CONSERVING
ELECTRICITY
Kitchens
Dishwasher
- Dishwasher energy
consumption can be reduced by turning off the dishwasher after the final
rinse and before the drying cycle. The clean dishes can then be wiped with
a dry cloth.
- Fill the dishwasher
completely before operating. Partial loads waste electricity and water.
- Short wash cycles,
rinse-only cycles, mid-cycle turn-off, and other features are designed for
energy conservation as well as convenience.
- Connect your
dishwasher to COLD water supply unless otherwise directed. Normally only
one wash and one final rinse cycle requires hot water which is heated by
an element in the dishwasher.
- The dishwasher
filters must be kept clear of debris. A blocked filter reduces efficiency
and wastes energy.
- Proper loading is
important for the dishwasher to work efficiently.
Refrigerator
- Choose a refrigerator of a size based on the needs of your family - a refrigerator operates at peak efficiency when filled.
- Do not overload your fridge, excessive products in your fridge will lower the quality of the food and use more electricity - as much as 10-20% more for each extra product.
- Do not set freezing temperatures lower than necessary, it wastes as much electricity as excessive heat.
- Thick frost on chilling panels reduces cooling ability. If you do no t have a frost-free model, defrost your refrigerator when frost is between 0,6 to 1,3 cm thick.
- Do not open your refrigerator door needlessly. By getting into the habit of removing and replacing several articles at once, you will reduce the loss of cold air.
- Let hot foods cool down before placing them in the refrigerator. (To prevent bacterial growth allow about 20 minutes standing time).
- Be sure the seal around your refrigerator door is intact. (Close the door on a piece of paper: if you can pull the paper out easily, the seal should be replaced).
- Remove all heavy wrapping from food before storing it in the refrigerator.
- Cover all liquids stored in the refrigerator (especially frost-free models).
- Foods should be placed slightly apart on refrigerator shelves to allow the cooling air to circulate.
- Exposed condenser coils/panels (usually at the back of the unit) MUST be kept clean and dust free. When cleaning you must be careful not to damage the panels.
- Do not place the refrigerator near the stove or against an uninsulated wall that faces the sun.
- Allow adequate space around the refrigerator for free air circulation. The air carries heat away from the fridge - if air can not circulate, the fridge can not work properly.
- Switch on the energy saving switch, if one is fitted to the refrigerator.
- Switch off, empty or clean your fridge, when taking an extended holiday.
Freezer
- Freezers and refrigerators operate most efficiently when filled to the capacity recommended by the manufacturers.
- Never forget that only one-tenth of a freezer's capacity should be used for freezing of fresh food at any one time. The freezer must work harder to remove heat, and uses more power. Example, 28 litres (one cubic foot) will store 12,5 to 15 kg (25-30 lbs.) of frozen food and will freeze about 1,5 kg (3 lbs.) of fresh food at a time.
- Food to be frozen should be placed in contact with those parts of the freezer that contain the refrigerant tubes, usually the sides of chest models.
- Defrosting of chest type freezers should be done once or twice a year. For upright models, defrosting should be done two or three times a year. NEVER allow frost build up to exceed 0,6 to 1,3 cm.
- By keeping a list of the location of foods in the freezers, the freezer can be kept open for a minimum of time, preventing the loss of cold air.
- The freezer should be kept as full as possible to prevent heavy icing.
- On all models keep condenser panels at the rear of the freezer clean and dust free for maximum efficiency and conservation of energy.
- A second freezer should only be operated when necessary.
- In a single door unit, it is essential that the separate freezer compartment has its own door intact. Otherwise the unit will tend to operate the whole of the refrigerator as a freezer - this can be expensive.
