Lake Home Tips: Keeping Your Kitchen Energy Efficient

Energy efficiency helps the environment, but did you know investing in energy efficient home appliances and best practices can add value to your lake home?

According to Zillow’s Consumer Housing Trend’s Report 2017, 48 percent of buyers list energy efficiency as one of the most desirable features a prospective home can have.

But even if you’re not selling just yet, practicing energy efficiency and upgrading your space with energy efficient appliances can help save you big money.

So, take a look at how you can save money and save the world with these helpful tips:white and wooden kitchen with lake sign

Refrigeration

Refrigerators are the biggest source of wasted energy in your kitchen.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, this appliance alone uses 100 billion kWh, and is responsible for 7 percent of your home’s energy use.

Some tips for keeping your fridge efficient include:

  • Ensuring that the refrigerator is in good repair and the seal around the door(s) is undamaged. An improperly sealed fridge door requires the appliance to work overtime, thus using more energy and wearing out it out more quickly.
  • Keeping lots of food in your refrigerator will help the appliance maintain its proper temperature.  The less empty space in your fridge, the less air needs to be cooled.
  • Allow foods to cool off before putting them into the refrigerator.

To upgrade your kitchen, buy a new refrigerator that is “Energy Star” certified. Certified appliances can help save more than $270 in energy costs over a five-year span, according to the Energy Star website. The site also reminds consumers that a fridge more than 10 years old could be costing owners close to $110 per year.

At the lake, you can avoid over using your refrigerator by having a cooler outside with drinks and snacks in it. That way, there’s no need for your guests to keep going in and out for refreshments.

Cooking

The next energy waster in your kitchen is your stove and oven unit.

Mindful cooking may help you save money in the long-run as well as conserve some of your home’s energy.

Some tips for keeping your range energy efficient include:

  • When you are cooking on a range, use only burners that you absolutely need. Use as few as possible.
  • Turn down the heat once water has reached its boiling point. Normally, you do not need the full heat in order to maintain a boil.
  • Do not open the door of the oven too often. Instead, use the oven light (if your model has one) to check on food.
  • Do not preheat your oven unless you absolutely have too.

Energy Star does not currently certify stove and oven units, as they consume significantly less energy than refrigerators. In fact, cooking units only account for roughly 2 percent of a home’s entire energy use.

It’s easy to avoid using your range at the lake: just fire up the grill! You might be surprised how much you can cook outside, like grilled veggies, baked beans, grilled potatoes and more.

Washing the Dishes

Dishwashers also consume about 2 percent your home’s energy, however, this might be the easiest area in which to conserve energy in the whole kitchen.

Some tips for keeping your dishwasher energy efficient include:

  • Rinse your dishes to avoid having run them through the dishwasher multiple times.
  • Wait until your dishwasher is completely full before you operate it.
  • Consider hand drying your dishes. The dishwasher’s drying cycle uses a tremendous amount of energy.

Energy Star-certified dishwashers can save an average 3,870 gallons of water over its lifetime and cost an estimated $35 a year to operate.

Depending on the number of guests at your lake home however, you might be able to avoid using the dishwasher all together. Instead, hand-wash your dishes or use biodegradable disposable plates and utensils.

Smaller Kitchen Appliances

Even if the appliances in the kitchen are turned off, they may still be using energy for no purpose.

Things like coffee makers, microwaves and even bread makers use energy. This is a slow type of energy drain, but it adds up quickly.

Unplug your appliances when they are not being used. Especially if your lake home is a seasonal residence.

Even when you aren’t there, you are still paying for this unused electricity.

 

For more tips on how to make your lake home energy efficient, read our “Inexpensive Quick Tips to Save on Energy Costs” and other efficiency-related articles here!

10 Energy Saving Tips for the Hot Summer Months

10 Energy Saving Tips for the Hot Summer MonthsSummer is an amazing time of year with boating, hiking, camping, and other amazing outdoor activities all in full swing. But face it; summer can be quite expensive due to the air conditioner.

Here are 10 energy saving tips to keep your power bill from breaking the bank this summer.

Replace the Unit

If you are living in a home that is 20 years or older, then you may need to consider replacing your air conditioning unit. Look for units that will cost less to run and will have energy approved standards stamped on them. This will make a large difference in the energy bill.

Alternate Methods for Meals

Turning on the oven or the stove can cause a battle between the air conditioner and the heat from the stove or oven. Consider grilling outside and enjoying your lake views, or using a microwave during these hot months. This will help keep your unit from running non-stop.

Automate the Thermostat

If you still use a manual thermostat, consider replacing it with an automatic one that you can program to keep the home warmer when you are not home. You can also program it to be cooler when the family is home.

Keep the Sun Out

Cover your windows to keep the sun from coming in and warming up the air. Use white or light colored curtains or blinds in order to reflect the heat instead of absorbing it.

Give the Unit a Break

Using a ceiling fan to move the air around inside the home instead of using the air conditioner will give it a break and save you money on your energy bill.

Cooler Showers

Instead of increasing the temperature of the home from a hot shower, take a cold one to cool yourself down. You will lower your body temperature, lower energy use from the hot water heater, as well as avoid steaming up the house.

Service the Unit Regularly

Ensure that the filter is changed on a regular bases. If the unit or the filter is dirty, the air conditioner will work harder to cool your home. This means that it will use more energy.

Check Your Ductwork

Ensure that the AC ductwork is sealed properly. Your duct runs throughout the home and if there is leak, you may be cooling places that do not need, like the attic.

Play Outside

Spend more time outside. Go jump in the lake or have a picnic.

If you spend less time in the home that means you can raise the temperature since no one is indoors. This ultimately means less energy being used.

Shut Parts Out

Have a spare bedroom or office that is rarely used? When this happens, shut off the vents or cut off those rooms with a drape. Close the vents in order to direct the cool air to the areas that are lived in.

These are just a few of the ways you can save on cooling costs this summer at the lake!

 

 

Simple Steps to Save on Winter Energy Bills

It’s wintertime, and that means higher heating bills. But those bills don’t have to wreck your budget.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to save money on your winter utility bills.

Organize Your Rooms

If you have a forced-air heating system, make sure nothing is blocking your vents. These can include blankets or furniture. Baseboard vents should also be clear of furniture and low-hanging curtains.

An organized space aids in warm air flow, making it easier for a room to heat up. Not only will it take less time for a room to heat, unblocked air vents also allow your heater to run more efficiently.

Additionally, by removing clutter, furniture and curtains from in front of your heating unit, you are protecting yourself and your loved ones from potential fire hazards.

Isolate the Heat

Instead of heating the entire house, consider just heating up a single space.

You can heat your bed using an electric blanket under the fitted sheet or between your sheet and comforter. Doing so will keep you warm while maintaining a cooler temperature throughout the rest of the room.

Another option is to put a portable heater in your space. Some units work by heating coils and then dispensing the warm air with a van, much like a personal desk fan. Others, such as radiating heaters, work by heating large, exposed coils which radiate heat without the help of fan blades.

These portable heaters run off electricity rather than propane, so the units simply plug into the wall outlet.

Portable heaters are attractive for many homeowners because they are relatively safe to use. For example, most turn off and cool if they are tipped over. Others, like boxed heaters, feature enclosed heating coils that cannot be accidentally brushed up against.

Vary the Temperature

ThermostatPart of the reason winter bills get so high is because your heater is constantly running to maintain higher temperatures.

Consider getting a programmable thermostat which allows you set the temperature you want your house to be at different parts of the day.

Try setting the thermostat to 68 degrees when you leave the house for work, then program the heater to kick on one hour before you get home. This way, your heater isn’t running while no one is home, and warmed up by the time someone is.

Another option is to set your thermostat to 68 degrees all day. Instead of raising the temperature at night, lower it and use some of the aforementioned tips to keep your room warm and toasty while you sleep.

Keep it Clean

You should your furnace or heat pump tuned up and your ducts cleaned and inspected.

If you have paper filters, change them seasonally. Or, more often if you live in areas with higher dust. If your filters are washable, wash them with warm soapy water seasonally.

A dirty filter means your furnace has to work that much harder, costing you money.

If your heating unit is older, it might be time to replace it. It could help you save money in the long-run. Contact your utility company to see if they offer any incentives or rebates on newer, more efficient appliances.

Look for Leaks

There are some inexpensive options you can use that help stop air leaks around windows and door frames and in turn, help you save money.

Weather stripping around outside doors, and caulk around window edges, help block out that cold air. In homes that have window unit air conditioners, it is likely that homeowners are losing money in the winter because the edges around the unit cannot be properly sealed.

Consider removing the AC unit during the winter months and replacing it in the spring to save a little bit.

Also look into adding extra insulation in your attic. Since warm air rises, it is essential to make sure none of that warm air is escaping through the roof.

Contact Your Utility Provider

Some utility providers offer budget payment plans that take those high seasonal bills and spread them out over the year.

Though the dollar amount is not reduced in total, it does make it easier to budget each month.

Another service utility companies often provide is a free home inspection which can assess your home’s energy efficiency and give you tips on how to make it more cost effective.

And remember, home improvements such as a programmable thermostat, better insulated attic, and air leak prevention will assist with cooling in the summer, and help provide you with year-round savings!