Energy Conservation Tip – Keep the Dryer Lint Trap Clean
Part of my energy conservation mantra is, “Clothes should be dried, not baked.” That means high heat is rarely necessary to get your clothes dry. I use low heat almost exclusively and it works just fine. The key is to keep the lint trap clean so you maximize circulation of warmed air that helps remove moisture from your clothes more efficiently than higher temperatures.
Here’s why it works.
Electricity is efficient at driving a motor and spinning your dryer, so it’s good we use it for that purpose. The mechanism of drying your clothes is evaporation, which can be done at any temperature, but works best at elevated temperatures. Sure, high heat is more effective (like stomping on the gas pedal), but it’s least efficient from an energy consumption standpoint. In other words, high heat uses more energy for the work performed, and therefore gets the job done faster but at greater cost.
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Energy Conservation – Think Before Buying and Using Electric Gadgets
Part of my approach to energy conservation is to limit my purchases of electric gadgets. I know it’s in a man’s genes to buy gadgets. It’s also a time-honored American tradition to take something that works well manually and turn it into a consumer product that uses electricity. Nevertheless, if you’re interested in reducing your electrical energy consumption, you’ll want to be very selective as to what you buy, and only buy something that requires electricity when it’s warranted.
Here are a handful of examples of where electric gadgets just aren’t necessary or desirable:
* The electric can opener. It’s bulky, hard to clean and takes up space on the counter. When you have a can to open, you must bring the can over to where you have the can opener plugged in. If you go on a picnic, what good is the electric can opener? I find a mechanical can opener much easier and more convenient to use and clean. It’s highly portable and it can be popped into the dishwasher. It resides in a nearby drawer, so it’s ready when you are, but doesn’t take up room on the counter. And, it doesn’t occupy an electrical outlet either.
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