Energy cost is one major cost incurred by homes and businesses. The more energy consumed, the more we pay financially. High consumption of energy increases our expenditure and derails our financial strength.
For businesses, our inability to efficiently use energy will increase the running cost of the business thereby reducing the profitability of the business and eventually collapsing it.
Energy efficiency helps to reduce the running cost of the business thereby increasing profitability and competitiveness of the business.
Efficient use of energy and conservation will also help government to save money, that would have be used to produce energy, to finance other critical areas of our needs. The conservation of energy will also enable government to extend energy to other areas of the country that have no electricity.
The following are six best Practices that would help conserve energy and reduce expenditure on electricity.
- Buy Energy Efficient Lamps:
Always buy energy efficient lamps with the yellow label on it. Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps are more efficient, consumes less energy and last longer. Replacing all old lamps to LED lamps can save you substantial money and energy.
- Turn Off Lights When Leaving the Room:
Switch off the lights when leaving the room or when not in use. Open the windows to allow sunlight into the room when the day is bright instead of switching on the lamps. Switch on security lights as late as possible and switch them off as early as possible.
- Avoid putting gadgets on standby mode when not in use.
Appliances on standby mode for long periods can consume huge amount of energy to your surprise. To save energy, avoid leaving Appliances on standby overnight or for long periods during the day. You will be wasting energy and money. Just switch them off when not in use.
NB: Mobile phone chargers left on without using them could also consume energy though the phone may not be connected.
- Avoid switching on several entertainment gadgets at the same time when one is needed. Leaving your television, sound system, phones and other gadgets on when indeed it is only one that is been used can cause you huge financial burden. All will consume energy. Switch on one at a time.
- Iron Cloths in bulk:
Electric irons consume huge amount of electricity. To avoid paying more for power, iron cloths in bulk.
Do not combine ironing with any other activity as you are likely to spend more time on ironing resulting in more electricity consumption.
NB: the more time you spend during ironing, the more energy you consume.
Efficient fridge use:
Fridges run for hours everyday even when you are not at home thereby consuming a lot of energy.
Do not put hot food in the fridge. Putting hot food in the fridge will cause it to consume more energy in order to cool it and to bring its temperature to standard. Allow the food to cool before putting it in the fridge.
Always decide on what to pick from the fridge before opening it. Do not open the fridge before you decide what to pick from it and try as much as possible to avoid frequent opening of fridges.
NB: always buy energy efficient refrigerators with the YELOW LABLE.
The efficient use of energy will also help to reduce the emission of greenhouse gas which is a major contributor to climate change. Energy efficiency can therefore make significant contribution towards national and global effort to mitigate climate change.
By: Simon Agana Blessing/mywordfmonline.com