Use 'self-clean' right after cooking a meal to take advantage of heat in the unit. Make sure pots are the right size for the elements. A small fry pan on a large element wastes energy. Look for models with low water consumption. About 80 per cent of the energy required to operate a dishwasher is to heat water.
Some models require almost twice as much water per cycle as others.
This feature allows you to reduce the temperature of your hot water tank to about 55 degrees. If it's time to buy a new washing machine, choose an energy efficient model, or one with 'econo' cycles available. And, they extract more water during the spin cycle, which reduces drying time. Studies have shown that as much as 20 per cent of a home's heat goes out the chimney from open-hearth fireplaces. Be sure the fireplace has been tested to CGA-P.4 standards.