* One of the best energy-saving devices is the light switch. Turn off lights when not required
* As for as possible use task lighting, which focuses light where it’s needed. A reading lamp, for example, lights only reading material rather than the whole room
* Dirty tube lights and bulbs reflect less light and can absorb 50 percent of the light; dust your tube lights and lamps regularly
* Fluorescent tube lights and CFLs convert electricity to visible light up to 5 times more efficiently than ordinary bulbs and thus save about 70 percent of electricity for the same lighting levels
ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS
* Use ceiling or table fan as first line of defence against summer heat. Ceiling fans, for instance, cost about 30 paise an hour to operate – much less than ACs (Rs.10 per hour)
* You can reduce air-conditioning energy use by as much as 40 percent by shading your home’s windows and walls. Plant trees and shrubs to keep the sun off your house
* One will use 3 to 5 percent less energy for each degree air conditioner is set above 22°C (71.5°F), so set the thermostat of room air conditioner at 25°C (77°F) to provide comfort at the least cost
* A good air conditioner will cool and dehumidify a room in about 30 minutes, so use a timer and leave the unit off for some time.
* Clean the air-conditioner filter every month. A dirty air filter reduces airflow and may damage the unit.
REFRIGERATORS
* Make sure that refrigerator is kept away from all sources of heat, including direct sunlight, radiators and appliances such as the oven, and cooking range
* Think about what you need before opening refrigerator door. You’ll reduce the amount of time the door remains open
* Allow hot and warm foods to cool and cover them well before putting them in refrigerator
* Make sure that refrigerator’s rubber door seals are clean and tight. They should hold a slip of paper snugly. If paper slips out easily, replace the door seals
COOKING
* Use energy efficient chullahs
* Keeping the vessels closed with a lid while cooking reduces cooking time and energy use
* Soak the food ahead of cooking
RECYCLE PAPER
* Saves about 15 trees
* Those high-definition televisions are great, but keep in mind they use six times as much energy as a regular television
* Let clothes dry naturally
* Keep lids on pans when cooking to prevent your cooker having to work extra hard. Prefer to use gas ovens, Geysers etc., in place of the electric ones
AT YOUR WORKPLACE
* Use printers that can print on both sides of the paper; try
to look into this option when replacing old printersCompiled by Rajiv Chhibber