When it comes to saving energy, there are some confusing and conflicting ideas out there. A recent Associated Press story sought to sort out fact from fiction. For example, do computer screen savers save energy? No. Sleep mode, which uses about 70 percent less energy, is a better choice if you’re not going to be using your computer for the next 30 minutes or so. If you don’t plan to use your computer for two hours or more, shut it all the way down. The energy required to start the computer will be less than it takes to leave it on for that long.
Another common question has to do with refrigerator and freezer efficiency. Do they work best when full or when your frozen peas have some breathing space? It’s better to keep them fairly full. The larger the mass of cold items inside, the less work it takes to keep everything cold.
Lastly, what’s the most energy efficient way to clean dishes–wash them by hand or put them in the dishwasher? Put them in the dishwasher. Washing by hand, at least if you’re the type who leaves the hot water running, is less efficient than using a dishwasher.
In our house, we’ve been on a kick to change as many regular light bulbs as possible to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They use less energy and last a lot longer. However, after our kids knocked down a lamp and broke a CFL, we’ve decided not to use them in areas where they play frequently. The hazards and the challenges of cleaning up a broken CFL are not worth the energy cost savings.
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