Energy Efficiency
Created | Updated May 10, 2002
Why should I be efficient?
There are 2 major advantages to becoming more energy efficient:
- Save yourself Money
- Save the Environment
Save Yourself Money
We pay for the energy we use. It therefore makes sense that when we 'use less', we also 'pay less'. Later in this article will be a guide to how you can produce a double saving (energy and money) with just a few easy steps.
Save the Environment
The majority of energy/electricity comes from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) at power stations. Burning these fuels produces damaging greenhouse gases. As heat becomes trapped by these gases in the atmposphere the whole world climate begins to change, icecaps melt, and generally the current climate is sent to extremes:
- The Cold gets Colder
- The Hot gets Hotter
- The Wet gets Wetter
- The Dry gets Drier
By becoming energy efficient, we can reduce the need for fuels to be burnt, and hence reduce the amount of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere - we would be saving the planet.
So, how do I go about being more Energy Efficient?
There are 5 main areas to concentrate on:
- Heating
- Lighting
- Applicances
- Insulation
- Glazing
Heating
It is understandable that when a cold winter comes along that no one wants to be cold. Mind you, have you ever had that feeling when you walk into someones house in the winter and it is absolutely roasting? Well, it shouldn't be... Set your thermostat between 19 and 21 degrees celcius for comfortable living. Any more and you are wasting big time.
Another couple of good ideas as far as heating is concerned are the use of 'Heating Controls' and 'Thermostatic Radiator Valves'. The 'controls' allow you to set the times which the heating should be on (usually for two periods during the day). Thermowatsthat? Individual controls for each radiator. This allows you to turn off/down the levels of heating in rooms that are used infrequently (i.e. Guest Rooms). Obviously both of these devices give you more control over heating output.
Lighting
A couple of very useful tips for saving energy through lighting measures. Most importantly, turn off any lights in rooms you are not in (i.e. Turn off when you leave a room and back on when you go back in - easy and effective). Second, purchase energy saving lightbulbs. This may only use 10% of the energy that ordinary lightbulbs use, and the price of energy saving lightbulbs has come down in recent years also. Potential for big savings here.
THIS ISN'T FINISHED - BUT IN TRUE ARNIE FASHION, I'LL BE BACK!
