Electricity-saving tips... 24 degrees is cool enough A/Cs help us survive the scorching summer months but they are also big time electricity suckers. The cooler it gets, the more power is being consumed. So instead of shock frosting your home at 18 degrees settle for a very comfortable 24 degrees and save some power. Switch it off Even though you have switched the TV off after watching your favourite program it’s still eating up electricity in the ‘stand-by mode’. As a matter of fact all devices kept on ‘stand-by’ account for a whopping 5 percent of the city’s power consumption. So make sure to switch off these devices completely Right lights You might not see a difference in the way they light up the room but the right choice of bulbs shows on your electricity bill. Compact fluorescent ones are four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs but provide the same lighting. Iron dry Even getting those wrinkles out of your clothes can turn into an act of electricity saving. For that, select iron boxes with an automatic temperature cut off and neither wet the clothes while ironing them nor start working on them after you’ve just retrieved them from the washing machine. Cool and covered There’s a whole bunch of things you can do to cut down on the power supply your fridge requests. To start with set the thermostat in medium cooling position and make sure there’s enough space between the wall and the fridge so that air can easily circulate. Don’t overload it and also don’t put any hot or warm foods straight into it. Always cover liquids and wrap foods because otherwise they’ll get moist and make the compressor work harder. Wash n save Your washing machine works most efficiently if you fill it up nicely with dirty clothes and use the requested amount of detergent only. If your clothes are not too dirty, using cold water is fair enough. If possible use a timer facility and dry your clothes naturally instead of using an electric dryer. Energy-friendly shower Give your geyser a break after 10 am or keep it switched off all together because cold showers are way more refreshing. If you need hot water, reduce the thermostat setting to 50 degrees. If available use a solar water heater, which is the eco-friendly alternative to your regular electric water heater. Smart waves Compared to a regular, stove a microwave oven consumes half as much energy. Except for baking breads and pastries, you do not have to preheat the microwave. Of course you want to check if your food’s ready to be eaten. But don’t check too often because each time you open its door the temperature drops by 25 degrees. Concerned cooking For preparing your favourite foods use a pressure cooker as much as possible because it saves time and energy. If you own an electric stove, turn it off several minutes before the specified cooking time and make use of the remaining heat. Before you start cooking any items you’ve kept in the fridge, let them sit for 10 minutes on the counter to adapt to room temperature. Green shade Stock up on pretty potted plants and shrubs or plant some trees in front of your house if possible and position them in such a way that they block the sun from shining straight on your A/C. A unit operating in the shade needs up to 10 percent less electricity than one exposed to sun.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 01:18:13 +0000
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