Best ways to save electricity

Best ways to save electricity

As we know electricity has become the most essential commodity but this electricity is not free to use in most of the country. We have to pay money for using electricity. An electricity meter is used to measure how much energy we have used by consuming electricity. As the electricity used increased the electricity bill also increased. so we have to know the best ways to save electricity to reduce electricity bills.

We will see one by one according to electrical appliances used and how to use them to save electricity.

Lighting System

The best ways to save electricity through lighting systems are-

  1. One of the best energy-saving devices is the light switch. Turn off lights when not required.
    Many automatic devices can help in saving energy used in lighting. Consider employing infrared sensors, motion sensors, automatic timers, dimmers, and solar cells wherever applicable, to switch on/off lighting circuits.
  2. As for as possible use task lighting, which focuses light where it’s needed. A reading lamp, for example, lights only reading material rather than the whole room.
  3. Dirty tube lights and bulbs reflect less light and can absorb 50 percent of the light; dust your tube lights and lamps regularly.
  4. Fluorescent tube lights and CFLs convert electricity to visible light up to 5 times more efficiently than ordinary bulbs and thus save about 70% of electricity for the same lighting levels.
  5. Ninety percent of the energy consumed by an ordinary bulb (incandescent lamp) is given off as heat rather than visible light.
  6. Replace your electricity-guzzling ordinary bulbs (incandescent lamps) with more efficient types. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use up to 75 percent less electricity than incandescent lamps.
  7. A 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

Room Air Conditioners

The best ways to save electricity through Room Air Conditioners are –

  1. Use ceiling or table fan as the first line of defense against summer heat. Ceiling fans, for instance, cost about 30 paise an hour to operate – much less than air conditioners (Rs.10.00 per hour).
  2. You can reduce air-conditioning energy use by as much as 40 percent by shading your home’s windows and walls. Plant trees and shrubs to keep the day’s hottest sun off your house.
  3. One will use 3 to 5 percent less energy for each degree air conditioner is set above22°C (71.5°F), so set the thermostat of room air conditioner at 25°C (77°F) to provide the most comfort at the least cost.
  4. Using ceiling or room fans allows you to set the thermostat higher because the air movement will cool the room.
  5. A good air conditioner will cool and dehumidify a room in about 30 minutes, so use a timer and leave the unit off for some time.
  6. Keep doors to air-conditioned rooms closed as often as possible.
  7. Clean the air-conditioner filter every month. A dirty air filter reduces airflow and may damage the unit. Clean filters enable the unit to cool down quickly and use less energy.
  8. If the room air conditioner is older and needs repair, it’s likely to be very inefficient. It may work out cheaper on life cycle costing to buy a new energy-efficient air conditioner.

9. Make sure your air conditioning and heating units are ENERGY STAR models.

10. Set a non-ENERGY STAR air conditioning unit to “Quiet Guard” or “Power Save” mode.

11. Get a programmable thermostat that will automatically turn your AC and heater on or off to save on energy.

12. Always keep windows and doors tightly shut when running the AC or heater.

13. If you have central AC, close the air vents in unused rooms to avoid cooling or heating unused spaces.

14. Turn off kitchen or bath exhaust fans as soon as possible.

15. Use ceiling fans to cool a room instead of turning on the AC.

16. You can set your thermostat to slightly higher temperatures if you have ceiling fans installed!

Refrigerators

The best ways to save electricity through refrigerators are –

  1. Make sure that the refrigerator is kept away from all sources of heat, including direct sunlight, radiators, and appliances such as the oven, and cooking range.
    When it’s dark, place a lit flashlight inside the refrigerator and close the door. If light around the door is seen, the seals need to be replaced.
  2. Refrigerator motors and compressors generate heat, so allow enough space for continuous airflow around the refrigerator. If the heat can’t escape, the refrigerator’s cooling system will work harder and use more energy.
  3. A full refrigerator is a fine thing, but be sure to allow adequate air circulation inside.
  4. Think about what you need before opening the refrigerator door. You’ll reduce the amount of time the door remains open.
  5. Allow hot and warm foods to cool and cover them well before putting them in the refrigerator. The refrigerator will use less energy and condensation will be reduced.
  6. Make sure that the refrigerator’s rubber door seals are clean and tight. They should hold a slip of paper snugly. If paper slips out easily, replace the door seals.
  7. When dust builds up on the refrigerator’s condenser coils, the motor works harder and uses more electricity. Clean the coils regularly to make sure that air can circulate freely.
  8. For manual defrost refrigerators, the accumulation of ice reduces the cooling power by acting as unwanted insulation. Defrost freezer compartment regularly for a manual defrost refrigerator.

Water Heater

The best ways to save electricity through Water Heater are –

  1. To help reduce heat loss, always insulate hot water pipes, especially where they run through unheated areas. Never insulate plastic pipes.
  2. By reducing the temperature setting of water heater from 60 degrees to 50 degrees C, one could save over 18 percent of the energy used at the higher setting.

Microwave Ovens &Electric Kettles

The best ways to save electricity through Microwave Ovens &Electric Kettles are –

  1. Microwaves save energy by reducing cooking times. In fact, one can save up to 50 percent on your cooking energy costs by using a microwave oven instead of a regular oven, especially for small quantities of food.
  2. Remember, microwaves cook food from the outside edge toward the centre of the dish, so if you’re cooking more than one item, place larger and thicker items on the outside.
  3. Use an electric kettle to heat water. It’s more energy-efficient than using an electric cooktop element.
  4. When buying a new electric kettle, choose one that has an automatic shut-off button and a heat-resistant handle.
  5. It takes more energy to heat a dirty kettle. Regularly clean your electric kettle by combining boiling water and vinegar to remove mineral deposits.
  6. Don’t overfill the kettle for just one drink. Heat only the amount of water you need.

Computers

The best ways to save electricity through Computers are –

  1. Turn off your home office equipment when not in use. A computer that runs 24 hours a day, for instance, uses – more power than an energy-efficient refrigerator.
  2. If your computer must be left on, turn off the monitor; this device alone uses more than half the system’s energy.
  3. Setting computers, monitors, and copiers to use sleep-mode when not in use helps cut energy costs by approximately 40%.
  4. Battery chargers, such as those for laptops, cell phones and digital cameras, draw power whenever they are plugged in and are very inefficient. Pull the plug and save.
  5. Screen savers save computer screens, not energy. Start-ups and shutdowns do not use any extra energy, nor are they hard on your computer components. In fact, shutting computers down when you are finished using them actually reduces system wear – and saves energy

Best ways to save electricity in winter

1. Reverse your ceiling fan’s direction to run clockwise and at low speed so that the room air is being pulled up, and warm air is distributed from the ceiling down into the room.

2. Keep your thermostat settings at around 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit at night to save on heating costs.

11. Remember to reduce the temperature setting on your thermostat whenever you leave the house.

Best ways to save electricity in Summer

  1. Turn your ceiling fan’s blades so that it runs in a counter-clockwise direction. This will direct the air down into the room and create a cooling wind-chill effect.

2. Try to keep the difference between the temperature of your thermostat setting and outside temperatures to a minimum. The bigger the difference, the more energy you will lose.

3. Increase temperature settings on your thermostat when you leave the house – there is no need to keep cooling excessively when no one is home.

4. Consider turning your AC off entirely every time you leave your house or apartment, especially when you are traveling for business or leisure.

5. Cleaning your air conditioner and heater’s air filters at least once a month.

6. Check if any ducts to your heating or cooling equipment are leaking and fix them to increase efficiency levels.

7. To keep your central air conditioner unit working efficiently, clean the outside compressor on a regular basis.

8.Keep plants at least one foot away from an outdoor AC unit to provide sufficient airflow.

9.Plan to have your entire heating system inspected by a professional on a regular basis, especially if it’s natural gas.

10.Invest into an energy-efficient heat pump to save on heating costs.

11.Electric baseboard heating can be very effective. To keep it that way, you should leave a clearance of at least three inches under the heating unit and avoid placing furniture or draperies too close to it.

12.While portable heaters are very convenient, they also waste a lot of energy. Limit your use of the same and opt for the regular heaters instead.

Best ways to save electricity

Insulation & Ventilation

13. Check your roof and basement for water leaks. Insulation that gets wet is ineffective!

14.Seal any cracks in the attic, basement, or crawl spaces with materials like caulk and spray foam.

15.A mixture of more than 2 layers of glass is called the insulated glass, and each layer of glass is air-tightened sealed like upside-down upon each other. Which is best for insulation and ventilation system. You can buy insulated glass here.

16. Beware: air vents blocked by drapes, curtains, and furniture can increase heating costs.

17. Make sure your walls are insulated properly to prevent energy loss and shield your home from outside temperatures.

18. Cover bare floors with carpeting or rugs to help insulate your home.

19. Shut the damper in your fireplace when it is not in use to keep a warm arm from escaping.

20. Keep the doors inside your home open to allow conditioned air to circulate freely.

21. Most homes come equipped with about 3 inches of insulation in the attic. You can easily upgrade this to 12 inches to reduce both heating and cooling energy usage.

Reference – https://www.homeselfe.com/100-ways-to-save-energy/

Related article- https://www.electricalsells.com/how-to-calculate-electricity-bill-from-meter-reading/

https://www.electricalsells.com/different-types-of-energy-meter/

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