More Power - Less Wastage

Page last updated on 2010 / 18 / 07

Something that everyone can do is consume less power. Rather than finding (perhaps expensive) new ways of harnessing energy for electricity consumption, we can all evaluate how much electricity we currently use and see if there are ways to cut back without decreasing our enjoyment of home.

There are many lists out there, I've tried to collate them together into one handy list, and linked to some other pages I've found that document various approaches in saving energy.

* Composting - Rather than all your organic waste going to the dump, or an incinerator, why not compost it? If you have a garden, the highly nutrient compost will save you buying some, and means it doesn't need transported away or stored in refuse. It's recycling at its most organic.

* No Standby - If you have an appliance that sits on standby when it's not being used, switch it off! Some estimates put standby power usage at 10% of overall residential consumption. [Source]

* Loft Insulation - An appreciable percentage of power is used to heat our homes, which is wasted if your home is not properly insulated. It is estimated up to 25% of heat can be lost in a home that is lacking proper insulation [Source], With an adequate depth of insulation, you can make a return on your investment after 2 years and start saving money thereafter.

* Clothes Drying - Tumble Dryer's use a lot of energy, wherever possible, dry your clothes outside. The wind will do a great job in drying your clothes out. If that's not possible, fold your clothes while they are still warm from the tumble dryer, this will prevent as much creasing meaning you don't have to use your iron. [Source]

* Lights Off - Turn off lights when you leave a room! There is little point in having a room lit if you cannot see the light. Motion sensors are a more-costly/less-effort alternative that will switch them off for you.

* Better Lighting - Incandescent bulbs are being phased out, in some country by law, because fluorescent bulbs last longer and more efficient. Replace all your old bulbs and start saving over the long term.

* Kettle's Boiled - When filling a kettle, fill it with just enough water for your needs. Kettles consume a large amount of energy and more water means more energy consumed.

* Wattmeter - There are numerous products that can measure the amount of energy used by your home appliances. When people are more aware of the energy they are using, they tend to use less.

- The IESO has a similar list of energy saving tips, check them out. - A List of Household Appliances and their Power Consumption