SHORELINES

32 a p c s hor e l i n e s.c om | 2016 Vol :2 It is officially summer in Alabama and that means more weekends spent enjoying boat rides on the water and hosting friends and family for barbeques. Whether you are hosting a simple lakeside dinner or entertaining a crowd for the weekend, your kitchen will be at the center of it all. Here's how you can save money and energy in these warmer temperatures and with more kitchen use than usual. The kitchen is the heart of the home. Much like you strive to exercise and eat the right foods to keep your heart healthy, there are plenty of easy tips you can follow to keep your kitchen appliances working properly and save you money. How to manage your dishwasher's appetite • Dishwashers use an average of 15 gallons of hot water per load plus the electricity needed to operate the machine. Washing and rinsing dishes by hand three times a day uses more hot water and energy than one load a day in an automatic dishwasher. • Operate your dishwasher only when it is filled to capacity but not overloaded. This will cut the costs of energy, water and detergent. • Use special features designed for energy savings and convenience, such as partial-load, rinse-only cycles, mid- cycle turnoff and delay start. • Be sure to scrape off heavy food accumulated before loading dishes into the dishwasher. • On hot days, wait to use your dishwasher until night. You will avoid adding heat in the house during the hottest time of the day. Opposite: Photo by Billy BRoWn — For best operation keep your refrigerator between 37 and 40 degrees. Above: Photo by Billy BRoWn — Operate your dishwasher only when filled to capacity.

• Cover