Food During Emergencies: Safety Tables

Use these tables to determine whether to save food impacted by an emergency. Certain foods may still be okay after thawing or losing refrigeration. Others are no longer safe to eat and should be thrown away. REFRIGERATOR FOODS FOOD If more than 40ºF/5ºC for over 2 hours MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD Raw or leftover cooked meat, […]


Food Safety During Emergencies: Frequently Asked Questions

Flood waters covered our food stored on shelves and in cabinets. What can I keep and what should I throw out? Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into […]


Keep Food Safe During an Emergency

A flood, fire, national disaster, or loss of power from high winds, snow, or ice can jeopardize the safety of your food. Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the risk of food-borne illness. This page will help you make the right decisions to keep […]


Raw Milk Dangers and Risks

Part 1 of Dangers of Raw Milk. Unpasteurized Milk Can Pose a Serious Health Risk Milk and milk products provide a wealth of nutrition benefits. But raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to you and your family. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800 […]


How Air Conditioners Work

The fluid that collects heat at the evaporator and releases it at the condenser is called refrigerant. Apump, called the compressor, forces the refrigerant through the circuit of tubing and fins in the coils. Air moves through the tiny spaces between the fins and is cooled by the refrigerant in the coils. Air conditioners employ […]


Energy-Efficient Appliances

Part 5 of Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. Appliances with relatively high operating efficiencies are usually more expensive to purchase. However, higher efficiency appliances provide a measure of insurance against increases in energy prices, emit less air pollution, and are attractive selling points when the home is resold. Home buyers should invest in high-efficiency appliances—such […]


How do we use energy?

Part 2 of Learn About Saving Energy. We use a lot of energy to heat and cool our homes. We burn fuel in our furnaces or boilers for heat. We also burn fuel to heat water for our baths and showers. Large utility companies use energy to make electricity. These companies usually burn fossil fuels, […]


Saving Energy with Appliances

Part 9 of Ways to Save Money on Energy at Home. Appliances account for about 20% of your household’s energy consumption, with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list. When you’re shopping for appliances, you can think of two price tags. The first one covers the purchase price—think of […]