Appliances

When purchasing new appliances, choose an ENERGY STAR model. The up-front cost may be more, but these appliances will pay for themselves with the energy they save.
Set older water heaters to 120° and insulate them to save electricity. (Note, however, that insulating newer energy-efficient water heaters may void the manufacturer’s warranty.) If you place a new water heater in your garage, set it on an insulated pad.
Most water heaters have an anode rod inserted in the top that runs inside the tank and draws rust and corrosion away from the sides of the tank. By changing the anode rod before it rusts through, you prevent the tank itself from rusting and increase the life of your water heater. Check your owner’s manual to see if this option is available on your water heater.
Avoid sediment build-up in your hot water tank by draining several buckets out of the bottom tank drain valve. If you do this twice a year, you’ll improve your heater’s efficiency.
Convert your water heater to solar power. Even in our cloudy climate, a solar water heating system can produce 40 to 60% of your household’s yearly hot water. If you’re considering a solar water heating system, call (800) 221-8035 to determine your qualification for Oregon Solar Tax Credits.
Insulate hot water pipes to reduce the amount of time it takes to get hot water to your faucet.
When cooking, use a microwave, electric skillet, or toaster oven as much as possible. All these items use less energy than your oven does.
Pre-heat your oven for 10 minutes or less, and turn off your oven several minutes before the food is done; it will cook even as the oven cools. Glass and ceramic containers cook food more efficiently than metal containers. Keep the oven door closed as much as possible, since heat is wasted each time the door is opened.
Boil only as much water as you need. Match pan size and burner size for stove-top cooking, and keep pans covered to save energy.
Don’t use foil to wrap the drip bowls under your burners. The foil can block the oven vent, preventing air from circulating normally. This shortens the heating element’s life span and decreases the oven’s heating efficiency.
Open your refrigerator door as infrequently as possible. Cool air escapes each time, increasing your energy usage.
Clean the air intake by your refrigerator’s exterior coils at least once a year.
Defrost your freezer often to maintain its efficiency. Test your freezer and refrigerator gaskets by closing the door on a small piece of paper. If the paper slips out easily, it’s time to replace the gasket.
Freezers work most efficiently when they are full. Fool your freezer into thinking it’s full when it’s not by placing milk containers partially filled with water in the freezer compartment. Leave room at the top of the containers for the water to expand as it freezes.
Use “air-dry” and other power-saving settings on your dishwasher. If your model doesn’t include these features, turn the dishwasher off after the final rinse and prop the door open to let dishes dry. Only wash full loads.
Use the cold water setting on your washing machine whenever possible, and only wash full loads.
Clean your dryer’s lint trap after each load. Sort clothes into loads of quick- and slow-drying items to keep your dryer from running longer for a few difficult items. Line-dry as many of your clothes as possible.