on Power Smart Advertising Supplement by Shell Busey B.C. Hydro consultant Nothing gives me greater pleas- ure than looking into the face of a smiling home owner who followed a few of my simple hints on saving energy around the house and who can now afford the holiday or little extra treat that had been denied to him before. It’s so easy. It takes so little effort. And remember, the little effort you make when added to that of your neighbors, can have a big impact on reducing pressure on our natural resources. Half your home energy dollar goes towards heating your home, and insulating the walls and attic is the most effective way of keep- ing the heat in. Call a reliable contractor to find out if your home is properly insulated. Depending on the level of insulation, it could save you up to a quarter of your energy bill. You can reduce your heating bill by 20 to 30 per cent by sealing the gaps and cracks in your house. Try the hand, feather or tissue test. In cold weather, run you hand over the inside of the exterior walls, and around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards to find cold air entering your home. A tissue or a feather attached to a toothpick will achieve the same result. If they flutter, you’ve found an air leak. Seal them from the inside. Weatherstripping will reduce air leakage around doors and windows as will caulking where door and window frames meet the house. ‘Try removable caulking this winter around windows you won't open until the summer. If you have a garage attached to your home, insulate the garage door. It will keep both the home and the garage warmer. Double-glazed windows are great but if you can’t afford them try window insulating kits which place a clear, plastic film on windows and glass doors. They stop cold drafts and help prevent windows from frosting up. : Make sure your home heating system is properly maintained. Change or clean furnace filters regularly. Set your thermostat at 20C (68F) and turn it down to 18C (65F) at night. For every degree above 20C, your heating costs rise by five per cent. Bum only well-seasoned wood in your fireplace. It is more effi- cient and creates less pollution. The second largest energy user in your home is water heating — about 20 per cent of your energy bill. Set the thermostat at 54C (130F) to 60C (140F). Installing a blanket for your electric hot water heater, energy- efficient showerheads, a faucet Find treasure in your aitic Draft-proofing and insulating your attic can save up to 40 per cent of the energy required to heat your home this winter. Before you begin, check for moisture and problems. These must be identified and fixed before adding insulation. Also check electrical wiring, and replace any wires with frayed or torn insulation. Remember, work safely around electrical wir- ing. If the existing insulation is wet, remove it. But don’t add more until you’ve solved the moisture problem. For a small investment in draft- proofing, you’ll notice a big differ- ence. Cut pieces of sheet metal to fit around a masonry chimney and seal all joints with heat-resistant silicone caulk. A factory-built metal chimney requires a fire-resistant collar. Caulk the gaps with heat-resistant sealant. Seal the attic hatch exactly as you would seal a door to the Hurry In Today!! and see our selection of ... outside. Pack fiberglass insulation tightly around the plumbing stack. Seal holes where wires penetrate partition wall top plates with sili- cone caulk. Seal the gaps around lighting fixtures with similar mate- tial or with a foam gasket on the ceiling side. Power Smart or your Hydro office can advise on the correct insulation levels for your area. Fiberglass batts are easiest to install. Simply press the batts into place over ceiling joists. Cellulose fibre can be poured or blown into place, usually by a contractor. If you do the job, level the loose fill insulation with a board or garden rake, keeping an even depth throughout the attic. Be careful not to block vents in the eaves. For more information on how to make your attic Power Smart, call your local Hydro office, or the Power Smart Lines: 1-800-663- 0431. A helpful booklet “Keeping the Heat In” is available from Energy Mines and Resources Can- ada. TheReview Wednesday, October 16,1991 — A249 A little effort to conserve puts money in your pocket aerator and water pipe insulation can Save you up to $80 a year on your electric bill. Insulating the first one to two metres of hot water pipe leading from your hot water heater saves a lot of heat. Major appliances are big energy consumers. If you’re buying a new fridge, stove, freezer, washer, dryer or dishwasher, make sure they have an Energuide label. The labels show typical electrical consump- ber, an uncrowded refrigerator works more efficiently than a crowded one. Freezers work more efficiently when they re nearly full. Try washing and rinsing your clothes in cold water. New cold water detergents are designed to get your clothes clean and remove Stains in cold water. You can save about $50 a year if you switch to cold water washing. Don’t forget to shake out your tion. clothes before putting them in the Make sure your refrigerator and drier. They'll dry faster and use freezer aren’t sitting next to a less energy. cooking range, dishwasher or exposed to direct sunlight and make sure you clean the condenser coils on your fridge or freezer twice a year. Check that doors fit tightly. Set the refrigerator temperature at 4C with the freezer section set at -18C. Defrost manual appliances when ice thickness reaches about half the width of a pencil. Remem- Better yet, don’t use a drier at all. Sun and wind will dry those clothes on a clothes line and give them a fresh scent unmatched by a drier. Tf you do use a drier, make sure you use the correct setting and choose the shortest possible dry- ing time. Don’t overload the drier and remember to empty the lint screen after every load. in the act? taken by The Review staff. All photos taken by Review staff can be ordered through the Review office. Orders must be pre-paid. The Review Catch You If so, we can custom print your own copies of any photo Photo Reprints 2 xT” i ? Additional prints at the same time from the same negative are $5.95 each. (tax included). 9726 First Street 656-1151 Don’t forget to vacuum the back of the drier periodically to increase the drier’s efficiency and place it where there is easy access to fresh, dry air and where it can be vented to the outdoors. Look at changing your light bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps which are much more effi- cient. For instance, an 11-watt compact fluorescent gives the same amount of light as a regular 60-watt bulb but uses only one fifth of the energy and lasts up to 10 times longer. Install Power Smart 34-watt fluorescent lamps in such areas as _ kitchen, bathrooms, hallways, basement, workshop, garage and laundry room. You’ll have suffi- cient light and save energy too. Well, those are a few tips that could put dollars in your pocket. It “takes a little effort, but it save in the long run and also gives you the satisfaction of knowing that you’re doing your bit for the environ- ment. Appliances. 2513 Beacon Avenue Sidney, B.C. V8L 1Y1 Trades Welcome — Financing Available O.A.C. FREE DELIVERY MON.-SAT. 9 A.M. - 6 PM Phone 656-3724 or 656-3032