Energy is the topic of the moment. It is one of the most talked-about subjects in the world, because it is everywhere.
Have you ever imagined what your life would be like without energy? It is remarkable how focused we are on our routines without realising that the smallest action requires energy. Turning on the television, heating food in the microwave, sitting at the computer, picking up the phone, switching on a light.
With technology evolving and new devices appearing almost daily, the question starts to arise:
How do you save energy?
Saving energy means using electricity rationally and consciously, in a way that brings the electricity bill down and also helps preserve the natural world. Because the less energy we use, the fewer natural resources we consume (coal, oil, gas), all of them globally significant.
Day to day, our environmental footprint has a large impact because of how dependent we are on electronic devices. We use the computer to work, we are on our phones at every hour, we feel the need to be online at every moment, whether for leisure or for work. That is before you even get to the basics, like switching on a light or having a fridge at home.
For all these reasons and a few more, it becomes increasingly important to think about ways of saving energy that do not compromise our way of life but that actually work. There are thousands of things we do every day that use energy. Here are some suggestions you can try to put in place on your own or as a family, for the good of the planet and for all our futures.
Limit what your appliances use
The energy label tells you how efficient each household appliance is. An appliance rated A++ is more efficient, cheaper to run and has less environmental impact. The scale runs down to G, which is the least suitable. When you are shopping for an appliance, take its energy rating into account. It is now possible to find options with a good price-to-quality ratio.
A tumble dryer or an oven, for example, use a lot of energy and should be used sparingly. With washing machines, you can cut consumption by choosing programmes at lower temperatures. And with air conditioning units, the filters need cleaning regularly.
Avoid phantom consumption
Some equipment uses more when it is on stand-by, the energy various devices draw when they have been switched off by remote control.
That silent, or phantom, consumption can lead to higher bills, because the energy the device is drawing is not being used to do the job the device is actually for. It just sits there with a little light on, in stand-by.
Of course, plenty of equipment these days carries a high energy rating, so even on stand-by those devices draw very little indeed. My advice is that with the older devices you have around the house, or those with a very low rating such as E, F or G, you unplug them wherever you can to avoid phantom consumption. As an alternative, you can also put timers on the sockets to stop energy being used during the hours you are out of the house, or overnight.
Pay attention to lighting
Swap the bulbs around the house for LED ones. They cost less to run and represent a substantial saving on electricity.
Paying attention to energy use also means making the most of the natural light in our homes. Try to get as much out of the daylight as you can. Light, neutral colours are worth using on walls and ceilings alike, because they make spaces feel brighter and more open.
In winter, make the most of the sunlight to warm the house. In summer, keep direct sun out during the day and open the windows at night to encourage natural ventilation.
Temperatures in the home
Sales of air conditioning units have risen sharply over recent years. In summer especially, what these units use accounts for a good slice of household consumption, in winter the load shifts to other kinds of equipment, such as radiators or gas heaters.
Heating and cooling equipment is among the heaviest energy users, so it should be set to do its job as efficiently as possible, without excess. It is also worth managing open windows and doors properly so you do not lose the energy you have spent.
Watch the small gestures
Some habits can prove expensive. There is always that automatic or unnecessary gesture that has an impact on energy use. Change a few small daily habits and you will notice the difference. Here are some examples:
- Plan your meals: if you think ahead about what you are eating, you can take food out of the freezer to defrost in good time, instead of resorting to the microwave;
- Avoid opening the fridge door unnecessarily: every time you open the fridge for more than 10 seconds you are increasing energy use. Take out everything you need for the meal in one go;
- Full loads: both the washing machine and the dishwasher should be run only when they are fully loaded.
Use the oven well: make the most of its capacity and cook several things at once, or batch-cook a few meals, or make the pudding while you are at it. Switch the oven off five to ten minutes before the food is due to be done, the residual heat will finish the cooking without using any more energy. And it is worth repeating: avoid opening the door while the food is cooking.
