In a recent newsletter from my power company, I read that for every 30 seconds the refrigerator door is open, it can take up to 30 minutes for the temperature inside the refrigerator to return to its set temperature. While the newsletter didn’t say it, I would assume that the cooling system motors are running and using electricity throughout that entire cooldown timeframe. So, think about what you need before you open the refrigerator door and close it again as quickly as you can. Sometimes in the past, I have opened and closed the door several times in the space of just a few minutes because I didn’t plan ahead. Each time the door is opened, it further lengthens the time needed to return the inside of the refrigerator to the set temperature, so I am trying to plan ahead and minimize the work the refrigerator has to do.
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Many countries and cultures celebrate holidays this time of year, and many involve large meals with friends and families. In the excitement of the holiday, we tend to keep adding food to the menu or adding to the list of food we’ll bring to our host’s house. Plan ahead for the leftovers so they don’t go to waste.
When it’s time to buy light bulbs, appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, water heaters, furnaces, or air conditioners, you might be able to get a rebate or tax credit to help pay for a more energy efficient item. My electric utility company offers rebates for LED light bulbs (up to 50% off the purchase price) and many large appliances if they meet certain standards for energy efficiency. It also offers a credit to pay for properly recycling an old refrigerator to make sure the coolant gases, which can harm the atmosphere, are disposed properly. Many states in the US also have similar programs, so check both sources. If you are a homeowner, you may also qualify for home improvement tax credits at the state or federal level. Sorry, I didn’t check out what kind of programs are available in other countries, but I would assume that many other countries have similar programs.
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May 2024
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