This is my dream: To live as my forefathers once did - in harmony with the land that sustains us. A project to investigate and innovate the creation of a low impact home with methods of living in a form of permaculture designed to sustain my family and improve biodiversity. To leave the land richer than before and in doing so enable others to do so.

Saving Energy - Solutions That Will Not Change Your Lifestyle

Posted 28/04/09 by Matt B in the Urban category

The rise and drop in temperatures in the coming years, place intense pressures on consumers around the world as this means only one thing, more energy and fuel are needed to control the environment and make homes more comfortable. Yet this is a self destructive path and we must be careful not to comfort ourselves into dust.

Over the years, new technology has been invented to improve the manner of living - energy saving devices are not excluded. However, new technology, as always, is a bit expensive at first. And the prices will go down after some time. Instead of waiting for a more affordable energy saving devices, we can apply our common sense today in saving energy.


Avoid the so called "phantom" energy users.

Electrical appliances that are plugged in to sockets even when not in use often consume energy. It is like a turning on the engine of your car and idling for a very long time.

A single appliance that remains plugged in may not give a significant increase in your electric bill but letting every appliance on "standby" can be a real money spender. Make sure to pull the plugs of every appliance from their sockets whenever you don't use them.


Turn down temperature of water heaters.

Water heaters hold about 40 gallons of water and maintain it at a constant temperature. Forty gallons of water that is sitting in your tank for a very long time consumes a lot of energy. If the water heater is not expected to be used for a while, it is advisable to maintain it at a lower temperature.

For that mater turning down the thermostat just 1°C will save you money and the chances are that you'll never feel the difference. Except that your bills are less.


The openings and leaks in doors and windows create drafts.

The stronger the draft is, the longer it will take for homes to be heated or cooled - in addition to the extra work that a heater or an air-conditioning system is doing to regulate the right temperature of the house. In newer homes, the problems may be few as today's' builders take more attention to sealing drafts potential areas and slots. Older homes may not be as well sealed. Even if the outer walls are insulated, air leaks often occur around wall outlets, switches and vents that could result in water condensation around these areas. A good foam patch could fix the problem.


CFL lights are energy savers.

Using CFL bulbs will save you more than sixty percent of the cost of lighting compared with using incandescent light bulbs. Sure CFL lamps are a little more expensive but these are recovered easily because of its longer life and the energy saving feature it has.


Clean appliances regularly.

Dirt and dust interferes with the efficiency of appliances. Likewise, place a good distance; allow about four inches of distance between the wall and appliances that generate heat for your walls not to retain the heat.

PC fans become significantly lss efficient when covered in dust - that means that you PC will not last as long and that the fan must spin up much more often to keep things cool. Clean that fan (carefully - don't break anything) and you get a silent PC that uses less juice.


Check the energy efficiency rating of things you buy

When in the market always look for the "energy coefficient" or rating which in the UK runs from A (amazing) to F (fail). Also look for the energy saving features of the appliance you are buying. This reduces the ammount of energy used and saves you money in the long term.


These are not hard things to do. You and I can do them with ease. Let us begin.
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