Why save electricity?
In the UK, electricity is generally made from burning fossil fuels like coal and gas, which contribute to global warming and climate change. By saving electricity you can help reduce fossil fuel emissions.
Shockingly, “more than three quarters of the electricity made by power stations is wasted through inefficient generation, grid transmission and end use” (The Big Earth Book, James Bruges, 2007). This article will look at ways that you may be wasting electricity and how you can save electricity. This will help you to cut carbon emissions, and your electricity bills.
Ways to save electricity
Change your electricity supply – Changing to a green electricity supplier can help you get a greener supply of electricity from renewable resources such as wind power, hydro-power and solar power. If you want to stay with your current electricity supplier, you can change your tariff to a green tariff. This means that you may receive less electricity from a green source, compared to using a green energy company, but you will be helping to invest in the research, development and establishment of new green sources of electricity.
Home energy monitor – Using a home energy monitor is a great way to see how much electricity you are using and the cost of using that electricity. The government claims that “in small-scale trials of home energy monitors, customers have typically saved five to 15 per cent in the first year of owning a monitor, which could be £25 to £75 off a £500 bill” [1]. You can sometimes get energy monitors free from your energy supplier. Some local authorities are lending energy monitors free of charge through their libraries. If you want to invest in an energy monitor, they cost from £25.
Check windows, doors and unused fireplaces - Windows, doors and unused fireplaces can be draughty. It is important to consider replacing single glazing with double glazing. Also check that doors and windows are fully sealed, and ensure there are no cracks or gaps (this includes fixing brushes onto letterboxes and the bottom of draughty doors). Unused fireplaces can cause heat to escape quite freely out of a room. Up to 20% of heat can be lost through an unused fireplace if it is still open to the outside (McCarthy, Easy Eco Auditing, 2008). Consider blocking them up or sealing them.
Insulate - Good insulation is key to saving electricity in the home. By insulating your loft and walls, you can save substantial amounts of money on your electricity bills, and would not need to heat your home so much in the winter as the heat would be retained better.
Lighting - In most homes, lighting accounts for around 20% of the electricity bill (Energy Saving Trust, 2010). If you have not done so already, it is a good idea to change to energy saving light bulbs. The Energy Saving Trust (2010) states that you can save around £37 a year from your energy bill and 135kg of CO2 by changing all your bulbs to energy saving ones. It is also important to turn off lights when not in use. Halogen bulbs have a huge appetite for electricity. Whereas a house fitted with old-fashioned tungsten bulbs will use up to five times more energy than a house fitted with energy saving bulbs, a house fitted with halogen bulbs can use up to 25 times more (McCarthy, Easy Eco Auditing, 2008). Therefore it is a good idea to replace them with low energy alternatives in order to save money on your electricity bill.
Radiators – Move furniture away from radiators to release more heat. If you have curtains that fall over radiators, you should cut them so that the heat goes into the room, not behind the curtains and out the window.
Electronic goods – Ensure that electronic items are not left on, left on stand-by or left charging when the item has been removed (McCarthy, Easy Eco Auditing, 2008). Items left on standby use up to 85% of the energy they would use if fully switched on [2]. When buying new electronic equipment, choose energy efficient items. For example, choose A++ products. Washing machines and dishwashers can use a substantial amount of electricity. Make sure that they are full when in use and dry clothes outside if possible. If you do need to use a tumble dryer, then ensure the clothes are as dry as possible after washing, e.g. they have gone through a fast spin so that there is minimum excess water. This will reduce drying time considerably. Also consider washing at 30 degrees where possible. Many detergents are now capable of washing at low temperatures.
Refrigerators and fridge freezers - Ensure that refrigerators and fridge freezers are not placed near sunlight or ovens as they will need to use more electricity to keep cool. Placing them against outside walls is recommended as these walls let heat escape from them more easily than internal walls, therefore keeping cooling costs down. Regularly defrost, check the door seal for damage, and set to a minimum temperature needed to keep food cool. Remember not to put hot food in fridge as it will have to work harder to keep cool, and therefore use more electricity.
Outside the home - Install movement and light sensors for security lighting as the light will only come on when it needs to rather than being on all night. Consider using solar lights which do not use electricity.
[1] http://www.direct.gov.uk/ (2010)
[2] http://www.electricityguide.org.uk/ (2010)
Useful links
www.direct.gov.uk/environmentandgreenerliving
