Saving Energy At Home

Why Saving Energy Is So Important

Our island state is over 90 percent dependent upon crude oil which is imported from both foreign and domestic locations. Most of Hawaii's electricity is generated by burning oil.  Gasoline, diesel fuel, marine fuels, commercial and military aviation fuels, propane and the feedstock for pipeline gas are all products refined from imported crude oil. Our economy depends on the ready availability of these oil products.

Although Hawaii has natural resources that may eventually be able to take the place of some of the imported oil in our economy, we must face the fact that oil will be Hawaii's primary source of energy for at least the next two decades. So conserving oil for those uses where there are no alternatives must be made a part of our lifestyle.

By being conscious of energy usage, adopting new habits and making wise choices when you buy new home appliances, you can reduce your personal energy costs. It will also help Hawaii save energy.

Plan Ahead To Save Energy

When it comes time to replace a range, a dryer or a water heater - or when you're designing or buying a new home - remember that a barrel of oil converted to gas goes a lot farther than a barrel of oil converted to electricity. That's just saying that it will take less oil for gas to do the work, than electricity. Up to 40% less.

Saving Energy in The Kitchen With Your Range

Gas cooking equipment offers precision performance even during electric power outages.

• Keep burners clean and adjusted for efficient combustion.  Gas flames should be blue.

• Fit the pan to the burner size; a small pot on a big burner wastes heat.  Never let the flame extend beyond the bottom of the pan.

• Bring food to a boil, then reduce heat and continue cooking.

• Whenever practical, keep pots and pans tightly covered while cooking.

• Wok cooking, quickly over high heat, is an efficient use of fuel.

• Be sure all burners are off when not in use.

• Oven cooking is more efficient than range-top cooking because the heat stays in the oven rather than being lost to the air.

• There’s no need to preheat the oven except for delicate cakes and cookies.

• Baking and roasting in ceramic or ovenproof glass cookware allows you to reduce the oven temperature by 25° F.

• Don’t open the oven while baking.  To retain heat and save energy, cook by time and temperature instead.

• Always broil with the oven door closed.  It’s more efficient and keeps the kitchen cooler.  Gas broilers need not be preheated.

• Consider replacing your old gas range.  New models have a pilot-less ignition system that uses up to 40% less gas.

• When practical, thaw foods before cooking.

• Always run your dishwasher with a full load.

• Open your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry.

• Fill the sink or a dishpan with hot water to wash dishes by hand, rather than letting the hot water run down the drain.  Use cool water to rinse.

• Don’t run your disposal unnecessarily.  Use cold water to help solidify fats for easier disposing.

• Don’t open the refrigerator and freezer doors unnecessarily, or leave them standing open.

• Keep air intake and ventilation panels on refrigerators clean and unobstructed.  Built-up dust and lint can make your refrigerator motor work overtime.

• Operating a second refrigerator or freezer will result in extra energy consumption.

Save up to 40% when you switch your electric water heater to a gas water heater.

Your water heater works 24 hours a day to maintain a constant temperature.  It can account for as much as 40% of your utility cost.  So heating water efficiently and using it wisely can add up to big saving on your monthly energy bill.  A combination of the conservation tips below can save you more than 20% on the water-heating portion of your bill.

• Don’t use the “hot” setting on your gas water heater thermostat.  Turning it down to “warm” (about 120° F) can reduce gas consumption by up to 8%.

• Turn the setting down as far as it will go (usually counterclockwise) during non-use periods and reduce gas use up to 10%.  Refer to your owner’s manual for detailed instructions.  Using the ON/PILOT/OFF knob instead of the thermostat causes premature wear and is not recommended.

• Replace your old gas water heater with a newer model and you’ll reduce gas usage by 20% thanks to improved tank insulation.

• Repair water leaks promptly.  A pinhole leak can waste more than 429 gallons of hot water each month!

• Insulate your water heater tank and pipes.  Just 1-1/2 inches of extra insulation reduces heat loss and can cut gas energy use by 8%.

• Every other year, flush water from the bottom drain of the water heater to remove sediment.  Follow manufacturer’s instructions or contact a licensed plumbing contractor for assistance.

• Install a flow restricter or a low-flow showerhead to minimize hot water use.

• Take faster showers or use less than a full tub of water.

• Install aerators on your faucets.

• Don’t let hot water run unnecessarily.

Dryer Tips

New gas dryers feature pilotless ignition systems that can reduce gas energy usage by as much as 15%.  Here are more ways to save.

• Remove any accumulated material from the exterior moisture exhaust duct,

• Sort wash loads so that heavy and light items can be dried separately.  Use brief time settings and low heat for light garments, longer settings only for heavy items such as towels.

• Use the correct cycle for the fabric being dried.

• Remove clothes as soon as they’re dry to reduce wrinkles and ironing.

• Be careful not to over-dry.  Tumbling a dry load damages fabrics and wastes energy.

• Avoid overloading or running partial loads.

• Clean the lint screen after each load to cut down on drying time.

• Hot water accounts for 90% of the energy used by the washing machine.  Wash in cold water when possible.

• Use the soak or pre-soak cycle for heavily soiled items instead of washing them twice.  You save energy and your clothes will last longer.

Install gas appliances.  They conserve energy by using less imported crude oil.

• Keep all appliances in good operating condition.

• Use Hawaii’s breezes instead of air conditioning.  Plan new construction to take advantage of cross-ventilation instead of air conditioning.

• If air conditioning is necessary, be sure the equipment is sized properly.

• When air conditioning is used, keep windows and doors shut.  Check the seals periodically to prevent cold air leaking out.

• Insulation and roof-peak ventilation keep homes cooler.

• Light colored roofs reflect the sun’s heat away from the house.  Planting shade trees nearby can cool a home even more.

• Reduce wattage of incandescent bulbs or replace them with fluorescent tubes.

• Connect lights to dimmer switches or timers.

• Turn off electric lights, stereos and TVs when not in use.

• Leave only one light burning when you are away at night.