Summertime unplugged: Keep cool and save energy

If you think it's hot where you live, be glad you don't live in Wichita where the temperature has been at least 100 degrees or higher for 20 days in a row. Not only is everyone in the hot zone stressed out but so is the electrical grid. So here's some good news—you can help keep the power (and air conditioning on) by skipping chores like the laundry and unplugging appliances and electronics that you're not using.

Walk around your house and you'll see plenty of appliances and electronics that are plugged in all the time and sipping, no gulping, standby power. Almost any product with an external power supply, remote control and LED display draws standby power. Unplug them until you need them, including the toaster. Here's what else you can do, according to the Energy Savers website.

Air conditioner. Set your thermostat as high as is comfortable—78 degrees F is recommended. Give the AC an assist by keeping the shades and curtains closed during the day and running fans. Each degree you lower your thermostat increases cooling costs by six percent, according to Con Edison, which provides power in the New York metropolitan area.

Dishwashers. Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is for water heating. If you can adjust the water temperature, do so. Otherwise, be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it.

Refrigerator. Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37 degrees to 40 degrees F for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator and 5 degrees F for the freezer section. If you have a separate freezer for long-term storage, it should be kept at 0 degrees F.

Hot water. Be sure to place your faucet levers in the cold position when using small amounts of water. Keeping the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water even though it may never reach the faucet.

Cooking. Match the size of the pan to the heating element. Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a full- sized oven.

Laundry. If you have to wash some clothes, wait until electric rates are lowest. There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes—use less water and use cooler water. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a load's energy use in half. Until it cools down, consider air-drying your clothes.

If you're in the market for a new appliance, check our appliance Ratings. We measure energy-use as well as performance.

—Mary H.J. Farrell