The Sun Bay Paper Page 3 February 18, 2022 - February 24, 2022 Not only is pre-shredded cheese from the supermarket expensive, it also comes packaged in hard-to-recycle plastic. One way to go green and save money is to buy blocks of cheese from the cheese counter and shred it yourself. To save time, shred the entire block of cheese at one time and store it in a large freezer bag. To prevent it from sticking together, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the freezer bag and shake. The cornstarch will lightly coat the cheese and prevent sticking and will also help keep it fresher longer. Store it in the freezer and use the cheese as needed. Energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs can be turned on and off about 7,000 times before burning out. The lifespan makes them the perfect choice for light fixtures that are on for extended periods of time, but for light fixtures that are on for only short periods of time -- like walk-in closets or fixtures with motion detectors -- it's best to avoid CFLs. The constant turning on and off of those fixtures will burn out CFLs very quickly. Instead, invest in LED bulbs for those fixtures to reap the energy savings and long-lasting attributes of the bulbs. The exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom can do a great job of sucking smelly or smoky air out of your home, but they can also make your home's heating/coolng system inefficient. Since they expel unwanted air from the home, leaving an exhaust fan on for too long forces warm air out of your home. So don't leave the exhaust fans on for too long if you want to save money on your heating costs. The same rule also applies in the hot Florida weather when you're trying to cool down your home. Shredder CFL’s and LED’s Exhausting This winter's unusually cold weather -- the "Artic Winds" -- may be miserable for many trying to keep warm, but they’re actually a good thing for the environment. Invasive insect species that have been ruining crops, trees and other native plants and do not have a natural predator are more likely to freeze to death during the winter months. Come spring, fewer invasive insects means more trees, plant species and farm crops. And invasive plant species that are not indigenous to cold regions will also have their path of growth slowed or destroyed. So bundle up, because the cold is helping Mother Nature. Good Cold Recent storms across America have left households without power for several hours and up to several days. One way to help preserve the freshness of perishable food in the refrigerator is to not open the door during a blackout. But one way to help extend the life of a chilled fridge is to be proactive. If the forecast calls for bad weather, fill empty plastic containers -- soda bottles, food storage containers, empty margarine tubs -- with cold tap water. Place them in the back of the fridge. When they're chilled, they'll help keep the temperature lower inside the fridge during a power outage. Easily Cooler While it may be tempting to raid your pantry and use leftover food like old bread, nuts and snack food to feed wildlife, it's actually doing more damage than good. According to the Humane Society of the United States, "people food" can be unhealthy for wildlife and hurt their digestive tract when they eat it. Plus, feeding wild animals close to your home lessens their fear of humans, turning them into wild panhandlers. But you may also be inadvertently feeding wildlife without realizing it by feeding your pets outdoors. If the family dog doesn't finish his food, it becomes a tempting food source for wildlife. They'll eat it and keep returning to get more. So feed your dog indoors to prevent that from happening. Danny Seo “People Food” Most of us know it's important to clean the lint trap in the dryer to help make it more efficient and safer. Every few months, give the lint filter a deep clean by scrubbing it with soap and water and an old toothbrush. Let it air dry and place it back in the dryer. This will help make air flow more efficient and cut down on the amount of time it takes to get your clothes dry, saving energy. Lint Energy Savings Last Weeks Crossword Solution
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