What can people do to save energy in their everyday life
What can people do to save energy in their everyday life
You have 30 minutes to do this task. You have received an email message from your English-speaking pen-friend Ben:
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Dear friend
…Yesterday was a special day — we had the Earth Hour. My town (and lots of towns around) went dark for one hour. It’s one of the ideas of an ecological group called the Green Movement. We switched off the lights to draw people’s attention to the poor ecological situation on the planet…
…Do people have the Earth Hour in your country? What can people do to save energy in their everyday life? Do you approve of the Green Movement, why?
Write a message to Ben and answer his 3 questions. Write 100–120 words. Remember the rules of letter writing.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Dear friend
Thanks for your last letter, and sorry I couldn’t answer you earlier.
It’s great that your town is practicing the Earth Hour, because in Russia nobody does it. Actually our government is effortless in the questions of ecology. Unfortunately it is true. But some people including me are doing forces to save the energy. There are few tips to save the waste of energy in everyday life: You can do it by turning down the thermostat, decreasing the hot water temperature, using energy-efficient appliances or by washing economically. I am totally agree with the Green Movement because they are caring about the future of our planet.
What can people do to save energy in their everyday life
Hot telephone line: +375 17 380-26-87 (Monday-Friday from 9:00 to 12:00)
Effective ways to save electricity in everyday life
Although energy-saving bulbs are 10 times more expensive than conventional incandescent bulbs, their service life is by 8-10 times higher and they consume by 5 times less energy. For example, a compact energy-saving bulb of 12 W gives as much light as a 60 W incandescent bulb. The average service life of a conventional incandescent bulb is 1,000 hours and the service life of a luminescent bulb is 8,000-10,000 hours. You can forget about replacing the bulbs for several years.
Even in standby mode, household appliances absorb energy.
The additional power consumption for outdated models of household devices is approximately 50%. For example, in energy-saving models of washing machines, the weight of the loaded clothes is automatically determined and, accordingly, the flow of water is regulated. Due to this, less water is consumed and, accordingly, the savings on heating the electricity is up to 40%. When fully loaded, this machine saves 0.4 kW per hour. When loading of the same tank of the washing machine is only half, 50% of its power is consumed idle. And by the way, washing at 30 ° C, instead of the usual 40 ° C, allows you to save 40% of energy. At the same time, the quality of washing remains the same, as modern washing powders are designed to efficiently wash clothes at low temperatures.
If you want to save on electricity, do not place it near a radiator or a gas stove. The refrigerator will use less energy by 20-30% if it is placed near the outer wall, but not close to it.
Systematically inspect the door seal. Even a small gap in the seal increases the power consumption by 20-30%.
If you have an electric stove in the kitchen, make sure that the burners are not deformed and fit snugly against the bottom of the cookware. This eliminates excessive consumption of heat and electricity. A dish with an uneven bottom can lead to an overuse of electricity to 40-60%. Use dishes with a bottom, which is equal to or slightly higher than the diameter of the electric plate. Cover the dishes on the stove with a lid. This also leads to saving electricity when cooking.
Scale in the kettle conducts heat almost thirty times worse than metal therefore it significantly increases the amount of electric energy consumption for boiling water.
A smooth white wall reflects 80% of the rays and lighting costs are reduced by 10-15%.
15 energy saving strategies
Last updated 4/14/2022
What is energy conservation?
At its core, energy conservation is the practice of using less energy in order to lower costs and reduce environmental impact. This can mean using less electricity, gas, or any other form of energy that you get from your utility and pay for. With finite energy resources available on our planet, actively conserving energy when possible is beneficial individually and to our larger energy systems.
Energy conservation vs. energy efficiency
While energy conservation is the practice of trying to use less energy for cost and environmental reasons, energy efficiency means using specific products designed to use less energy. These two concepts are inherently similar but involve different methods. Examples of energy conservation include using smart appliances and energy-saving bulbs in your home.
15 ways to save energy and electricity
Here are 15 ways to start conserving energy yourself:
Below, we’ll explore each of these options for energy conservation in detail.
1. Adjust your day-to-day behaviors
To reduce energy consumption in your home and increase your energy savings, you do not necessarily need to go out and purchase energy efficient products. Energy conservation can be as simple as turning off lights or appliances when you do not need them. You can also use energy-intensive appliances less by performing household tasks manually, such as hang-drying your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer, or washing dishes by hand.
The behavior adjustments that have the highest potential for utility savings are turning down the heat on your thermostat in the winter and using your air conditioner less in the summer. Heating and cooling costs constitute nearly half of an average home’s utility bills, so these reductions in the intensity and frequency of heating and cooling offer the greatest savings.
There are tools you can use to figure out where most of your electricity is going in your home and which appliances are using the most electricity on a day-to-day basis.
2. Replace your light bulbs
Traditional incandescent light bulbs consume an excessive amount of electricity and must be replaced more often than their energy efficient alternatives. Halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) use anywhere from 25-80 percent less electricity and last 3 to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs.
Although energy efficient bulbs are more expensive off the shelf, their efficient energy use and longer lifetimes mean that they cost less in the long run.
3. Use smart power strips
4. Install a programmable or smart thermostat
A programmable thermostat can be set to automatically turn off or reduce heating and cooling during the times when you are asleep or away. When you install a programmable thermostat, you eliminate wasteful energy use from heating and cooling without upgrading your HVAC system.
5. Purchase energy efficient appliances
On average, appliances are responsible for roughly 13% of total household energy use. When purchasing an appliance, you should pay attention to two numbers: the initial purchase price and the annual operating cost. Although energy efficient appliances might have higher upfront purchase prices, their operating costs are often 9-25% lower than conventional models.
When purchasing an energy efficient appliance, you should look for appliances with the ENERGY STAR label, which is a federal guarantee that the appliance will consume less energy during use and when on standby than standard models. Energy savings differ based on the specific appliance. For example, ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers consume 25% less energy and 45% less water than conventional ones, whereas ENERGY STAR refrigerators use only 9% less energy.
6. Reduce your water heating expenses
Water heating is a major contributor to your total energy consumption. Other than purchasing an energy efficient water heater, there are three methods of reducing your water heating expenses: you can simply use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, or insulate your water heater and the first six feet of hot and cold water pipes.
If you are considering replacing your water heater with an efficient model, you should keep in mind two factors: the type of water heater that meets your needs and the type of fuel it will use. For example, tankless water heaters are energy efficient, but they are also a poor choice for large families as they cannot handle multiple and simultaneous uses of hot water. Efficient water heaters can be anywhere between 8% and 300% more energy efficient than a conventional storage water heater.
7. Install energy efficient windows
For homes in colder regions, gas-filled windows with “low-e” coatings can significantly reduce your heating expenses. In addition, interior or exterior storm windows can reduce unnecessary heat loss by 10 to 20 percent. You should especially consider storm windows if your region experiences frequent extreme weather events.
8. Upgrade your HVAC system
An HVAC system is composed of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. Heating alone is responsible for more than 40% of home energy use. Because homes in Northern regions are exposed to much colder temperatures during the year, ENERGY STAR gas furnaces have different specifications in the northern and southern halves of the United States.
Air conditioning, by comparison, isn’t a significant contributor to energy bills – on average, it only makes up six percent of the total energy use of your home. ENERGY STAR central air conditioning units are eight percent more efficient than conventional models. Air conditioning systems are usually integrated with heating systems, which means that you should purchase your new furnace and air conditioner at the same time in order to ensure that the air conditioner performs at its maximum rated energy efficiency.
Upgrades to the third component of an HVAC system – ventilation – can also improve your energy efficiency. A ventilation system is composed of a network of ducts, which distributes hot and cold air throughout your home. If these ducts are not properly sealed or insulated, the resulting energy waste can add hundreds of dollars to your annual heating and cooling expenses. Proper insulation and maintenance on your ventilation system can reduce your heating and cooling expenses by up to 20%.
9. Weatherize your home
Weatherizing, or sealing air leaks around your home, is a great way to reduce your heating and cooling expenses. The most common sources of air leaks into your home are vents, windows, and doors. To prevent these leaks, you should ensure that there are no cracks or openings between the wall and vent, window, or doorframe.
To seal air leaks between stationary objects, such as the wall and window frame, you can apply caulk. For cracks between moving objects, such as operable windows and doors, you can apply weather stripping. Weather stripping and caulking are simple air sealing techniques that typically offer a return on investment in less than a year. Air leaks can also occur through openings in the wall, floor, and ceiling from plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring.
Air leaking out of your home is most often from the home interior into your attic through small openings. Whether it is through ducts, light fixtures, or the attic hatch, hot air will rise and escape through small openings. As the natural flow of heat is from warmer to cooler areas, these small openings can make your heating bill even higher if your attic is not sufficiently insulated. To reap the full amount of savings from weatherization, you should consider fully insulating your home.
10. Insulate your home
Insulation plays a key role in lowering your utility bills through retaining heat during the winter and keeping heat out of your home during the summer. The recommended level of heat resistance, or “R-value,” for your insulation depends on where you live. In warmer climates, the recommended R-value is much lower than for buildings located in colder regions like the Northeast.
The level of insulation you should install depends on the area of your house. Your attic, walls, floors, basement, and crawlspace are the five main areas where you should consider adding insulation. Use the Home Energy Saver tool for recommendations based on the specifications of your home, or find general regional recommendations on the Department of Energy’s webpage on insulation.
11. Wash your clothes in cold water
12. Replace your air filters
Many devices across your home use filters, including your HVAC system. These systems often come with displayed reminders to replace filters regularly. Doing so will not only help you avoid having to make costly repairs to your air conditioning but could also save money. In fact, The Department of Energy released a report saying that replacing dirty filters regularly can reduce household energy consumption up to 15%. This is because clean filters are more efficient and put less strain on your system.
13. Use your microwave instead of your stove
Along with other household chores, reheating food is a necessary and also energy-taxing process. Depending on your preference, a stove may preserve the flavor of food a little better. Independent of taste, however, there is evidence to suggest that a microwave is more energy efficient. The nature of a stove makes it prone to losing energy. A microwave, while using a lot of electricity, uses relatively short bursts of power for small amounts of time.
14. Use natural light
Lighting accounts for a significant amount of energy costs and using light from the sun is an intuitive way to reduce your energy consumption. If you can, it is better to have north and south-facing windows instead of east and west. This allows for more glancing light that produces heat and limits harsh light in the winter. While east and west-facing windows allow for more direct sunlight, they aren’t as effective at letting heat in.
15. Dress appropriately for the weather inside and outside
While it may seem obvious to bundle up outside when it gets cold in the winter, doing so inside can also help save on your heating costs. If you are staying warm by wearing more clothes indoors, your heating system does not have to work as hard. This allows you to save money and use less energy.
How to save energy at home during the winter
How to save energy at home during the summer
Why conserve energy in the first place?
Energy conservation is important and beneficial for many reasons. You can save money, increase your property value, and protect the environment all through simple energy-saving measures. These are great benefits you can gain from saving energy no matter your exact motivation for conservation in the first place. By simply taking a small step towards living a more energy-conscious lifestyle, you can begin to enjoy all of the perks of being energy efficient.
How can we save energy in our daily life?
Saving energy has a twofold purpose. It saves money for the consumer and it has a positive effect on the environmental impact we make on the planet. While the first reason will almost by default motivate most people to make a difference as it will have an immediate impact on their lives and welfare, saving the planet has become a consideration that is no longer the realm of the hippies and tree huggers- we all have a role to play. But just how can we save energy in our daily life?
Switch off lights and appliances
It may seem obvious but when a light is on in a room that isn’t being used, that is a flagrant waste. When you start to think of the pennies that add up for every hour that an unused light is on and add them up over a year, you’ll discover that by turning the lights off you’ll be that much closer to that cruise in the Caribbean you’ve always wanted. Think in terms of what you would rather use the money for and you’ll be re-educating your family about how leaving lights and appliances on unnecessarily is literally like burning money.
Standby devices also consume electricity, and while it may be at a fraction of the cost of running the device, it all adds up. In larger homes where there is more than one television or music centre, turning these devices off completely, even if it is only overnight will bring an exponential change to your monthly or quarterly energy bill.
Have you ever caught yourself whizzing away at the keyboard on your laptop with a fully charged battery, and it’s still plugged into the charger? Aside from the fact that is bad for your laptop and will reduce its life expectancy, you’re also still drawing energy off the grid. This is common with mobile phones and camera battery chargers too. Additionally, they could create a potential fire hazard.
The most common method used to save energy is the energy-saving light bulb. When shopping to replace light bulbs remember that not all light bulbs were created equally. You will also need a different wattage for a bedroom than you will in a living room or a kitchen, remember that although halogen bulbs provide both heat and light, they are the least efficient in terms of energy use and really should only be used if the purpose demands it.
Most energy suppliers will have government funded schemes where you can apply for a grant to save energy and make your home more energy efficient. If you can insulate your cavity walls and loft, and have it paid for through a scheme then not only will you save money on your bills, but you’ll also increase the value of your home. What a bonus!
Double glazed windows have become the rule rather than the exception in the UK today, but they also have a long lifespan and if your current double glazing is getting on in life, it may time to replace it- maybe even with triple glazing. The investment is twofold, you’ll see the cost of heating your home drop as well as the value of your property go up. That’s a real equity and cost equaliser.
In conservation areas and in older homes with single glazing and sash windows, double glazing may not be an option. This need not mean that you have to accept loss of heat through the windows. Professionally installed secondary glazing, use of night time shutters and heavier, lined curtains and blinds, or even a combination of both, can make a substantial difference to the heating bill and help to close up the hole in your pocket.
How can we save energy in our daily life when it comes to our home life? There are other important changes that can be made to save energy in addition to switching energy suppliers. In the case of homes that use immersion heaters, particularly in households that use storage and economy seven heating systems, insulated jackets for the hot water cylinder will keep the water hotter for longer reducing the need to reheat the water. This also helps to avoid having to reheat the entire cylinder simply to wash the dishes. There are also some innovative heating systems on the market which can save you money in the long run.
In the kitchen, the difference can be made by only boiling enough water for your cup of tea, as boiling a full kettle repeatedly across the day all adds up. The additional energy used daily will add up over days, weeks months and the year and amount to a much higher energy bill. If you cook for one, it is more efficient to cook larger amounts of a meal and then freeze some of the food to be reheated in a microwave, using the energy much more efficiently.
Developing an awareness of how we save energy, and the long term impact it has both economically and on the environment, will make life better for all of us in terms of additional disposable income as well as a planet worth leaving for our grandchildren.
12 Energy Saving Tips for Your Home
Have you ever wondered how small changes in each home can lead to a big impact on the environment?
There are numerous tips on home energy conservation, starting from small habits in daily lives to big investments that not only help the environment but also reduce your energy bills. So what are some of the simple tips to reduce energy consumption at home?
This article is based on the opinions of 20 green enthusiasts who share amazing tips and opinions on living a sustainable life by consuming less and transitioning towards renewable energy sources.
Here’s what you can read about
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We asked 20 professionals in the clean energy niche to tell us about their tips and opinions on how we can save energy at home either by switching to renewable energy sources or switching to energy-efficient appliances.
From turning off lights when leaving a room to investing in solar panels, here’s what they have to say about moving towards energy-efficient home improvements.
How to Save Energy at Home?
1. Turning off the lights when leaving a room
A basic habit to develop and foster is to make sure that you always turn off the lights when leaving a room. Make a reminder to do so until you get into a habit of doing so subconsciously. You can save a good chunk of your monthly electricity costs by doing something as simple as this regularly.
2. Use LED lights
Many homes are moving towards smart LED lights as they not only look stylish and affordable but are also way more efficient than halogen bulbs.
3. Switching to efficient appliances
Dryers and refrigerators are two of the most energy-intensive appliances in a home and replacing these with better efficient models can cut the electricity usage by half, thereby reducing your electricity bills. Installing heat pumps is another idea to reduce electricity consumption. In general, maintaining and replacing appliances every few years will make them have less burden on your electricity usage.
4. Unplug devices
Needless to say how important it is to unplug devices when not in use. Do not leave devices on standby but rather unplug them and save your electricity bill, and the planet.
5. Lessen water usage
Some easy fixes to reduce your water consumption could be taking quick showers, using just the required amount of water while cooking and turning off running taps when unused even for seconds.
6. Keep the thermostat at a lower temperature
Aim to keep your thermostat at a lower temperature around 17 degrees, this can make a big difference and save your energy costs. Using a programmable smart thermostat is even better.
7. Use smart automated devices
Smart automated devices can lower your energy bills even when you forget to. Smart automation systems will detect when you’re no longer using a device and turn off the power supply.
8. Use double glazing door
Double glazing doors and windows are a perfect solution for a modern home as they can significantly reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from heating and cooling thereby reducing your carbon footprint and also lowering your energy bills.
9. Cook with the lid on
This is a super simple hack in everyday life to save energy consumption, by cooking with the lid you are making sure to lessen the cooking time and water usage significantly.
10. Using smart meter
A smart meter is a great way to see how much power you’re consuming, this will help you keep a track of your consumption in real-time, and where you can reduce it.
11. Washing at low temp
Wash clothes at a cooler temperature and with a full load, you will be saving a lot of water and electricity.
12. Solar-powered devices
These days you can find a solar-powered version of almost any electronic you use in your home. Making small shifts and using more solar-powered electronics can go a long way and can also lower your maintenance and replacement costs of such electronics.
Top Alternative Sources of Energy for Homes
Solar Panels
Solar panels top the list of the most popular alternative sources of energy that can be used in a home. Considering that you can power your house with a few panels if you’re looking for a small jump in energy efficiency, solar is a good way to start moving off the grid and consuming a better source of electricity. There are many advances in solar photovoltaic technology and tax incentives to attract more homeowners.
Costs of investing in solar PV has halved in the past decade, so many people are considering opting for solar panels on their roof to generate their own clean and renewable electricity.
Wind Turbine
Using wind turbines to generate electricity will greatly depend on where you live. Installing small wind turbines in your home is a great eco-friendly option for those living in places with good wind speeds.
Geothermal Power
Using geothermal power for heating and cooling your home is a much more efficient way of investing into energy efficiency. Ground source heat pumps provide consistent heating and cooling throughout your house and are durable and efficient, letting you reap their benefits for decades.
Individual Homes Can Make a Difference to the Environment
Emitting Fewer Pollutants and GHG
Energy efficiency means using less energy which means needing less electricity generation, which means emitting less CO2 and other pollutants. Regardless of the methods used by homeowners to make their homes more efficient, any reduction in energy consumed directly reduces a home’s energy-related carbon emissions. This correlates to a reduction in greenhouse gasses released into our atmosphere and an overall improvement to human health and our environment.
Tips to Improve the Energy Rating of Your Home
Living in energy-efficient houses puts individuals into a more favourable position by having lower heating and electricity bills, staying more comfortable and safe during unexpected blackouts, increasing house’s resale value and ultimately bringing benefits to one’s health. Not only are these types of homes beneficial for their owners but also for the environment. From the viewpoint of the energy system, energy-efficient houses can actively help the power system by demanding less electricity from the grid in times of its shortage as well as supplying this valuable commodity into the system and thus helping it once it is needed.
Consume Less Energy from the Grid
Get an energy assessment done for your house to see the areas you can possibly cut down on your consumption and build up your energy score. There are numerous ways to save energy and consume less from the grid.
Replace Windows with Modern, Efficient Double Glazing
Another way to up your score is by investing in solid double glazing doors and windows that are more modern and efficient.
Energy Smart Landscaping
Smart landscaping design can not only make your home energy efficient in terms of heating and cooling, increasing your energy score but can also look great and add beauty to your home.
Wall Insulation
Both loft and wall insulation can reduce your energy bills and help in lowering your consumption, especially in the case of older homes that are not constructed in an energy-efficient manner. This is a good way to boost your score and renew your home to be more energy-efficient.
Smart Devices
Every modern home buyer these days is looking for smart homes which ease their lives and reduce their carbon footprint. Smart devices detect the usage of power and turn them when not in use. Humans may forget but they don’t, and who doesn’t want them in their house? A smart home will only increase in demand and a good way to increase your home value.
We would like to thank all the following experts, eco-friendly enthusiasts and green bloggers for their opinions and contribution.
