Use efficient lighting
Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs). These use four times less energy. And they last eight times longer. So you not only cut your electricity bills dramatically, you also save a lot of money buying bulbs.
Use energy efficient electric appliances
They use two to 10 times less electricity for the same functionality, and are mostly higher quality products that last longer than the less efficient ones. In short, efficient appliances save you lots of energy and money. In India, appliances like refrigerators and ACs have efficiency rating labels ranging from 1 to 5 stars, the higher number being more efficient.
Use an energy efficient computer
Buy a laptop instead of a desktop. It consumes five times less electricity. If you buy a desktop, get an LCD screen. Enable the power management function on your computer, the screensaver does not save energy. Check if your computer supports the more advanced speedstep power management. Switching off a computer extends its lifetime, contrary to some misconceptions. Minimize printing. Print on both sides of the paper. Laser printers use more electricity than inkjet printers.
Drive less
Walk, bike, carpool or take public transport. You'll save 1.5 kg of carbon dioxide for every 5km you don't drive. Use cars that run on cleaner fuels such as CNG and LPG. Switch off your car if you want to stop for more than two minutes.
Check your tires
Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve the fuel efficiency of your car. Every litre of petrol saved keeps 2.5 kg of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Using radial tyres will help you save 3 to 7 % of fuel.
Use water carefully
Don't waste water. Use a mug of water when brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your hands and face. Instead of a shower or tub bath, use a bucket. Try to harvest rain water in your locality. It takes a lot of energy to heat water- use less hot water and use efficient heating appliances.
Say no to plastic
Take a cloth bag with you when shopping. Use recycled paper. Avoid products with a lot of packaging.
Move your Air-conditioning thermostat up 2 degrees
You could save about 900kg of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment. Set the thermostat of the room air conditioner at 25C to get the most comfort at the least cost.
Use renewable energy
Sunlight can be used in many different ways to save energy. Use a solar water heater instead of an electric geyser. A 100 litre solar water heater can save around 1500 units of electricity every year. For lighting, use batteries that can be charged with sunlight. A solar cooker cooks rice and vegetables without losing their essential nutrients. Just leave the solar cooker outside in the sun to cook your food. If you live in a village, you can use biogas from cow-dung to save energy.
Plant more trees
A single tree will absorb one tone of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
Turn off electronic devices
Simply turning off your television, stereo, computer, fans, lights when you are not using them will save you thousands of kilograms of carbon dioxide a year.
Reuse & recycle
Recycling and re-using products like paper and bottles will help protect the environment. Use recycled paper. Recycle your office and household waste.
Lighting
§ Turn off the lights when not in use
§ Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect day light
§ De-dust lighting fixtures to maintain illumination
§ Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it
§ Compact fluorescent bulbs are four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and provide the same lighting
§ Use electronic chokes in place of conventional copper chokes
Fans
§ Replace conventional regulators with electronic regulators for ceiling fans
§ Install exhaust fans at a higher elevation than ceiling fans
Electric iron
§ Select iron boxes with automatic temperature cut-off.
§ Use appropriate regulator position for ironing.
§ Do not put more water on clothes while ironing.
§ Do not iron wet cloth.
Kitchen Appliances
Mixers
§ Avoid dry grinding in your food processors (mixers and grinders) as it takes longer
§ time than liquid grinding.
§ Microwaves ovens Consumes 50 % less energy than conventional electric / gas stoves
§ Do not bake large food items.
§ Unless you're baking breads or pastries, you may not even need to preheat.
§ Don't open the oven door too often to check food condition as each opening leads to a
temperature drop of 25°C.
Electric stove
§ Turn off electric stoves several minutes before the specified cooking time
§ Use flat-bottomed pans that make full contact with the cooking coi
§ Gas stove
§ When cooking on a gas burner, use moderate flame settings to conserve LPG
§ Remember that a blue flame means your gas stove is operating efficiently
§ Yellowish flame is an indicator that the burner needs cleaning
§ Use pressure cookers as much as possible
§ Use lids to cover the pans while cooking
§ Bring items taken out of refrigerators (like vegetables, milk etc) to room temperature
§ before placing on the gas stove for heating
§ Use Solar Water Heater – a good replacement for a electric water heater
Electronic Devices
Do not switch on the power when TV and Audio Systems are not in use i.e. idle operation
leads to an energy loss of 10 watts/device
Computers
§ 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
Refrigerator
§ Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers; frost build-up increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running.
§ Leave enough space between your refrigerator and the walls so that air can easily
circulate around the refrigerator
§ Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold.
§ Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight.
§ Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
§ Do not open the doors of the refrigerators frequently.
§ Don't leave the fridge door open for longer than necessary, as cold air will escape.
§ Use smaller cabinets for storing frequently used items.
§ Avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge.
Washing machines
§ Always wash only with full loads
§ Use optimal quantity of water
§ Use timer facility to save energy
§ Use the correct amount of detergent
§ Use hot water only for very dirty clothes
§ Always use cold water in the rinse cycle
§ Prefer natural drying over electric dryers
Air Conditioners
§ Prefer air conditioners having automatic temperature cut off
§ Keep regulators at “low cool” position.
§ Operate the ceiling fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the
§ cooled air more effectively throughout the room and operate the air conditioner at higher temperature
§ Seal the doors and windows properly
§ Leave enough space between your air conditioner and the walls to allow better air
§ circulation
§ A roof garden can reduce the load on Air Conditioner
§ Use windows with sun films/curtains
§ Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower will be energy consumption.
§ Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air
Conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive
cooling.
§ Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
§ Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun
Electrical Safety Tips for Homes
Electrical Hazards
Shocks
§ Electric Shock causes an involuntary grip which prolongs the period of contact.
§ More the period of contact, more the damage.
§ Passage of current through the heart , stops the blood supply to the brain , resulting in
§ loss of consciousness and termination of breathing
§ When a person standing at a height receives an electrical shock , it is most likely that
he will fall.
§ Personal sensitivity to electrical shock varies from person to person.
Burns
§ Whenever an electrical flash appears, and if a part of a body comes within flashing
distance, burns can be caused.
§ Burns may be caused by short circuits as well, because a short circuit could create an
electrical fire.
Preventive Measures
§ Allow only a qualified person to attend to your electrical repairs
§ Service your electrical equipment at frequent intervals through a competent electrician
§ In case of a short circuit or a fire, switch off the mains instantly Make sure that you have easy access to switch off the supply source quickly, in case of an emergency
§ Make sure your extension cords are free from cuts, improper insulation, or joints.
§ Ensure pins of your plugs are tight and not loose.
§ Use switches of the correct current rating and preferably with indicators to indicate whether the switch is ON/OFF.
§ Use appliances with 3 pin plugs and connect them to 3 pin sockets.
§ Do not overload electrical outlets or use extension cords in place of additional outlets.
§ Switch off electrical appliances when not in use.
§ Provide proper earthing for the building/house.
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