Category Archives: kitchen

say bye-bye to extra refrigerators and freezers (especially if they’re from the ’80s or older) and save $

Posted on March 4, 2010 by wako

During an  energy audit today*, I was surprised to see the resident’s electricity usage on a recent utility bill. It was about “average” for a household in the area, but seemed  high for an elder one-person household. Most bulbs were … Continue reading →

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when was the last time you vacuumed your refrigerator?

Posted on May 22, 2009 by wako

NEVER, probably. At least that was true for me until recently, when I cleaned the heat-exchange condenser coils, which are what cool your refrigerator by releasing heat. If the coils are covered in a blanket of dust, the refrigerator has … Continue reading →

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Yoplait and other no-no snacks

Posted on April 7, 2009 by wako

How bad can Yoplait be? Sure it’s way too sweet for me these days, thanks to tons of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS),  but hey, it’s yogurt. Apparently, HFCS is not the only problem. According to Good Guide’s Five Snacks … Continue reading →

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water audit

Posted on March 17, 2009 by wako

Take shorter showers! That’s the big take-away for today’s Water Wise House Call. The Ssnta Clara Valley Water District offers it free as part of their water conservation program. I signed up a few weeks ago as part of my … Continue reading →

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water: how hot is too hot?

Posted on March 10, 2009 by wako

138ºF  water. Scalding hot. Waste-of-energy hot. Hurts-my-hands-to-wash-dishes hot. Risky-to-jump-in-the-shower hot. Sure, it’s better than the other way around–no hot water–but my guess was the water heater in my house was set too high. The recommended temp is 120 F. It’s … Continue reading →

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fill your fridge, save energy and money

Posted on March 4, 2009 by wako

Two climate change-fighting volunteers from Green@Home came by for a housecall today. I learned, among other things, that my refrigerator is too empty. Why is this a problem? Because –here comes my simplified explanation–an empty(ish) fridge has little to “hold” … Continue reading →

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plastics safety Q&A

Posted on August 27, 2008 by wako

I found a Plastics Q&A from the Green Guide helpful in sorting out the confusing world of household (and specifically kitchen) plastics.  Among the topics covered: Q: Which plastic containers contain bisphenol A (BPA)?  A: Those that say “#7 PC” … Continue reading →

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Things you should NEVER buy again

Posted on August 16, 2008 by wako

I’m not a big fan of lists of MUSTs or MUST NOTs, since I think that it’s difficult to come up with a list that is relevant for everyone.  That said, those little lists that are printed on wallet-size paper … Continue reading →

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stop boiling water!

Posted on August 10, 2008 by wako

I love tea, so I boil a lot of water.  I usually just put in enough water in the kettle for a cup of tea.  And then later I boil more when for the next cup of tea.  I know, it’s not … Continue reading →

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Dishwasher: Energy Saving Tips

Posted on July 28, 2008 by wako

I found the manual to my dishwasher online at the KitchenAid site–hooray for PDFs!. This is what I learned in “Energy Saving Tips”: Use the ENERGY SAVER DRY (no heat).  Flash dry dishes.  After final rinse, unlatch door and advance … Continue reading →

Posted in energy saving, kitchen, water | 4 Comments