Sun Journal Tough People Smart Money reader Jeanne Dumont recently asked a good question: What's more efficient: a toaster oven or a regular oven?
     Energy expert Richard Bacon of Efficiency Maine, a division of the Public Utilities Commission, said the answer depends on what needs to be cooked.
     If you're heating something up for a short time, say brown 'n' serve rolls, the toaster oven is the better choice, Bacon said. "In the (regular) oven it's a good size area you've got to heat up. You're heating more space than needs to be," Bacon said. "Without testing it, I'm willing to stick my neck out and say the toaster oven for small jobs."
    But if you're cooking something larger, for a long period of time, say a roast or anything that will feed four or more, the regular oven is the more efficient way to go, Bacon said.
     With a toaster oven "there's a heat loss." The toaster oven is not insulated as well as a stove's oven. Cooking something for a long time would mean more heat escapes in the toaster oven, Bacon said.
And, while we're being domestic, what about dishwasher vs. hand washing. Bacon's answer: The dishwasher, providing:
1. It is a relatively new Energy Star dishwasher.
2. It has a full load.
3. The drying cycle is turned off.
     "You can save more energy with the dishwasher as long as you don't do small loads. You may need to wait a day or two" before turning it in, Bacon said. When washing by hand you're using more water and energy than the dishwasher, he said.
But shut off the drying cycle. "Open the door and let the dishes air dry," Bacon said.For more information,please visit http://www.bossgoo.com