10 Simple Ways to Conserve Electricity

Electricity does not come cheap, and it is not going to become cheaper in the coming years either. The main sources of production of electricity are fossil fuels and everyday there is a depletion in the reserves. The consumption of fossil fuels also contributes to global warming and the rising crises of climate change. Until and unless we conserve electricity and replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, we are heading towards our own destruction. So, does it worry you when your electricity bill racks up much higher than you had expected? You want to save electricity without inconveniencing yourself when it comes to everyday tasks and you’re wondering how to do that? Here are some easy tips to conserve electricity:

10. Switch Off Equipment When Not In Use
The simplest possible way to conserve energy is to switch off any electrical equipment that is not in use. So, if you’re not watching TV, then don’t put it on standby, but switch it off. Televisions, music systems, phone chargers, computers and such, can draw about 20% or more of normal electricity if left on. Double check the fact that you have switched off the equipment from the plug point, because what appears to a little wastage can sum up to a huge power consumption.

9. Use Less Appliances
In this day and age it might be impossible to not depend on every electrical appliance you have at hand so as to not work more than needed and cause yourself an inconvenience. However, there are some simple ways that can help you regulate your consumption of electricity. For instance, if you’re heating food on a gas stove, make sure it is at room temperature because colder food takes longer to heat up. Use a pressure cooker as far as possible, and cook on a medium flame. Try using less of the washing machine, and tumble dry instead of using an electrical dryer. Avoid dry grinding in your food processor. Replace conventional regulators in your ceiling fans with electronic regulators. Install exhaust fans at higher elevation than ceiling fans to ensure proper cooling. While using irons, geysers and other such electrical appliances, take care that they have an automatic cut off to prevent power wastage.

8. Microwaves Consume Less Energy
Microwave ovens use up about 50% less energy than electric ovens and conventional gas stoves. A microwave takes 15 minutes to do the same job which takes about an hour to be done on an electric oven. Although it uses a lot of power, it uses it up in a short amount of time and therefore, saves much more energy overall. A microwave does not need to be preheated except for some food items. It would also lead to saving LPG on gas stoves, and overall reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. However, one should keep in mind not to regularly open the microwave while food is cooking because it leads to a temperature drop and thus, more energy consumption. Use a microwave to heat up your food and cook up small portions.

7. Regulating Your Air Conditioner
Air conditioners are probably what racks up half of your electricity bill, especially in a country like India, where summers are insufferable. Keeping your air conditioner clean and ensuring that you are using it as efficiently as possible, will help you save a lot of electricity. The first thing to do is to keep your AC in the energy saving mode. Don’t keep the thermostat at the lowest possible setting, in fact keep it on the highest setting that is bearable. It is because if the difference between the outside and inside temperatures is a lot, then there will also be an unnecessary energy consumption. Clean your AC filter every month and leave enough space between the wall and your AC to allow better air circulation. Don’t place other electrical appliances close to your air conditioner, because the heat from those appliances will cause your AC to run longer than necessary.

6. Optimize Your Washing Machine
The washing machine is another electrical appliance that uses up a lot of energy. To prevent this, you should shift the usage of your washing machine away from the 10 am – 8 pm peak hours. Use the washing machine only with a full load. Use the timer to save energy, and also use the shortest cycle time. Use optimal quantity of water, and preferably use cold water, unless your clothes are extremely dirty. Use the correct amount of detergent, so as to clean your clothes in the shortest amount of time. Prefer natural tumble drying instead of using the electric dryer, especially in summers.

5. Adjust You Fridge to Conserve Energy
Refrigerators account for about 20% of the household electricity usage, as they are continually being used. Adjust the thermostat to a medium cooling temperature, instead of the coldest possible settings. Avoid opening the door too frequently as it lets the cold air out, and make sure that the fridge doors are sealed airtight when it is closed. Leave enough space between the wall and the fridge for proper air circulation, as with your AC. Avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge as it means overworking the machine. Regularly defrost your refrigerator as frost buildup increases the amount of energy consumption. Also, cover your food because uncovered food releases moisture and makes the compressor work harder.

4. Update Your Appliances
If you are buying new electrical appliances, make sure that you buy the most energy efficient ones. If you are replacing your old TV sets, buy an LED TV because it is more efficient at saving power than an LCD. A Plasma TV uses up a lot of electricity and should be avoided. If you are still using a desktop computer, then upgrade to a laptop. Compared to a laptop, a desktop computer uses up much more electricity and with a laptop you can save up on your electricity bill.

3. Use Energy Saving Lights
The major consumption of electricity comes from the usage of lights. First off, try to utilize at much natural sunlight as possible, by using light colored curtains or loose weave curtains. Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) bulbs. CFL bulbs use up 75% less power than incandescent bulbs and also last much longer. LED lights are also a fit replacement for normal lights. Practice task lighting, instead of brightly lighting up an entire room, focus the light on where it is needed. Replace halogen spotlights with much more efficient and longer lasting LED Spotlights.

2. Insulate Your Roof
A very simple way to conserve electricity is insulation of either your roof or ceiling. Insulation can keep your house 5% warmer in the winters and about 10% cooler in the summers. You wouldn’t need to use the air conditioner or the thermostat as frequently as you do now, because comfortable indoor temperatures would mean less need for electrical heating or cooling. Insulating other parts of your house, such as doors and windows would also help, but the most energy savings are from roof insulation. Insulation could reduce your electricity usage overall by 75%.

1. Install A Solar Water Heater
This is probably the best way to save the highest amount of electricity. Instead of using an electric water heater, or a geyser, which consumes a lot of electricity, use a solar water heater to save electricity. The only costs that a solar water heater incurs is of the installation, afterwards you will see a huge dip in your electricity bill. It is also a renewable form of energy, and all in all will help you reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.

Conserving electricity is not just a matter of saving your money when it comes to the bill. It has become very important because the sources of electricity production are mostly coal or fossil fuels such as diesel, and they are running out. The power supply problems will get worse if we don’t switch to using renewable energy sources as much as we can. We should all contribute toward reducing the effects of global warming, and keeping our environment healthy; and these are some of the simplest, almost effortless ways of doing so.