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Show Notes for May 23, 2009
This week’s radio program was a special “Best Of” show. In remembrance and celebration of Memorial Day, we have compiled some of the best moments from On The House. Saving Energy, saving money, and saving time – that’s what you get with On The House! You can find handy tips and practical info that you can use to improve your home and your life, so read the rest of show notes and get your weekend going.
WATER EFFICIENCY
When it comes to water, we waste energy in three ways:
1. Unnecessary use, like leaving the faucet on while you brush your teeth
2. Pipes or faucets that leak or drip
3. Heat escaping from the hot water system, up the chimney or out from pipes.
And remember, using less hot water means paying less for the energy used to heat it.
Install a Low-Flow Aerator:
To use less hot water without compromising convenience, install a low-flow faucet aerator. The aerator is the screw-in insert right at the outlet of the faucet. Many older aerators are unrated and use 2.0 gpm to 3.0 gpm. Get one with a rating of 1.0 gpm (gallons per minute).
Replace Showerheads:
Some older low-flow showerheads used 2.5 gpm and provided a very unsatisfying shower. Today, you can buy standard or massage-type low-flow models that are designed to provide excellent showers, using as little as 1.5 gpm.
Lower the Temperature on your Water Heater:
Both gas and electric water heaters are adjustable. You will save money if you set the heater at the lowest setting you feel comfortable with - just don’t go below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
But not all gas water heaters have a thermostat that turns “up” in the same direction, so look at the markings on the knob. If you have an electric water heater, start buy turning off the circuit breaker. Electric water heaters have two thermostats; set both at the same temperature. After adjusting, check the temperature several times over a couple of days to see where it settles.
Insulate your Water Heater and Pipes:
- If your water heater’s not so old that it’s nearly ready for replacement, save some energy by insulating the heater with a “tank wrap.”
- If the outside of your water heater doesn’t feel warm, it doesn’t mean you aren’t losing heat. Even on an un-insulated tank, it will still be close to room temperature and is still losing heat and energy.
- Insulate all hot water pipes you can access.
10 MONEY-SAVING, ECO-FRIENDLY THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH SALT
1. Freshen your waste disposal: Pour 1 cup of salt into the unit, run cold water and start the motor. The salt will dislodge grimy deposits.
2. Prevent grease from splashing: If you throw a few pinches of salt into the frying pan before frying fatty foods such a bacon, you'll prevent having to clean all the that grease off the hob.
3. Washing your Greens: It can be tough to wash greens such as chard, Kale and even spinach because of the little curly crevices. Wash the leaves in a sink half full of cold water and 1/2 cup of salt.
4. Mold prevention: In these tough economic times, we can't afford to let anything go to waste, especially an expensive piece of cheese. Prevent a hunk from going moldy by wrapping it in a napkin that has been soaking in salt-water prior.
5. Ditch the stain remover: Many stain removing sticks can be toxic. Instead make a solution with 4 tbsp of salt in 2 cups of hot water. This is especially good on yellow perspiration stains. Simply sponge the solution onto the stain and rub until the yellow disappears. Wash as normal.
6. Mouthwash: Most drugstore mouthwashes are expensive and contain dye, alcohol and sweeteners. Do it the old-fashioned way by mixing 1tsp salt and 1 tsp of baking soda in 8ounces of warm water. You can also add 5 drops of tea tree oil if you like the taste.
7. Salt Rub: Forego the expensive body scrubs and give yourself a homemade salt rub at home. Just dip your mitts into a large tub of sea salt and massage while your skin is wet and then shower off.
8. Pick up broken eggs: Have you ever tried to scoop up an uncooked egg that has smashed onto the floor? Extremely difficult—however if you use salt, easy! Cover the spill with salt as it will draw the egg together and wipe up with a paper towel.
9. Remove baked-on food: When you are facing the awful task of scrubbing out a roasting pan, dampen the pan and sprinkle salt all over. The salt will lift off the baked on food.
10. Spruce up your mop: To prevent you having to run out and buy a replacement mop head, soak your mop in a bucket of water with 1 cup of salt overnight.
FIND $500 IN ENERGY SAVINGS IN FIVE DIFFERENT ROOMS OF THE HOUSE
$215 in the Living Room
Replace your five most frequently used incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs for savings of $65 each year. In addition, install an Energy-Star qualified programmable thermostat, which can help control the temperature while you’re away from home or at night when you’re sleeping. When used properly, these thermostats can save as much as $150 per year in energy costs.
$145 in the Bathroom
Replace your existing shower head with a new 2.5 gallon per minute shower head. The new water efficient shower head, together with a 10 minute shower will save five gallons of water over a bath and up to $145 each year on electricity used to heat the water.
$75 in the Laundry Room
To save hot water-and the $25 to $40 in the fuel that it takes to heat that water each year-wash our clothes in cold water. Be sure to choose a laundry detergent that is formulated for use in cold temperatures. Save another $35 each year by cleaning the lint trap in your clothes dryer before every load of laundry, which will help increase the drying efficiency of the machine.
$35 in the Basement or Utility Room
Lower the temperature on your water heater from 145 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit – the only place you’ll notice the difference is on your utility bill. In fact, this slight reduction in temperature can save the average homeowner between $35 and $60 each year.
$35 in the Kitchen
To keep your hard earned money from literally going down the drain, be sure to repair faucet leaks at the kitchen sink. Hot water leaking at a rate of one drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water annually – and end up to $35 in electricity or natural gas.
TOTAL SAVINGS: $505 (or more in some cases!)
• Serious Materials - Learn more about all the energy efficient products they have to offer.
• Serious Windows - Learn more about Serious Windows.
• The Family Handyman - The #1 Do-it-Yourself Magazine, on newsstands everywhere.
• Rebuilding Together - Learn more about Rebuilding Together.
• On The House Green Tip of the Week - Presented by Serious Materials, easy ways to become more energy efficient.
• Digging, Decorating, & Design Tip of the Week - Rebecca Cole’s weekly tip series.
• E-Waste Recycle - Learn how to recycle your electronic equipment.
• Energy Star - Learn more about Energy Star-rated appliances and equipment.
• Woman buys used couch, finds cat living inside - From the Associated Press.
• Recall of the Week - Maytag Recalls 1.6 Million Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard.
If you need any more information about today's program, please contact us
or post on our new Home Improvement Forum and we'll try to help you
find what you need. Thanks for listening to On The House with the Carey Brothers!
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