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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 15, 2007 - 25 Lower your energy bills with ENERGY STAR® qualified products If you are like many consumers, buying new appliances, heating and cooling equipment or consumer electronics can be a daunting task. So many models and manufacturers to choose from, so little time to shop around ­ how to decide? One way to make the job easier is to look for products that have the international ENERGY STAR symbol. Products that qualify to use this symbol are among the top energy performers on the market, in some cases surpassing Canada's minimum national energy efficiency standards by as much as 60 percent. What does energy efficiency have to do with your decision? The less energy you use, the lower your energy bills. Saving energy also reduces environmental impacts associated with the production of electricity, or the combustion of fossil fuels. Consider these examples: · ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers are at least 41 percent more efficient than required by the Government of Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations. · ENERGY STAR qualified high-efficiency gas and propane furnaces are at least 12 percent more efficient than conventional models. · ENERGY STAR qualified televisions use about 30 percent less energy than standard units when in standby mode. · ENERGY STAR qualified residential light fixtures use about 67 percent less energy than conventional fixtures. · ENERGY STAR qualified computers use 70 percent less electricity than typical models without enabled power management features. These power management features bring the computer in low-power mode when left inactive, and use 15 watts or less. The list of products that can qualify for ENERGY STAR in Canada continues to grow and now includes 38 products such as residential appliances, home heating, ventilation and cooling equipment, office equipment, consumer electronics, lighting, windows, doors and skylights and commercial and industrial products. For more information on ENERGY STAR in Canada or for tips on buying and using energy-efficient products visit the Web site at www.energystar.gc.ca. - News Canada Fire prevention in the kitchen - important tips you should know! According to the Office of the Fire Marshall, cooking is the number one cause of fires in the home. With Fire Safety Month approaching, the team at Canadian Tire has put together these tips to help families cook smart and stay safe. · Do not leave pots and pans unattended and use oven mitts when removing pots and pans from the stove. · Take extra care when cooking with oil and grease and ensure you have a lid or spare cooking sheet nearby to cover a pan should the grease or oil catch fire. Do not move the pan as it can spread the fire but use the cooking sheet or lid to smother the flames. · Keep your cooking surfaces and broilers clean to prevent splattered food from igniting. · When broiling use a pan beneath the broiler to catch any fat drippings. · Ensure you have a fire extinguisher nearby and that all family members know how to properly use it. · Overcook or burn your food and set off an alarm? Do not remove the batteries! While it may seem harmless at the time, it can turn into a deadly mistake. Instead purchase a smoke alarm with a hush feature that enables you to temporarily 'hush' the nuisance alarms but ensures that it is still activated should a real fire start. For more information on the alarm with hush feature, visit canadiantire.ca. - News Canada