Lighting
- Turn off lights in unoccupied areas to save energy.
- Use efficient lights (LED) for indoor & outdoor lighting because of their longer lifespan and higher-efficiency compared to equivalent conventional lights.
- Clean your light bulbs regularly, as dirt limits the diffusion of light and decreases illumination.
- Turn off unnecessary lights and use natural lighting as much as you can in places that are not exposed directly to sunlight during summer.
- Use timers or motion-detectors to control the light’s operation, wherever applicable.
- Install dimmers to control the brightness of lights and reduce energy consumption.
Cooling
- Keep your thermostat set at 24°C, or higher. Each degree increase in set point temperature can save up to 5% on AC consumption.
- The optimal lifetime of an AC is ten years. If yours are older, consider replacing them with new energy-efficient ACs. This will help you save up to 25% of cooling consumption.
- Use fans to circulate air. They use about as much electricity as a light bulb and can make you feel comfortable at higher thermostat settings, and do not forget to turn fans off when you leave the room.
- Clogged or dirty AC filters can block the normal airflow and reduce the system’s efficiency significantly. It is recommended to clean your AC filters periodically or at least once a month during summer.
- During the winter season, utilize the pleasant weather and low temperature to cool & ventilate your home instead of ACs to conserve electrical energy.
- During the summer season, use curtains, drapes, shades, awnings and reflective materials to reduce the heat entering through your glass or windows.
- Use a programmable thermostat (Smart Thermostat) to better control the room temperature and AC operation duration. This will in turn reduce AC consumption.
Home Appliances
Cooking
- A microwave consumes less energy than an oven.
- Use flat-bottom pans for best contact with the heat, with tight-fitting lids to keep the steam in the container.
- Pressure cookers use lesser energy than ordinary pots and pans.
Water Heaters and Water Coolers
- Switch off electrical water heaters during summer and water coolers during winter, this can save up to 50% on your water heating and cooling energy consumption.
- When purchasing a new water heater, it is advisable to purchase solar water heaters if possible, or electrical water heater with top rating.
Refrigerators
- Set the fridge temperature to 4°C or to the manufacturer’s recommendation to avoid excessive cooling and wasting energy.
- Check your refrigerator door gasket periodically for signs of deterioration.
- Allow hot food to cool down before placing in your refrigerator.
- Keep your fridge away from the oven, dishwasher, dryer and direct sunlight to avoid overworking.
- When purchasing a new fridge, consider purchasing one with a high energy efficiency rating .
Dishwashers
- Only run your dishwasher when it is full to make the best use of water, energy and detergent.
- When purchasing a new dish washer, consider purchasing one with a high energy efficiency rating.
Washing Machines
- Wait till you have a full load of laundry before running the machine to save both water and energy. If you can’t wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load.
- When purchasing a new washing machine, consider purchasing one with a high energy efficiency rating.
- Reducing the temperature at which your washing machine operates is an easy way to save electricity. You don’t always need to wash your clothes on higher temperature settings.
- Dryers consume a lot of electricity. Take advantage of the sunshine and hang your clothes to dry.
