Saving Energy – Learning A Lesson From California!
by Eva Martinez
(Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA)
The recent electricity problems that happened in California made them rethink the manner in which energy is used and saved. The effort conducted at conserving this resource made many people to reevaluate their choices on energy consumption.
The truth is there is really not that much energy to waste. The examples made by Californians about thoughtful ways where less should suffice. The following energy saving suggestions were part of smart choices that was made.
1.Refrigerators that were manufactured 20 or 30 years ago gives off 1,100 lbs. of CO2 emissions per year. Keeping an old model refrigerator increases your monthly energy bill by as much as $80. The newer models are energy efficient.
Manufacturers print this on the fridge. But even the newer ones could not save you as much energy as it should if it is positioned near heat radiating appliances like the dishwasher or ovens and stoves.
This is why, to allow for saving energy, interior designers and architects make it a point to have separate areas for cooling and heating appliances.
If you maintain the temperature of the refrigerator at the right level, you can save as much as 25% on energy consumption than when the temperature higher than what is required.
2.Air drying your dishes will save energy instead of putting them inside the dishwasher.
3.Clothes dyers spend much energy that whenever possible, air or sun drying should be done. Washing in cold water also saves energy by 75%. This could also prevent the dryer from emitting 500 lbs. a year in carbon gasses.
4.More than 50 degrees of heat is lost whenever you open the oven during cooking, Study the cooking instructions and preheat the oven as required. Open the oven only when needed.
5.While shades and curtains are good practices to regulate the temperature and let the light in a room, adding e-films gets you far in saving energy during heating and air-conditioning the space. Storm windows are good energy saving devices so are high performance double paned windows.
6.Extra work will be required from your heater or air-conditioner when you have air leaks and drafts around your house. Sealing the home is one of the cheapest ways to conserve energy. Limiting the use of ventilating fans and closing the damper in the fireplace when not in use keep the desired temperature inside the home.
7.In many parts of the country, ceiling fans are enough to cool home that is well insulated. If using air-conditioners is a must, planting shrubs and trees on the surrounding areas of the room to be cooled will you give you as much as 10% savings on energy consumption.
8.Trellises, overhangs and especially trees help so much in cooling the home during the summer months. It also serves as a good wind breaker during winter.
9.Unplug appliances that are not in use. Keeping appliances plugged in and keeping them on standby modes consume about 10% of the power it requires when in operation.
Buy only stuffs that are really necessary. The seemingly innocent stuffs that fills our home was manufactured using energy that translates to greenhouse gas emissions from the sorting of raw materials to manufacture and the freight it required to be delivered to the stores and eventually to the end user.
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