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Page Wednesday October IMS Conserving Energy Bursting the balloon on energy conservation myths Sometimes the people with the best intentions make the worst mistakes Energy efficiency around the home is one area where good intentions can go a long way to reducing energy bills Sometimes though those good inten tions arc based on myths and These straightforward answers about home energy efficiency should set the record straight Turning a finorecttit light on and off wastes more energy than leav ing it rm day belief about fluorescent lights concerns the energy used in turning them on and off that fluorescent lights must be turned off for at least half an hour before the energy saved equals the energy used to energize it in the first place Peo ple argue that you should not turn off the lights when leaving a room for short periods In fact it takes less than a second for a turned off fluorescent light to save the amount of energy required to turn it on again As a rule if fluorescent lights are not going to be needed for five minutes or more switch them off Turning the hot water healer off at night is a valuable energy saving habit It is more practical to maintain the hot water lank at a set tem perature than to reheat it every day There are better ways to save energy and dollars One simple alternative is to lower the temperature setting on the heater This alone can result in energy savings of to per cent depending on the temperature drop A fixed setting of should rcsuli in notable savings Some people choose to keep the setting as low as Remember though that a dish washer requires a higher water temperature set ting to be effective Insulating the heater and the piping is another realistic way to save energy and money especially if the water tank is located in an unhealed space such as a cold basement There arc two types of heater insulation One is a lank blanket the other is strip insulation Either is appropriate for gas- and oilfired heaters but controls junction bones air inlets and the top and bottom of the tank should be left free of Insulation Cover ing a gas- or oilfired dangerous fire hazard Insulating an elec tric heater without first having it inspected by a utility representative not recommended If you are renting an elec tric heater the utility may Install a blanket for you Insulated utter and Winds are loo expensive to make the energy logs worthwhile Custommade insulating shutters and blinds can be expensive but there are many cheaper doityourself varieties Some shutter kits for instance cost less than An even cheaper solution to the expensive shutter is a removeable foam board If you think that old furnace is ready to leave you cold this winter replace it now and get a winter full of comfort before you make your first furnace payment your lowprice to offer you replacement furnace thai best meets your needs and your budget rtComcniponal- economypriced NEW 63 fudeffident Efficiency Up to ArlflLuD the- line value Up to efficient The choice is yours and its never been better of moneysaving comfort before you make your first furnace payment moneysaving from your lowprice leader in home comfort Art September 14 and NcMsnber30 1985 and look what you get OFF costs and NO until April the furnace and ceriwIalKDodittonlngpacka 1 15000 OFF costs and NO PAYMENT until April with me purchase Many gas furnace or central toning RENTAL Anil 1986 conroijTioftoretecmcityiD our natural gas rental healer program Put natural gas work in your home Complete your I package with a Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaner credit- Specials apply to readeiHl talk by January 1002638831 NOW bring theenergy popin cut to the size of the window and along the edge for a light fit Insulated curtains need be no more than heavy curtains sealed tightly to the wall and window sill with special tape Or sew in energy savings the next time you make curtains by adding a layer of insulating material the fabric and the backing Insulation values can range from a high of RSI 125 R7 for a well made shutter to RSI Rl for insulating drapes To be cost and keep out cold winter drafts Insulating shut- ten and blinds should be dosed day and night Interior window insulation helps stop warm household air from seeping into the night air but it should always be opened or removed during the day for two important rea sons In the first place uncovered windows on all but northern exposures take advan tage of passive solar gain during daylight hours allowing the suns heat to warm the house Second when the blinds or shutters are left closed day and night there is a danger of heat buildup be tween the the window covering The windows may overheat sometimes stressing the glass to the breaking points Programmable Thermostats A programmable thermostat is a reliable and inexpensive way to save up to per cent on your heating bill For example it lets you program in a temperature reduction to start one hour before you go to bed and end an hour before you get up the morning A second set back can reduce house temperature when every one is out during the day and increase it again prior to their return The most sophisticated models an accommodate complex weekend schedules as well All types can be used with either forced air or water circulating heat distribu tion systems