We
can save electricity simply
Saving electricity at home has become increasingly
important in recent years, as excess use can contribute to global warming and
leads to massive electricity bills. However, with a few simple steps, you can
begin conserving electricity to save money on your monthly bill.
1.
·
1.1. Use more natural lighting. Do you tend to keep the curtains and blinds
closed and flip on the overhead lights? Letting your house flood with natural
light instead can lead to big electricity savings.[1] Unless you need strong,
focused light to complete a particular task, try leaving the lights off during
the day and embracing the sun's rays in the rooms you're using.
·
Try to set
up your family's daytime work and play space in the brightest room in your
house. That way everyone can read, work on art projects, use computers, and so
on without relying on artificial lighting.
·
Use light-coloured
curtains and blinds as window coverings. Find coverings that provide privacy
but still allow diffused light to flood your rooms.
1.2.
Designate a few rooms as night hangout rooms for your family.
Instead of spreading out all over the house, have your family spend evening
hours in just one or two rooms. That way you won't have to light the whole
house to enjoy the evening, plus you'll have the added bonus of spending
quality time with each member of the family.
1.3.
Rethink your outdoor lighting system.
Leaving
a porch light or path lights burning all night long can waste a lot of
electricity. Determine whether having lights on overnight is really necessary
before flipping the switch in the evenings.- If you have lights around your house for security purposes, consider getting automatic security lights with motion detectors instead of using lights that stay on constantly.
- Decorative lights that complement your garden or pathway can be replaced with solar-powered lights that charge during the day and cast a soft, pleasant glow at night.
- If you use lights to decorate during the
holidays, flip them off before going to bed, rather than leaving them on
all night long.
1.5.
Use energy-efficient lightbulbs. Replace all of your
incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) or LED bulbs. Incandescent
bulbs release most of their energy through heat, rather than light. Newer bulb
styles are much more energy efficient, and they save a lot of electricity and
money over time.- · CFLs use only about 1/4 the energy of incandescent bulbs. They come in many shapes and styles. Be sure to dispose of these bulbs properly, since they contain small amounts of mercury.
- · LED bulbs are slightly more expensive than CFLs, but they last longer and don't contain mercury. LED bulbs are slightly more efficient than CFLs. If you like the ability to customize your environment, LED bulbs come in multicolour and dimmable variants. Some even give you the ability to choose a colour using your cell phone
2.
2.1.
Unplug everything. Did you know that appliances and
electronics continue sapping electricity as long as they're plugged in, even
when their switches are turned off? Making a habit of unplugging these items
when they aren't in use saves a lot of energy over time.
·
Power down your computer and unplug it
when you aren't using it. Computers are one of the main culprits when it comes
to using a lot of energy in a household, so unplugging them when you're
finished checking your email for the night is worth the hassle.
·
Unplug your TVs, radios and sound systems.
Leaving these plugged in day in and day out is a waste of electricity and
money.
·
Don't forget smaller appliances like
coffee makers, toasters, hair dryers and phone chargers. These use small
amounts of energy, but it really adds up over time.
2.2.
Reduce your reliance on appliances. What appliances do you
really need to use on a daily basis? Think about your routine and determine
where you might be able to save some energy. In some cases, it might mean
spending extra time on certain chores, but the reward is saving energy, money,
and having the satisfaction that comes with being more self-sufficient. For
example:
- · Dry your laundry on a clothesline outside instead of using the dryer. This saves a lot of energy, and many find the old-fashioned task of hanging clothes on the line to be among the more relaxing of chores.
- · Fill your dishwasher to the brim instead of doing a partially-empty load.You could also wash dishes by hand using a water conservation method rather than relying on the dishwasher to do the job.
- · Sweep instead of vacuuming. If you have carpets you'll still have to vacuum once in a while, but you can sweep up large crumbs and clots of dirt with a broom in between sessions. Pulling out the vacuum every day uses up a lot of energy.
- · Do all of your baking on the same day of the week. Heating the oven requires a lot of electricity (unless your oven is powered by gas), so it makes sense to heat it once and bake more than one thing, rather than spacing out your baking over the course of the week.
- · Reduce your reliance on small appliances, too. Let your hair air dry more often than you blow dry it, throw out that plug-in air freshener, and chop food by hand instead of using a food processor.
2.3.
Replace your appliances with energy-efficient models.
Manufacturers didn't used to pay much attention to how much energy their
products used, but times have changed when it comes to the design of large
appliances. Many are made to be more energy efficient, and some include settings
that allow you to choose how much energy to use in a given cycle. Next time you
need to replace a large appliance, do some research to find a model that
doesn't use too much electricity. If purchasing appliances made and distributed
in the United States, look for an "Energy Star" certification. This
certification means the appliance was tested by the United States Department of
Energy and it outperforms federal requirements for energy efficiency.
3.
3.1.
Use less hot water. Heating water requires a lot of
electricity; the more hot water you use, the more your water heater has to
produce to keep up. Using less hot water on a daily basis is an important way
to conserve energy. Start these new hot water-saving habits:
Wash your clothes with
cold water. Unless you're doing a load of clothes that is caked in dirt, it's
not necessary to use hot water to wash them; in fact, hot water wears your
clothes out much faster.
Take showers instead of
baths. Filling a bathtub requires gallons and gallons of hot water; taking a
shower uses much less.
Take cooler showers. Do
you really need to take a steaming hot shower every day? Try reducing the
temperature just a bit every time until you get used to a lukewarm temperature.
Save the hot showers for a special treat.
Insulate the water
heater. Water heaters that aren't insulated waste energy that gets released
from the heater instead of being used to heat the water. Make sure the one you
have is insulated, or buy a new model that is designed to conserve energy.
Insulate the pipes in
unheated and uninsulated areas of your home, such as the basement by fitting
them with pipe sleeves. This is important in climates where winter temperatures
can go below freezing because uninsulated pipes can freeze and burst, leading
to costly repairs. Even if you don't have freezing winters, be sure to insulate
at least the first 3 feet of water pipes (both the cold inflow and hot outflow)
from your water heater to reduce heat loss. According to the United States Department
of Energy, insulating your pipes with pipe sleeves can save up to $8-12
annually.
3.2.
Insulate your house. It's important to make sure your house
isn't releasing too much air-conditioned air during the summer or heated air
during the winter. If you have cracks in the frames of your windows, under your
doors, in your houses basement or foundation, in the attic, or anywhere else in
your home, you may be leaking electricity and money.- Have a contractor inspect your home to determine whether additional insulation may be needed.
- Use caulk and door seals to seal the areas around your window and door frames. You can also buy plastic sheeting to cover your windows during the winter.
3.3.
Use the air conditioner sparingly. It's tempting to keep
the house nice and cool during the summer, but this comfort comes at great
expense. Leave the air conditioner off for most of the day, and use it to cool
down rooms only when the heat becomes uncomfortable. Use alternative strategies
to cool yourself down whenever possible.
- · Take a cool shower during the heat of the afternoon.
- · Open the windows and let the breeze come in.
- · Drink plenty of water and eat ice cubes to keep cool.
- · Spend time outside near a lake, river or pool.
3.4.
Keep your house at a lower temperature in the winter.
You can save a lot of money by turning the thermostat a few degrees lower
during the winter instead of heating your house until it's toasty. Set it just
low enough so that you're still comfortable while wearing thick layers of
clothing. Wear wool socks and sweaters to keep warm instead of relying on your
home's heating system.
