Why Save Electricity?

· Using electricity also has environmental consequences. Most electricity is generated by burning coal and running nuclear power plants. Every time you turn on lights, you create a little pollution.

· The world’s weather is changing dramatically and unpredictably as a result of burning fossil fuels for heat and electricity. Moreover, if we do not save electricity, our energy sources like coal will eventually dry up.

· Greater energy efficiency means fewer resources used to sustain people and businesses.

Try to minimize electricity use

Its generation needs a lot of energy, mostly heat produced in coal, gas or nuclear plants. Using electric hot water heaters or space heating is extremely inefficient. At the power plant, some 60 percent of the energy is lost as waste heat. Another 10 percent is lost in electricity lines and transformers before the electricity even reaches your home.

LIGHTING

1. Make use of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) in place of filament lamps / incandescent lamps / mercury vapor lamps.
2. A compact fluorescent light bulb uses ¼ the energy of a conventional light bulb to put out the same amount of light. This means that to product 100 watts of light a fluorescent bulb only draws 25 watts of power. Since you are charged for electricity by the kilowatt, that extra 75 watts you didn’t use saves you in electricity costs!
3. A 36 / 40 Watt tube light gives better illumination than a 60 or 100 Watt bulb consuming 40 to 60% less power only.
4. 36 Watt slim tube lights give equivalent light output as that of 40 Watt tubelights.
5. Use electronic ballasts / electronic choke against conventional electromagnetic ballasts tubelights for they consume less power.
6. A so called zero watt bulb consumes 12 to 15 Watts / hour. CFL’s are available in 5,7,9,11 watts capacities and they give better light output.
7. Lighting devices like bulb, tube lights, CFL’s etc., consume power as per their capacities. Therefore use appropriate lighting depending on the requirement.
8. Reflectors can be provided in light fittings.
9.Install energy saver in lighting circuit.
10. Install photo electric contacts / daylight switch to switch off lights.
11. Install solar energy systems.
12. Clean bulbs and tube lights periodically to avoid reduction in illumination.

NATURAL LIGHTING

1. Do not forget to switch OFF lights and fans when not required.
2. Utilize the SUNLIGHT wherever and whenever available.
3. A house should be designed in such a way that maximum sunlight and ventilation are obtained.
4. Light colored walls reflect more light and hence minimum lamps are enough.
5. Use daylight as far as possible.
6. Prefer adequate illumination and use appropriate lighting according to the requirement.
7. Utilize natural light by installing translucent sheets in the roofs.

FANS AND MOTORS

1. Use light weight / energy efficient fans.
2. Use electronic regulators for fans for they consume less power and provides fine control.
3. Use fans with FRP blades as per the requirement.
4. Avoid rewinding of motors.

WASHING MACHINE

1. Use washing machine to its full capacity.
2. Avoid using dryer in washing machines whenever possible.

AIR-CONDITIONER

1. Switch OFF directional vanes provided in the air-conditioner when not required.
2. Air-conditioned room must be leak proof.
3. Avoid frequent opening and closing of air-conditioned room.
4. Do not use a whole house fan or window fan while the air-conditioner is ON. Do use ceiling fan. It will allow setting the thermostat at a higher temperature and will make comfortable at about 25.5°C without the ceiling fan. With each degree raise of the thermostat, it will save 3-5% on the portion of the electric bill going to air-conditioning.
5. Keep down the humidity. Use the bathroom exhaust fan while showering. Make sure the dryer is venting outside.
6. Use correct capacity air-conditioner to suit the requirement.

IRONING

1. Adopt large scale ironing.
2. Avoid ironing one or two clothes daily.

REFRIGERATION

1. Keep refrigerator away from the wall by atleast 200 mm.
2. Avoid frequent closing and opening of refrigerator door.
3. Allow refrigerated food stuff to come to room temperature before heating.
4. Allow heated / cooled food stuff to cool down to normal temperature before refrigerating.
5. Get in the habit of keeping items in the same place in fridge (e.g., Milk in the chiller, eggs in the door etc.,)
6. Make sure foods are covered before they are kept in the refrigerator. Otherwise, the moisture in them will evaporate which makes the refrigerator use more energy.
7. Freezer works more efficiently when full than when nearly empty.

WATER PUMPS

1. Use energy efficient water pumps.
2. Use correct size PVC piping system in water lines.
3. Arrest leakage of water in taps / joints.
4. Use capacitors for water pumps to improve power factor.
5. Use level controllers for tripping of water pumps while pumping of water to Overhead tanks etc.,

WATER HEATERS

1. When immersion rods are used, switch OFF when the required temperature is reached. Cover the container with a lid to avoid temperature reduction.
2. Avoid water leakage in taps / joints.
3. Use Non-Conventional energy sources., i.e., Solar water heaters.

WIRING CIRCUITS

1. Periodical inspection of wiring should be done to detect leakage if any.
2. Use Earth leakage circuit breakers.
3. Use correct size wires, preferably copper wires.
4. Provide balances loading in all the three phases.

KITCHEN & COOKING

1. Organized cooking activity can save 20% energy.
2. Almost one third of all home electricity use is in the kitchen
3. Use right quantity of water required for cooking and reduce gas / kerosene usage of 65%.
4. Pressure cooker should be loaded 2/3rd if the foodstuff is solid and 1/2 if loaded with liquid.
5. Pressure cookers if properly used can save up to 50 to 75% of energy as well as time.
6. Cook food using solar cookers and save cost of 2 LPG cylinders
7. Reduce the flame when boiling starts.
8. Soak ingredients before cooking.
9. Shallow wide vessels save fuel.
10. Use of small burner in a LPG stove saves fuel.
11. Always put the lid to prevent heat losses.
12. Clean the burners regularly.
13. Cooking vessels should always be scrubbed clean, for effective heat transfer to the contents.
14. Plan the meal timings of the family members and avoid frequent reheating of food.