Give your oven (and the Earth) a break. Ovens hold the heat for a long time. 15 minutes before the end of baking (longer for foods taking 40+ minutes to bake), turn off the oven and let the trapped heat finish the job. And, of course, if your house is chilly, once the baking is done, leave the oven door open so the heat can escape to warm your kitchen.
Don’t get overheated by arguing for the old ways. With our modern, well insulated ovens we don’t really need to pre-heat for most non-cake/ pastry items. So don’t do it. Also, rather than losing up to ¼ of the heat by opening the oven during baking, use the window to take a peek. And turn off the heat a few minutes in advance to let the trapped heat finish the job. (By the way, if it’s winter, turn off the oven and open its door to release the trapped heat into your home.) It makes sense to use our ovens wisely.
[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-tailer.]