1) If you
are going to
buy new
appliances
this year,
choose
eco-friendly
products. They
tend to be
more
expensive,
but they
will save
you money in
the long
run. Look
out for the
guarantees
though, to
make sure
the
appliances
will survive
long enough
to get your
money's
worth.
2) As an
alternative
to
energy-guzzling
appliances
do this:
only heat up
rooms you
are using,
warm up with
more clothes
and blankets
instead of
electric
heaters,
wash your
clothes in
cold instead
of hot water
and use a
clothes line
or a laundry
rack instead
of a tumble
dryer. If
you have an
electric hob
and oven
consider
buying an
alternative
gas hob to
use for
things that
take long to
cook, and
use a
microwave
oven instead
of the
electric
one.
3) If your
fridge was
built more
than eight
years ago,
the chances
are that a
substantial
part of your
electricity
bill is
being spent
on its
inefficiency.
Changing it
now, while
the running
cost is
increasing,
will be an
investment
worth
making. If
you don't
think it's
worth
replacing
just yet,
check the
condition of
the door's
seal and
replace it
if it is
damaged.
4)
If you use air-conditioning, try
installing ceiling fans instead.
They are incredibly more
efficient, even when compared to
standing fans. And if you must
switch on your AC, make sure the
doors and windows are closed,
switch on the timer, and set the
temperature at a steady
comfortable level. Also note
that if you want to heat a room,
air-conditioning is more
efficient that electric heating,
but gas heaters are a better
idea.
5)
If you have not done so yet,
make the switch to energy-saving
light bulbs. No need to wait for
the government to give out the
free bulbs it promised - those
can be made use of later.
Traditional bulbs use up more
electricity on producing heat
than giving off light - they are
just not worth having anymore.
Also, switch off lights and
appliances whenever you do not
need them on. The impression
that switching on and off
electrical appliances and light
bulbs means more consumption
than leaving them on is a myth.
Lighting absorbs 30 per cent of
the total energy consumption, so
saving here helps substantially.
How many times do we leave
lights on unnecessarily? Before
switching on the lights, see if
you can open a blind/curtain to
let some natural light in
6)
You cannot save much from
computers, but simple things can
make a difference. Keep your
computer on sleep instead of on
screensaver. And if you still
use the old CRT (curved)
screens, replace them with newer
LCD flat-screens. The latter are
far more efficient.
7)
Buy a
timer for your water
heater (geyser) so that it only
switches on an hour before you
actually need the hot water.
They do not cost much, but if
you are ready to time your
shower schedule accordingly, you
can make big savings. Also, set
the temperature to around 55
degrees Celsius, not more. You
can also choose to replace your
electric with a more efficient
gas water heater or better still
a solar water heater. When
offset against the recurring
cost of the new bills, the money
spent on replacing your old
electric unit can be recouped in
a short span of time.
8)
Be bathroom-efficient. Install a
water-efficient showerhead, and
shorten your showers by a couple
of minutes. If you have baths,
try use a little less water each
time. When shaving, switch off
the tap, and try washing your
face and brushing your teeth in
the shower. Don't let water run
continuously while shaving,
washing your teeth or hair.
9)
Save water by running your
dishwasher and washing machine
only when they are full. Are we
aware that nearly 50 per cent of
our water consumption is taken
up by flushing? Consider using a
half flush rather than a full
one - if your flushing unit does
not host this half-flush option,
I suggest you change it before
the next water bill - you will
be saving 25 per cent on all
future water bills.
10) Collect the water you use
for washing vegetables and fruit
and use them to water the
plants.
Electricity Usage Monitors
The basic figures contained
within a monthly or quarterly
electricity bill do not give you
much information as to where
your electricity is going - they
just tell you how much you have
used in total during that period
and how much totally you need to
pay. Therefore it is well worth
considering purchasing an
electricity usage monitor and
using it to see exactly where
all your hard-earned money is
going.
One great way to find out how
much electricity each of your
household appliances and
electronic devices uses is with
a wireless electricity
power/energy monitor, which
shows you in real time exactly
how much money your total home
or office electricity usage is
costing you. These monitors can
help you reduce your electricity
consumption by as much as 20%
simply by showing you what you
are using.
Sailwider-SmartPower is a developer and
manufacturer of electricity power
monitor and controlling system.
Most electricity energy monitors
in the market are uni-directional
(1-way) only, that means you can only
get energy consumption
information from the monitor.
The
bi-directional (2-way)
electricity power monitoring and
control system
from Sailwider-SmartPower makes
the user not only able to
monitor the electricity usage,
but also can easily remote control
the connected electrical
appliances wirelessly, providing great
convenience to electricity
efficiency management.
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