Tips to save energy & dobehave series birte edwards on 27 Feb 2009 03:22 pm
Ohhhhhhh - It’s So Hot (Cold)
This is one in my Dobehave Series: Save Energy, Be Green, Have More
(money etc).
Alternative Ways to Save Energy and Money
Isn’t it just amazing how we have become accustomed to a certain way of living and we do things without thinking.
Who today in the developed world would live in an unheated house in the winter or do without air conditioning in the summer?
How did we manage back in the days without all these conveniences? And the world was not so bad. Yes we have improved on many things over past generations, but at what cost.
What inefficient heating/cooling does
As efficient as our heating and cooling systems have become, they still use up a tremendous amount of energy and often a lot of the energy it uses goes into thin air without adding heating or cooling to where we want it.
Ooooh - I am beginning to sound like a tape recorder, going on about the amount of energy we are using. But that is a fact that we are today using more energy per capita than at any other time in history.
Now I have not checked out this fact I’ll admit, but I am sure that the
average household today probably uses the same amount of energy that a whole village could live on for a whole year, let’s say 100 years ago. Take into consideration also that we are so many more on the planet than ever before. We are using up energy sources and fast.
When we don’t use our heating or cooling systems properly, we burn up energy for nothing. We waste money as well. We end up spending on something we never enjoy.
That sound crazy, doesn’t it? Especially the way the economy is at the moment.
How to change the situation
There are a number of steps that we can take to change the situation. They are for the most very easy, as you saw with the Light Tips
In some cases we have to change a few habits, in others it’s a one time change, and it will go on forever.
Home heating Savers
* Do we have to keep every room heated (or cooled) all the time? Maybe there are rooms that are only in use occasionally. These rooms really don’t need to be heated (cooled).
* Depending on the system you use for heating (cooling) install thermostats in each room
* Keep doors closed to the rooms that are not heated (cooled), to avoid heat (cold) from escaping from where you want it.
* Keep the thermostat at a lower temperature when heating or higher
temperature when cooling. Lowering or raising the thermostat by just 1 degree (C) will make a huge difference in energy used (and your pocketbook).
* If you are used to walking around indoors in a T-shirt in the midst of winter, get yourself a new warm sweater. The money saved in the change of thermostat will easily buy you several sweaters.
* Is it really necessary to keep all rooms heated or cooled even at night? Often opening the windows will achieve the same effect.
* Close shutters or curtains at night during winter. They act as insulators.
Keep shutters or curtains closed during daytime when cooling, they keep out the sunlight and prevent the rooms from warming up.
Savers that demand greater action
We lose a tremendous amount of energy from living in homes that are not properly insulated. Some of these savers may cost a little to install, but you will soon make the money back in savings on energy use and at the same time you are doing yours for the planet.
* Is your home properly insulated. This includes windows and loft areas.
To check the windows - hold a candle to the frame and work your way all the way around. If the flame contorts, you know air is coming through. Do this with ALL windows in the house.
* Check the boiler. Give it a tune up. Have it cleaned up. This will make the boiler more efficient.
You can also insulate it with a special boiler blanket.These can be had in most respectable hardware stores.
* Double glaze the windows. If you can’t do them all at the same time, do the rooms that are most used first.
If this is too expensive right now - install curtains or shutters. They act almost in the same way, and curtains add the feeling of warmth.
* Insulate the space behind the radiators by putting foil on the wall. A lot of heat is lost through the walls being heated instead of going into the room. The foil will act as an insulator and at the same time reflect the heat back into the room.
* Here are some additional ways by an expert:
Cool Ways to Stay Cool
These simple steps can save you an additional 10-15% in your expenses on energy. Together with what you are saving with the new lighting habits - this begins to add up.
Keep the Heat Off with Andy
It’s amazing how quickly we can become accustomed to new habits. Within a short time we will start to say: Why didn’t I think of doing this
before? Look how much money I suddenly have, and look how good I feel because I know I am doing what I can to reduce carbon emission and improving the quality of the atmosphere.
If you can think both - you are truly one of those who can say: I am
helping keeping our blue planet green.
This is just one of many inserts on how to save energy and money. Want more? Sign up for the dobehave newsletter top right.
Do you have other ways to save on heating/cooling energy - leave a comment for all of us to know more.
