How to Save Electricity

Every appliance in your home is rated in either kilowatts or watts. According to this calculation, how much electricity a particular appliance will consume can be determined over a period of time. Now let's say you are using a table fan which is 1kW. If you keep it on for an hour, then this 1kW fan will have used 1 unit of electricity in 60 minutes. On the other hand, you have turned on a light bulb which is 100-watt. This bulb stays on for approximately 10 hours. Now here, the calculation would be that a 100-watt light bulb which was on for 10 hours would have consumed 1 unit of electricity. Pretty astounding, ain't it? Well, the point here is, that in order to know how to save electricity, you need to first check the appliances itself. For efficient energy saving, the ratings on watts and kilowatts is printed on them. If the ratings are higher, the electricity consumption will be higher as well.

In order to conserve electricity, you can't of course turn off all appliances in your home and continue with your day; this is not the best way to conserve electricity. Plus, there are certain appliances which need to be kept on even when nobody is in the house. Which is why, searching for ways to preserve electricity becomes more important. And keeping this in mind, we are going to talk about some tips to save energy. Take a look.

Saving Electricity at Home

The first thing that comes to mind while saving electricity is to unplug appliances to reduce the consumption of electricity. Although that may be true, there certainly are various other ways to conserve energy. All you have to do is, be aware of them and follow the guidelines properly. And here they are.

Save Electricity in Winter

1. Machines such as laptops, DVD players, radios, etc. should be turned off whenever not in use.
2. Whenever you leave the room or are not using the television (even when in room), turn it off completely.
3. After turning the air conditioning or heater on, keep all windows and doors closed. Also, don't frequently open and close them.
4. While cooking food in the oven, place more than one dish in to save energy and time. When the food is being cooked, keep the door closed, and don't frequently open it.
5. Don't wash half or semi-full loads of clothing. Prefer full loads and use cool water in the washer. Also, if possible, wash clothes after 7 PM; this helps save energy.
6. When using thermostat, program it in such a way that it stays at the correct temperature all through the day. Which means, if you need your home to be less cool in the daytime, it will program itself so. And the same goes for nighttime as well.
7. Is there an attic in your home? If yes, then check the insulation up there. Ideal insulation thickness is between 6'' and 1 foot.
8. Turn off the oven, washer, dryer, vacuum cleaner, blender, and other appliances after you use them. Keeping them plugged and on will consume energy. So turn it off completely.
9. Does your home or apartment have heating or air conditioning vents on the floor? If yes, then don't keep any furniture in front of them. This affects the energy flow and in turn, you will use more electricity to heat or cool that particular room.
10. Do you use your dishwasher? If yes, then fill it completely before turning it on. It's no use washing small batches of dishes. Also, use the dishwasher after 7 PM.
11. When you are away from home for a longer period of time, it's wise to unplug any/all appliances and machines. This is where unplugging appliances to save energy comes in use.
12. In winters, the ideal temperature for your thermostat is 68ºF. Now even after this setting, if you or anyone in the house is feeling cold, then wear warm sweaters and socks while in the house.
13. Instead of turning the furnace on, use your fireplace or an indoor stove. The stove or fireplace will produce more heat faster than any furnace. Plus, it is cheaper to install and use.
14. You can plant trees in your backyard or front yard to keep the cold windy air from coming towards or inside your home.
15. When the sun is shining outside, keep the blinds and curtains open to keep the house a bit warm.
16. Check if the windows and doors don't have any cracks or gaps. If so, then apply caulk to prevent cold draft from entering the home.

Save Electricity in Summer

1. Tips #1 to #10 will be the same during summers as well. For conserving electricity in the house, you should follow these tips year round.
2. Don't take long showers during summertime. It's natural that people do because of the heat. (I know, the cool of the water is very soothing.)
3. During summers, the days are longer. So the use of electricity won't be sooner (as compared to winters). Make as much use of this as possible.
4. If you have a garden or yard, plant trees so that they can provide shade. This will help you and your home stay cooler.
5. During the day, to keep your home or apartment cool, close the blinds and curtains. Turn on the ceiling or table fan and reduce the consumption of air conditioning.
6. If the temperature is really unbearable and the blinds and fan don't help, then only turn the air conditioning on.
7. Is your air conditioner in a shaded area? If not, then I suggest you make some kind of shade over the unit so that the sunlight won't fall directly on it.
8. Before leaving the room and/or house, turn the air conditioning off completely. Even if you are going to be away from an hour or less. The room will be cooler than outside when you return.
9. If you want to learn how to save money on electric bill, then leave the thermostat on at 74ºF. This setting during summers will help you save at least 5% on electricity bill.
10. Opt for motion detector lights in your backyard, front yard, and garage. This way, you will only use electricity when needed.

After reading the article, you know now that conserving electricity is not that tough. Follow the tips mentioned in this Buzzle article to save electricity and save money on electricity bill. At first, it may not seem like a big deal or a huge difference, but over time, you will be cutting down on your energy consumption and furthermore, your electricity bill.