by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
In this post we are going to talk about saving energy and money by cutting down your usages of electricity by switching off things that are not being used. It ain't difficult and rocket science. All it requires is a little thought and making it a habit.
Here are some of the things that you can do to drastically cut your electricity usage today.
Switch TV, DVD and Set-Top boxes off at the wall when not being used. Never leave on ‘standby’ as this drains electricity. If everyone in the UK stopped leaving electrical goods on ‘standby’, two of those filthy coal power stations could close for good!
Unplug mobile phone chargers from the wall when not in use. Mobile phone chargers that are left switched on without a phone attached are still draining electricity and costing you money.
Switch to energy saving light bulbs. Probably the easiest way to do your bit. Some people moan that they take a while to get bright, but considering we are facing global uncertainty with climate change and global warming these guys really need to get some perspective. Don’t get left behind.
Switch off your Computer, and peripherals, such as printers, etc. when not using it. It might also be a good idea to turn off straight forward modems, though they may actually be powered from the USB of the PC and not have external supply; some do, however.
Turning off your Wi-Fi when you are not using it, on the other hand, depends on how well it comes back on afterwards and/or whether you end up to having reset things when it has been off for a while. I have found that happening and that is the reason the Wi-Fi is on most of the time.
Cook with lids on saucepans. Food will cook quicker, which means you will use your cooker less. Then switch the cooker off at the wall as well for a bigger saving. Think of getting a slow-cooker. Aside from the fact that, supposedly, they save money, you can start the dinner in the morning and when you come home from a day's work your dinner is ready. Also much tastier than stove top cooked.
When you buy new electrical items, buy ones with good energy ratings. Some may be a little more expensive when you buy them, but you will make a saving in electricity over the life of the product, that it will work out cheaper in the long run.
Turn off lights that are not in use. You do not need the light on in the bathroom all evening and night when you are not in there. Neither do you need the light on in the bedroom when you are in the lounge or the kitchen, and so on. Only turn the lights on that you need and then turn them back off.
But how much will I save on this? That is a question that many will ask. That depends very much on what you would generally leave on, plugged in, etc.
Any calculation and idea I could give you are just ideas for it all depends on how big the house, how many people live there, and other factors like that.
© 2010
