Save Energy & Save Your Environment in 2024
Save energy to save money
Typical mid-income households spend $100 to $200 on electricity every month using between 750 and 1,000 units or kilowatt-hours (kWh). Source: http://www.eia.gov/electricity/ Most households could easily save 20–30 percent of this.
Save energy to save water
Power stations use two liters of water for every unit of electricity (kWh) generated.
Save energy to reduce ‘greenhouse’ gas emissions
Internationally much electricity is generated from coal, which produces carbon dioxide (CO2) when burnt (about 1.1kg per 1kWh used). This ‘greenhouse gas’ is the main contributor to global warming, which is expected to have catastrophic impacts. Fuel combustion in cars is also responsible for substantial CO2 emissions (about 0.3kg CO2 per every 1km driven).
Save energy to reduce air pollution
Air pollution is caused by car fumes and by burning coal to generate electricity.
Buy a pool cover and install a pool-pump time switch
A pool cover will keep your pool warm and clean, at the same time reducing the energy and money you need to spend on heating and running your pool pump.
Install solar water heating
Solar water heating methods can be used to heat both your pool and tap water. This uses a renewable source of energy and will pay back in electricity-saving over a just few years. If you are building a new house or pool, it is a sound economic choice as the estimated savings are anything from 20–40 percent of the total electricity bill (saving depends on hot water use patterns).
Insulate your ceiling
It is estimated that you can save half your electricity bill by insulating you ceiling.
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs or LED’s
These light bulbs last much longer and use a quarter of the electricity for the same light output as a ‘normal’ light bulb. Also, each compact fluorescent or LED’s installed saves about 500 kg of CO2 emissions over its lifetime, by using less electricity!
Design your house using energy-saving principles
When designing a house:
- make the best use of natural light by including north-facing windows and skylights
- incorporate energy-saving lighting (LED’s)
- design roof overhangs to keep summer sun out but let winter sun in
- install ceilings wherever possible as it is difficult to warm up a double-volume house
- use thermally efficient building materials and insulate your walls and floors well
Read how “A Hot Water Spa is no Longer a Luxury“
