Saving Energy At Home

Energy saved is energy produced.

Ensure you have in place only quality branded products with the ISI seal (be it switches, boards, bulbs, gadgets, wires) than go in for cheap gadgets and keep paying heavily for maintenance, replacements or end up paying for lot more energy consumption. Invest in quality gadgets as they are all one-time affairs.

These are days of new designs and new construction activity.
* The house plan should be such that proper ventilation and lighting is given top priority.
* During daytime one should not be forced to switch on lights due to lack of natural lighting inside.
* My husband always suggests to go in for lighter shades of wall paint as that alone can reflect light (both natural as well as aritifical). The dark shades will always absorb more energy and will end up heating the room.
* One can plan each and everything in advance with help from a good architect. Select one well and wisely.
* Put down a list of all gadgets that you wish to use in your new home ahead of the construction of your new premises. Provide a place and electrical points for all gadgets.
* A well-organized house or flat not only looks good but also saves great amount of energy.

* These are the days of solar panels. Though capital intensive they could pay back in the long run, provided there are no maintainence hassles after installing. For instance, solar panels for various uses are now getting popular. In a city like Chennai, where most times, sun shines down harshly, we could put that to great use. Don't forget, the energy comes free of cost too!

Besides, a periodic check for the not so new homes should be made to ensure that you dont pay more for unnecessary use of precious power:

The checklist:

· To see whether all bulb holders/plug points are in proper working condition and not damaged, burnt or broken.

· All electrical and electronic gadgets are in proper working condition. To dust and clean them regularly.

Kitchen tips:
· Interiors and exteriors of the fridge should be defrosted and cleaned periodically. By bringing hot dishes to room temperature before storing them inside the fridge.

· By taking out the vegetable tub instead of taking out vegetables one by one. Prevents warm air from entering fridge often. To plan menu, ready everything before starting the process of cooking.

. By investing in a microwave and use it to pre-cook before cooking in the conventional stoves.

Rooms:

· By turning off lights, fans and ACs while leaving the room.

· Instead of blaming or arguing with other family members (especially, the forgetful elderly) enlist everyone’s support in turning off lights, fans and ACs whenever there’s no one in the room irrespective of who put it ‘on’ or who ‘forgot’ to switch it off . (Previously there would be so much heartburn among us 3 family members. Soon I found out a better way to deal with this ego issues. I explained to others that it is not to criticise someone's action or inaction but to cut unnecessary power consumption that we have to switch off lights and fans if no is in the room. We do that for each other. This way there are no hard feelings due to the forgetfulness of anyone now. It is more peaceful this way! {:-)

· Unplug the TV/DVD when not in use as current does leak in ‘off’ mode at times. Also sudden thunder storms could damage computers or TV sets even when switch is in ‘off’ mode.

· Having a switch with an indicator light (usually red light) helps to detect whether any gadget is in ‘on’ or ‘off’ mode.

· Having ‘two-way’ switches fixed within easy reach helps (like a switch panel near the bedside table, etc.).

· The iron box, water heater, hair dryer, ACs, grinder, motor pump and mixie are all power guzzlers. Such activities need our undivided attention. (We do spend dedicated hours before our PCs and TV screens)! Move on to other jobs only when one is done with that particular activity (or set an alarm to remind you that its time to switch it off). Again do not forget to switch off and unplug the gadget from the plug point for safety reasons.

· Ensure wires of any gadget are not wound up in tight rolls as the thin metal wires inside could cut/break. This will not only result in the gadget working on and off when the switch is on but also could render that gadget useless after a while.

· For west facing (naturally hot) rooms the AC or fan takes longer time and more energy to cool. One can use ‘blackouts’ as drapes for windows/doors. These are heavy duty curtains (now easily available in all leading furnishing stores) which act as insulation and cut out daylight/heat.

· Even if, after following all the above, the current charges you pay are high and abnormal, then its time to turn your attention to physically verify your ‘electricity meter’ and the units marked on your EB card. (For domestic consumers the rates are pegged according to units consumed within a range of slabs in Tamil Nadu - like 1 – 50 units, 51 – 100 units, 101 – 200 units, 201 – 600 and above 600 units.
The difference up to consumption of 100 units is quite nominal. From 101 units onwards the jump is quite high (at an additional 0.65ps per unit and so on).
There could be two possibilities here
(a) either your meter could be faulty or
(b) the EB staff delayed in recording the EB reading well beyond the stipulated date so that your consumption falls into the next higher slab.
You end up paying more even though all your saving ideas are in place. In which case ensure that the readings are taken on time every two months.

Vigilance is the bye-word for saving energy and it should begin at home.

If every home could do something about energy saving, our country would not face blackouts every now and then nor would we spend public money on manufacturing power.
Waste not want not.

Cheers.

Mahalakshmi