energy-efficient appliances, especially our dishwasher and washing machine -- it has really paid off. We also have energy efficient windows and use fluorescent bulbs, and have a programmable thermostat.
LIGHTING
Use natural light whenever possible.
Turn off lights when not in use.
Clean bulbs regularly. Dirt lessens illumination by as much as 50%. Use low wattage light bulbs in areas that do not need strong lighting such as hallways, foyers and doorways.
Use lamps that provide direct lighting over desks, beds and other work areas. Using them saves energy instead of the higher wattage lighting used to illuminate the whole room.
Use natural light whenever possible.
Turn off lights when not in use.
Clean bulbs regularly. Dirt lessens illumination by as much as 50%. Use low wattage light bulbs in areas that do not need strong lighting such as hallways, foyers and doorways.
Use lamps that provide direct lighting over desks, beds and other work areas. Using them saves energy instead of the higher wattage lighting used to illuminate the whole room.
Cooking
Plan ahead. Prepare all ingredients before cooking to avoid frequent switching of electric stove.
Thaw frozen food thoroughly before cooking. Match pots and pans to stove element. Avoid using a big burner for a small pan to lessen heat transfer loss.
Cover pots and pans. Cover pots with lids to prevent heat from escaping.
Use flat-bottomed pots and pans when using electric stove. They provide faster heat transfer.
Switch off. Turn off the electric stove during the last minutes of cooking. The remaining heat will make the food simmer.
Plan ahead. Prepare all ingredients before cooking to avoid frequent switching of electric stove.
Thaw frozen food thoroughly before cooking. Match pots and pans to stove element. Avoid using a big burner for a small pan to lessen heat transfer loss.
Cover pots and pans. Cover pots with lids to prevent heat from escaping.
Use flat-bottomed pots and pans when using electric stove. They provide faster heat transfer.
Switch off. Turn off the electric stove during the last minutes of cooking. The remaining heat will make the food simmer.
Refrigerator
Give it room to breathe. Place refrigerators at least 4 inches away from the wall so as not to overwork the motor.
Clean condenser coils. The coils at the back remove heat.
Clean it twice a year using a vacuum cleaner or broom.
Check door gaskets. Make sure refrigerator doors are sealed tightly to prevent cold air from escaping.
Defrost regularly. Defrost before frost builds up to 1/4 inch to keep refrigerator running efficiently.
When buying new refrigerators, be sure to purchase energy efficient models.
Look for units with the highest Energy Efficient Factor (EEF). It is more efficient and costs less to operate.
Give it room to breathe. Place refrigerators at least 4 inches away from the wall so as not to overwork the motor.
Clean condenser coils. The coils at the back remove heat.
Clean it twice a year using a vacuum cleaner or broom.
Check door gaskets. Make sure refrigerator doors are sealed tightly to prevent cold air from escaping.
Defrost regularly. Defrost before frost builds up to 1/4 inch to keep refrigerator running efficiently.
When buying new refrigerators, be sure to purchase energy efficient models.
Look for units with the highest Energy Efficient Factor (EEF). It is more efficient and costs less to operate.