How To Use Energy Wisely

Energy conservation is the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used. It may be achieved through efficient energy use, in which case energy use is decreased while achieving a similar outcome, or by reduced consumption of energy services. Energy conservation may result in increase of financial capital, environmental value, national security, personal security, and human comfort. Individuals and organizations that are direct consumers of energy may want to conserve energy in order to reduce energy costs and promote economic security. Industrial and commercial users may want to increase efficiency and thus maximize profit.

Energy conservation is the reduction of quantity of energy used. Energy conservation supports the eco friendly lifestyle by providing energy, which saves your money and at the same time saves the earth

Here are some methods to use energy wisely :

Turn off your home office equipment when not in use. A computer that runs 24 hours a day, for instance, uses - more power than an energy-efficient refrigerator.

If your computer must be left on, turn off the monitor; this device alone uses more than half the system's energy.

Setting computers, monitors, and copiers to use sleep-mode when not in use helps cut energy costs by approximately 40%                                                                                    .

Battery chargers, such as those for laptops, cell phones and digital cameras, draw power whenever they are plugged in and are very inefficient. Pull the plug and save.

Screen savers save computer screens, not energy. Start-ups and shutdowns do not use any extra energy, nor are they hard on your computer components. In fact, shutting computers down when you are finished using them actually reduces system wear - and saves energy.

One of the best energy-saving devices is the light switch. Turn off lights when not required.

Dirty tube lights and bulbs less light and can absorb 50 percent of the light; dust your tube lights and lamps regularly.

Fluorescent tube lights and CFLs convert electricity to visible light up to 5 times more efficiently than ordinary bulbs and thus save about 70% of electricity for the same lighting levels.

Ninety percent of the energy consumed by an ordinary bulb (incandescent lamp) is given off as heat rather than visible light.

A 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

By reducing the temperature setting of water heater from 60 degrees to 50 degrees C, one could save over 18 percent of the energy used at the higher setting.

To help reduce heat loss, always insulate hot water pipes, especially where they run through unheated areas. Never insulate plastic pipes.

Use an electric kettle to heat water. It's more energy efficient than using an electric cook top element.

Iron your clothes and linen all in one go. Do not keep a hot iron which is switched in an upright position for long period since more heat will be lost.

Avoid storing hot / warm food in the refrigerator.

Use of white or light colours for interior walls, ceilings, curtains, drapes and furniture reflects more light within the building and therefore further reduces the cost of lighting.

Do not set the temperature regulator of the refrigerator at high if the quantity of the food within is small. Also, stack food items inside to allow air circulation.

By locating doors and windows to admit more sunlight through them you can avoid using electricity for lighting your home or office during the day.

Orientation of the house and surrounding landscape has a large effect on energy consumption. Planting trees on the south and west will reflect natural light through the windows resulting in less use of heating appliances like room heaters etc. in winters and would provide ample light.

Auto defrost refrigerators consume more electricity. Larger the refrigerator, higher will be the usage of electricity.