QUICK HACKS TO SAVE ENERGY

Even though electricity is a luxury in various regions of India, it is often taken for granted by people who reside in towns and metropolitan cities. So much so that some months your electricity usage, as apparent from your bills, makes you break out into a cold sweat. Also, with summers around, power usage will soar more than ever.

It is high time that we as responsible citizens do our bit to save some energy so that the rest of the country can benefit from it. Shared below are quick hacks to save energy:

AC can be best set at an optimum temperature of 24 degrees 

We all know that AC’s suck up a major chunk of electricity hence to save energy and for optimum results, try setting up your AC at 24 degrees and not lower than that.

Appliances should be switched off when not in use

You must know that any electrical appliance when left unattended and is in standby mode still consumes electricity. In fact, devices on standby suck up a whopping 5% of the total electricity consumption. This is a serious reason to switch off all your appliances when not in use. Mobile phone chargers when left plugged in with switches still on tend to still consume power. So, do remember to turn the switch off.

The right kind of lights can help save a lot of energy

The variety of lights you choose to use can be the most effective way to save on power. The right kind of lights can make all the difference in the amount of electricity you consume. Compact-sized fluorescent bulbs may offer almost the same amount of light and brightness as in the case of incandescent bulbs. But the fact remains that they are 4 times more energy efficient. So, while these bulbs are more expensive than the regular ones, they do use much less energy and last relatively longer. In certain cases, they may last for as long as a year.

Use your iron wisely

Whether you believe it or no, here’s telling you that your iron can contribute to your energy-saving pursuit. In case you’re about to buy an iron, ensure buying one which has an automatic temperature cut-off. Do not wet your clothes before you iron them, this will ensure low power consumption.

Keep your fridge organized always

When you have a crowded fridge, there is less room for the air to efficiently circulate. With that, your fridge starts working harder to keep cool. The harder it works; the more electricity it consumes. On the other hand, the more organised your freezer, the better it works. The thermostat of your fridge should always be in the medium cooling position. Do not put in hot or warm foods straightaway. The liquids must always be covered and food must be wrapped up so that they do not moisten which can cause the compressor to work extra hard.

Pay attention to your washing machine

When you fill up your washing machine to the brim with soiled clothes, and use the right amount of detergent, it works most efficiently. That said, do not overload the machine leading it to cope harder and using up more power. Cold water may be optimally utilized when the clothes are not too dirty. Dry out your clothes naturally, make use of a timer facility if need be. When you make use of cooler and less water you end up saving about 80% to 85% of the energy utilized in washing clothes. 

Give that electrical dryer a miss unless you absolutely cannot

For tropical monsoon climates, there may be no other option than using electric dryers from time to time. Dryers consume electricity enormously. If you must absolutely use one, dry your clothes in consecutive loads.

Opt for an Eco-friendly shower

Your shower could be an energy-friendly one when you switch the geyser off after 10 minutes of it running. In case you cannot do without hot water, decrease the thermostat, setting it to 50 degrees. If you can, do use a solar water heater. This is a much Eco-friendlier alternative to a regular water heater.

Use a microwave to cook whenever you can 

Microwaves consume half as much energy as a regular electric stove. You never need to preheat a microwave unless if you want to bake. Also, if you must check on your food, refrain from doing it ever so often. Every time you open the door of your microwave the temperature drops by 25 degrees and will need to consume a lot more energy to pick up back again. 

A pressure cooker saves electricity too

Whenever you can, make use of a pressure cooker to cook. It will save you time as well as energy. Let any items that you got out from the fridge to settle to room temperature by leaving it outside for at least 10 minutes, and only then cook them.

Create shaded spaces around your house

Potted plants don’t just look pleasing, but they can also serve to be amazing energy-savers. You may line them up outside of your house. This will keep the sun from shining straight onto your AC. An air conditioning unit that operates in a shaded space needs up to 100% less electricity than one exposed to the sun.

Hope these hacks will prove to be helpful to you in saving electricity.

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Tips to save electricity

Conserving electricity serves the double purpose of helping stop global warming and saving a lot of money over time. Insulating your home and changing your daily habits are effective ways to reduce the amount of electricity you use. You can implement some energy-saving measures immediately, such as turning off and unplugging unused lights and appliances. Following are the some measures that could help create a better environment:

1. Purchase Energy Star Appliances: Energy Star is a government-backed rating system for energy-efficient appliances. The Energy Star label ensures that products you purchase have been tested and verified for performance efficiency. In addition, the Energy Star rating ensures that higher purchase costs will be recouped through electric bill savings.
2. One can make an instant change in the water consumption by installing low-flow fixtures. Replacing older toilets with a low-flow toilet will help save up to 75 percent of water use per flush; for even more savings, choose a dual-flush model with options for solid and liquid flushes.
3. Turning the heat and water heaters down when out of town and away from the house could prove highly beneficial. One could reduce energy use by 10 percent each time you lower the thermostat by 10 degrees for an eight-hour period; do so when sleeping or at work to reduce the electric bill.
4. Embrace natural lighting: Using natural light whenever possible instead of relying on artificial light can greatly reduce the amount of electricity you use during the day. The same is true whether you work in an office or spend your days in your house. Exposure to natural light also increases happiness, giving you an even greater incentive to raise the blinds.
• Try to arrange your workspace so that natural light floods your desk. Keep the overhead lights off when possible. When you need extra lighting, use a low-powered desk lamp instead.
• Buy curtains or blinds in a light shade that provides privacy but still allows light to come through.
5. Seal and Insulate: Insulating the exterior walls and roof of the house and sealing air leaks would save as much as 20 percent on your heating and cooling costs. In hot, sunny climates, add a reflective radiant barrier directly on top of your existing attic insulation to save in cooling costs. Air leaks are often easy to find as they are easy to feel, though many air leaks in basements, attics and crawlspaces go unnoticed.

Conserve Electricity - Energy Saving Light Bulbs

Electricity costs for lighting in the typical home can reach 12% or more in terms of your annual energy costs. So if you would like to know how to save electricity, you can conserve just by focusing on lighting. Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) are the right energy saving light bulbs to save money on electricity bills and conserve electricity in the home.

To put this into perspective, that percentage is about the same that the average home uses for cooling and electronic appliances. We seem to spend more and more time reminding people in the house to turn off the lights when they are not in the room, etc.

Essentially they combine the energy efficiency of fluorescent lighting into energy saving light bulbs that can fit into incandescent fixtures. Energy star qualified CFL’s use approximately 75% less electricity that standard incandescent bulbs. These low energy light bulbs have a lifespan that is up to 10 times longer than standard bulbs. Therefore when you install energy efficient light bulb in your home, the resulting energy savings (electricity) is compounded over a longer period of time.

Where is energy saving CFL’s appropriate?

They are most energy efficient when used in locations requiring lighting for extended periods of time. So the first place to for installing them would be in the living room, bedrooms, kitchen, etc. You may not want to install them in a location where lights are only turned on for a few minutes (closet). You can do so; however the payback on efficiency (electricity savings) will be slower in comparison to other areas. If you are not sure, ENERGY STAR recommends using qualified CFL’s in lighting fixtures that are typically used at least 15 minutes at a time.

It is important to mention that CFL’s are sensitive to temperature ranges (specified normally on packaging) in which they work more optimal. Most common CFL’s are for indoor usage. There are models applicable for outdoor usage; in this case it is suggested to enclose them in fixtures in order to minimize the effect of the temperature sensitivity. This is not a must although you just need to check if they are weatherproof and can resists cold outside temperatures.

To conclude, introducing energy saving light bulbs in your home will allow you to conserve electricity and save money on electricity bills. Think about this the next time you need to replace a bulb, start conserving electricity and then reduce your energy costs!

Article Courtesy: Electricity Conservation