ENVIRONMENT: Energy Survival Kit

Here are some more energy conservation tips that will come in handy around the house:

• Install flow-restricting showerheads. Reduce water usage by up to 50 percent without affecting shower pressure.
• Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full.
• Turn your water heater down from the standard 120 degrees to 115 degrees. This can save 10 percent on a water-heating bill.
• Take showers rather than baths. Less than ten gallons of water are used during a five minute shower while fifteen to twenty-five gallons of hot water are used for a bath.
• Repair leaky faucets promptly.
• When purchasing a gas oven or range, look for one with an automatic electric ignition system. Electronic ignition saves gas because a pilot light is not burning continuously. They use 40 percent less energy.

To increase efficiency:

• Check the seal on the oven door. Gaps or tears in the seal will let heat escape.
• Be sure all burners are burning with a blue cone-shaped flame. A yellow flame indicates clogged air inlets or burners that require adjustment.