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NOVEMBER 2003 WISHING STAR RESULTS ISSUE |
CONTENTS Another
Successful Year - Wishing Star Gallop 2003
UPCOMING
ISSUES |
Real Estate: Stay Warm! Turn down the thermostat when going to bed or when you will be active around the house. Programmable thermostats can be used to adjust temperature settings up to several times per day according to a preset schedule. Check your insulation levels in the attic, ceiling, basement & crawl spaces. People produce heat. If you are hosting a gathering, turn down the thermostat and save money. Open drapes & shades during the day to let in the sun. Close them at night to keep out the cold. Limit the use of electric heaters. Electric heaters are high wattage appliances and their use will add up! They are best used to heat small spaces as supplemental heater. If you are using an electric heater for supplemental heat, try and use them just to take the chill off the room and then shut them off. Check the Air Flow Don't block heating registers, move furniture to allow heat to flow freely, and make sure all return air openings are unobstructed. Turn off kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans when you are done. In one hour, these fans can pull a house full of warm air right out of our home! Make sure your fireplace is properly vented. If you do not have a proper amount of outside air for combustion, your fireplace will draw heated air from inside your house. Window air conditioners are conduits for cold air. When possible, the unit should be removed, cleaned and put into winter storage. If you have a ceiling fan, make sure to reverse the motor in order to disperse the warm air collecting near the ceiling. Hot Water Set the temperature setting on your hot water tank at mid-range. Extremely hot water can lead higher energy costs and even scalding accidents. Keep showers short. A shower uses less hot water than a bath, but only if they're short in duration. Wash full loads in your washing machine - adjust the water level if you need to. Use warm or cold water to wash clothes, not hot. Check the condition of your hot tub cover and check for escaping steam. Insulation blankets help keep the tub toasty for your use. Cooking Food cooks more quickly and efficiently in ovens when air can circulate freely. Don't lay foils on racks. If possible, stagger pans on upper and lower racks to improve air flow. Use glass or ceramic pans in ovens. You can turn down the temperature about 25ºF and cook foods just as quickly. Do not open the oven door often to preview the food. Each time you open the door the oven temperature drops by 25ºF. Watch the clock or use a timer instead. Other Tips Don't keep that old, inefficient fridge running all day and night in the garage for those few occasions when you need extra refreshments. A 15 year-old refrigerator could cost up to $70 per year! Don't let children stand in front of an open refrigerator while they are deciding what to eat. Each time you open the fridge door, the compressor has to run for 8-10 minutes to keep the cold inside.
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