Fascinated by the latest gizmos? Hold on! Before investing in any latest electrical appliance, just check how much power is it going to swallow? If you are going shopping with your child for a playstation , just go through the report of a global study which says that game consoles like Play Station 3 consumes five times more power than a medium sized refrigerator. Such a Play Station, even on its standby mode, could cost almost $250 (about Rs. 11,000) a year in electricity as compared to a fridge which costs less than $50 (about Rs 2,000) a year.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has made energy efficiency rates mandatory for refrigerators, tube lights, geysers and is planning to add air- conditioners to this list. This has been done to encourage the industry to come up with more energy efficient products. Now it’s the turn of the consumers to become responsible and switch to electrical appliances with BEE Star- Rated Labels.
Star ratings determine how many kilo-watts of power an appliance consumes in a year. A product labeled one star will consume 20 % more energy than a two star product. With every rise in the number of stars, energy efficiency improves by 20 %. Thus an appliance with One Star is least energy efficient and that with Five Stars is most energy efficient.
So next time when you are buying any appliance, count the stars within the coloured strip of the BEE label and feel honoured for being a responsible member of the mankind helping reduce global warming, an enlightened citizen increasing the availability of electricity for more people and a happy money saver reducing your own electricity bill.
Here are some more tips on energy saving
Lighting
• Turn off lights when not required
• Try to use automatic devices such as infrared sensors, motion sensors, automatic timers, dimmers and solar cells wherever applicable to switch on/ off lighting circuits.
• As far as possible use task lighting which focuses light wherever it is needed, for example- reading lamp.
• Clean up tube lights and lamps regularly. The dirt on them can absorb 50% of the light.
• Replace the ordinary bulbs with the more efficient types. Fluorescent tube lights and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are 5 times more efficient than ordinary bulbs (incandescent lamps).They save up to 70% of electricity for the same lighting levels and last up to eight times longer.
• Don’t use curtains during daytime. Sunlight is brighter than light bulbs and it’s free too.
• Use bulbs with lower wattage.
• Use fewer bulbs in multi bulb fixtures such as chandeliers.
• Use photocells (an automatic technology) for your outdoor lights. They turn on when it gets dark out and shut themselves off at dawn.
Electronic Appliances
• Don’t keep your appliances such as TV, air conditioner, microwave oven, music system, computers, VCRs, CD and DVD players and other home electronics on stand by mode. In the average home, 40 per cent of all electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Consider unplugging your electronics or turning off the power bar when you are not using them. In fact some of the brands are trying to introduce a new circuit board which will ensure that when a consumer shuts the TV, it does not go into the stand by mode.
• A plasma TV that’s the same size as your older T.V. can use twice the energy. And the bigger your T.V., the more power it uses
Air Conditioners
• As far as possible use ceiling or table fans to keep off summer heat. A ceiling fan costs about 30 paise an hour when in use as compared to an Air Conditioner which costs Rs.10 per hour.
• Shade your home’s windows and walls – this can reduce air conditioning energy by about 40%. Plant trees and shrubs to keep off the heat but do not block the airflow.
• Save 3 to 5 % of energy for each degree by setting your room air conditioner above 22 degree Celsius. The ideal temperature for getting most comfort at the least cost is 25 degree Celsius.
• Running ceiling or table fan allows the room to cool with the air movement as a result of which you can set the air conditioner at a higher degree.
• A good air conditioner cools the room in about 30 minutes, so use a timer and leave the unit off for sometime.
• Keep regulators at "low cool" position.
• Keep doors and windows or any other opening of the air conditioned rooms closed.
• Clean the air conditioner filters every month. It allows the unit to cool down quickly and use less energy.
• Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner run longer than necessary.
Refrigerators
• Do not open the door of the refrigerators frequently or leave it open for longer than necessary, as cold air escapes. Think before opening the door what all you need to take out from the fridge and bring all the containers to be placed in it near the fridge at the same time.
• Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Set its thermostat in medium cooling position.
• A full fridge is O K but do not overload the refrigerator. Let the cool air circulate within the unit.
• Cover liquids and foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
• Let food get cool before placing it in the fridge or freezer.
• Keep your refrigerator away from all the sources of heat including direct sunlight, radiators, oven, cooking range etc.
• Refrigerator’s rubber door seals should be clean and tight. When it’s dark, place a lit flashlight inside the refrigerator and close the door. If light around the door is seen, replace the seals. Do the same when the door cannot hold a slip of paper tightly.
• Allow enough space around the refrigerator for continuous airflow otherwise the heat generated by the motor and compressors will not allow the unit’s cooling system to work properly which in turn will lead to use of more energy.
• Clean the refrigerator’s condenser coils regularly so that air can circulate freely otherwise the motor will work hard and use more electricity.
• Defrost freezer compartment regularly for a manual defrost refrigerator as the accumulated ice reduces its cooling power.
Washing Machine
• Power shortage is mostly experienced during the peak hours of 10 am to 8 pm. So shift consumption away from this time and avoid adding to the power demand during this peak time. By simply using some of our common electrical appliances before and after this time will do the help. Use your washing machine before 10 AM or after 8 PM.
• Always run washing machine only with full load.
• Set the shortest cycle time for washing.
• Use optimal quantity of water and correct amount of detergent.
• Use timer facility to save energy.
• Wash your clothes with cold water. About 85 – 90 per cent of the energy used by washing machines comes from heating the water. Use hot water only when it can’t be avoided and just do not be too liberal when deciding its necessity.
• Always use cold water in the rinse cycle.
• Prefer natural drying over electric dryers.
Computers
• Turn off your computer when not in use. Screen savers only save computer screens, not energy.
• If the computer must be left on, turn off the monitor which alone uses more than half the system’s energy. Whenever affordable, switch to LCD monitors which use 66% less electricity than the older CRT type. The smaller your computer monitor is, the less electricity it will use.
• Use sleep mode of computers, monitors, copiers etc. when not in use, to save approximately 40% of energy.
• Pull out the battery chargers like those for laptops, cell phones and digital cameras after use as they draw power when plugged in and are not at all energy efficient.
• Use a power strip. Plug peripherals (like printers, audio systems, monitors) into a power strip or UPS. Then turn it off when you want all of your equipments to turn off.
• Use a smart power strip. Some new types of power strips use a motion sensor to decide if you're still at your computer. If not, they shut down power to certain sockets (such as ones for peripherals) after a user-designated time has elapsed. Other power strips shut off several sockets, based on whether you've powered down a device plugged into the "control" socket.
• Consider using a laptop when you have one. Laptops use up to 90 per cent less power than a desktop computer.
Microwave Ovens
• Microwave ovens save energy by reducing cooking time. 50% of energy can be saved by using Microwave ovens instead of regular ovens, especially for small quantities of food.
• Do not bake large food items.
• Don’t preheat unless unavoidable. Unless you're baking breads or pastries, you may not even need to preheat.
• Don't open the oven door too often to check food condition as each opening leads to a temperature drop of 14°C (25°F).
Smaller Electric Appliances
• Avoid dry grinding in your food processors (mixers and grinders) as it takes longer time than liquid grinding.
• Turn off electric stoves several minutes before the specified cooking time.
• Use flat-bottomed pans that make full contact with the cooking coil.
Electric Kettle
• Use electric kettle to heat water as it is more efficient as compared to electric cook top element.
• When buying electric kettle, choose the one with an automatic shut off feature and a heat resistant handle.
• A dirty kettle uses more energy to heat up. Clean them regularly with boiled water and vinegar so as to remove the mineral deposits.
• Don’t overfill the kettle for just one drink. Heat only the required amount of water.
Electric iron
• When shopping for an electric iron select iron boxes with automatic temperature cutoff.
• For different types of clothes, keep the position of the regulator according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer
• Do not iron wet clothes and do not use more water on clothes while ironing.
Fans
• Use electronic regulators instead of conventional regulators for ceiling fans.
• Exhaust fans should be installed at a higher elevation than ceiling fans.
Geyser
• Use before 10 AM.
• Switch off when not required.
• 18% of energy can be saved by setting water heater at 50 Degree Celsius instead of 60 Degree Celsius.
• Use Solar Water Heater - a good replacement for an electric one.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has made energy efficiency rates mandatory for refrigerators, tube lights, geysers and is planning to add air- conditioners to this list. This has been done to encourage the industry to come up with more energy efficient products. Now it’s the turn of the consumers to become responsible and switch to electrical appliances with BEE Star- Rated Labels.
Star ratings determine how many kilo-watts of power an appliance consumes in a year. A product labeled one star will consume 20 % more energy than a two star product. With every rise in the number of stars, energy efficiency improves by 20 %. Thus an appliance with One Star is least energy efficient and that with Five Stars is most energy efficient.
So next time when you are buying any appliance, count the stars within the coloured strip of the BEE label and feel honoured for being a responsible member of the mankind helping reduce global warming, an enlightened citizen increasing the availability of electricity for more people and a happy money saver reducing your own electricity bill.
Here are some more tips on energy saving
Lighting
• Turn off lights when not required
• Try to use automatic devices such as infrared sensors, motion sensors, automatic timers, dimmers and solar cells wherever applicable to switch on/ off lighting circuits.
• As far as possible use task lighting which focuses light wherever it is needed, for example- reading lamp.
• Clean up tube lights and lamps regularly. The dirt on them can absorb 50% of the light.
• Replace the ordinary bulbs with the more efficient types. Fluorescent tube lights and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are 5 times more efficient than ordinary bulbs (incandescent lamps).They save up to 70% of electricity for the same lighting levels and last up to eight times longer.
• Don’t use curtains during daytime. Sunlight is brighter than light bulbs and it’s free too.
• Use bulbs with lower wattage.
• Use fewer bulbs in multi bulb fixtures such as chandeliers.
• Use photocells (an automatic technology) for your outdoor lights. They turn on when it gets dark out and shut themselves off at dawn.
Electronic Appliances
• Don’t keep your appliances such as TV, air conditioner, microwave oven, music system, computers, VCRs, CD and DVD players and other home electronics on stand by mode. In the average home, 40 per cent of all electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Consider unplugging your electronics or turning off the power bar when you are not using them. In fact some of the brands are trying to introduce a new circuit board which will ensure that when a consumer shuts the TV, it does not go into the stand by mode.
• A plasma TV that’s the same size as your older T.V. can use twice the energy. And the bigger your T.V., the more power it uses
Air Conditioners
• As far as possible use ceiling or table fans to keep off summer heat. A ceiling fan costs about 30 paise an hour when in use as compared to an Air Conditioner which costs Rs.10 per hour.
• Shade your home’s windows and walls – this can reduce air conditioning energy by about 40%. Plant trees and shrubs to keep off the heat but do not block the airflow.
• Save 3 to 5 % of energy for each degree by setting your room air conditioner above 22 degree Celsius. The ideal temperature for getting most comfort at the least cost is 25 degree Celsius.
• Running ceiling or table fan allows the room to cool with the air movement as a result of which you can set the air conditioner at a higher degree.
• A good air conditioner cools the room in about 30 minutes, so use a timer and leave the unit off for sometime.
• Keep regulators at "low cool" position.
• Keep doors and windows or any other opening of the air conditioned rooms closed.
• Clean the air conditioner filters every month. It allows the unit to cool down quickly and use less energy.
• Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner run longer than necessary.
Refrigerators
• Do not open the door of the refrigerators frequently or leave it open for longer than necessary, as cold air escapes. Think before opening the door what all you need to take out from the fridge and bring all the containers to be placed in it near the fridge at the same time.
• Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Set its thermostat in medium cooling position.
• A full fridge is O K but do not overload the refrigerator. Let the cool air circulate within the unit.
• Cover liquids and foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
• Let food get cool before placing it in the fridge or freezer.
• Keep your refrigerator away from all the sources of heat including direct sunlight, radiators, oven, cooking range etc.
• Refrigerator’s rubber door seals should be clean and tight. When it’s dark, place a lit flashlight inside the refrigerator and close the door. If light around the door is seen, replace the seals. Do the same when the door cannot hold a slip of paper tightly.
• Allow enough space around the refrigerator for continuous airflow otherwise the heat generated by the motor and compressors will not allow the unit’s cooling system to work properly which in turn will lead to use of more energy.
• Clean the refrigerator’s condenser coils regularly so that air can circulate freely otherwise the motor will work hard and use more electricity.
• Defrost freezer compartment regularly for a manual defrost refrigerator as the accumulated ice reduces its cooling power.
Washing Machine
• Power shortage is mostly experienced during the peak hours of 10 am to 8 pm. So shift consumption away from this time and avoid adding to the power demand during this peak time. By simply using some of our common electrical appliances before and after this time will do the help. Use your washing machine before 10 AM or after 8 PM.
• Always run washing machine only with full load.
• Set the shortest cycle time for washing.
• Use optimal quantity of water and correct amount of detergent.
• Use timer facility to save energy.
• Wash your clothes with cold water. About 85 – 90 per cent of the energy used by washing machines comes from heating the water. Use hot water only when it can’t be avoided and just do not be too liberal when deciding its necessity.
• Always use cold water in the rinse cycle.
• Prefer natural drying over electric dryers.
Computers
• Turn off your computer when not in use. Screen savers only save computer screens, not energy.
• If the computer must be left on, turn off the monitor which alone uses more than half the system’s energy. Whenever affordable, switch to LCD monitors which use 66% less electricity than the older CRT type. The smaller your computer monitor is, the less electricity it will use.
• Use sleep mode of computers, monitors, copiers etc. when not in use, to save approximately 40% of energy.
• Pull out the battery chargers like those for laptops, cell phones and digital cameras after use as they draw power when plugged in and are not at all energy efficient.
• Use a power strip. Plug peripherals (like printers, audio systems, monitors) into a power strip or UPS. Then turn it off when you want all of your equipments to turn off.
• Use a smart power strip. Some new types of power strips use a motion sensor to decide if you're still at your computer. If not, they shut down power to certain sockets (such as ones for peripherals) after a user-designated time has elapsed. Other power strips shut off several sockets, based on whether you've powered down a device plugged into the "control" socket.
• Consider using a laptop when you have one. Laptops use up to 90 per cent less power than a desktop computer.
Microwave Ovens
• Microwave ovens save energy by reducing cooking time. 50% of energy can be saved by using Microwave ovens instead of regular ovens, especially for small quantities of food.
• Do not bake large food items.
• Don’t preheat unless unavoidable. Unless you're baking breads or pastries, you may not even need to preheat.
• Don't open the oven door too often to check food condition as each opening leads to a temperature drop of 14°C (25°F).
Smaller Electric Appliances
• Avoid dry grinding in your food processors (mixers and grinders) as it takes longer time than liquid grinding.
• Turn off electric stoves several minutes before the specified cooking time.
• Use flat-bottomed pans that make full contact with the cooking coil.
Electric Kettle
• Use electric kettle to heat water as it is more efficient as compared to electric cook top element.
• When buying electric kettle, choose the one with an automatic shut off feature and a heat resistant handle.
• A dirty kettle uses more energy to heat up. Clean them regularly with boiled water and vinegar so as to remove the mineral deposits.
• Don’t overfill the kettle for just one drink. Heat only the required amount of water.
Electric iron
• When shopping for an electric iron select iron boxes with automatic temperature cutoff.
• For different types of clothes, keep the position of the regulator according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer
• Do not iron wet clothes and do not use more water on clothes while ironing.
Fans
• Use electronic regulators instead of conventional regulators for ceiling fans.
• Exhaust fans should be installed at a higher elevation than ceiling fans.
Geyser
• Use before 10 AM.
• Switch off when not required.
• 18% of energy can be saved by setting water heater at 50 Degree Celsius instead of 60 Degree Celsius.
• Use Solar Water Heater - a good replacement for an electric one.
good article...try if u can use google's adsense on all ur blog pages...
ReplyDeleteawesome... we had a print out of it to use as a reference :)
ReplyDelete