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Home / Technical Articles / How to save electrical energy at home

In our home we use lot of electrical equipment like TV, Freeze, Washing machine, Mp3 player, music system, computer laptop. But we have not adequate knowledge for how to use this electrical equipment in proper way.

Due to this ignorance we are paying more electricity bill which we are not actually use.

How to save Electrical energy at Home
How to save Electrical energy at Home

Energy consumption (and costs)

Do you know in actual we are consuming more electricity or paying more amounts what we actually not use it ?

According to the energy auditors we can easily save between 5 and 10% of their energy consumption (and costs) by changing our behavior such as switching electrical equipment off at the mains rather than leaving it on standby, turning off lights when they’re not being used

By saving Electrical energy will directly reflected to saving money so it is very necessary to under stood ghost unit or amount which we are paying without using the appliances.

The major appliances in your home — refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers — account for a big chunk of your monthly utility bill. And if your refrigerator or washing machine is more than a decade old, you’re spending a lot more on energy than you need to.

Today’s major appliances don’t hog energy the way older models do because they must meet minimum federal energy efficiency standards. These standards have been tightened over the years, so any new appliance you buy today has to use less energy than the model you’re replacing. For instance, if you buy one of today’s most energy-efficient refrigerators, it will use less than half the energy of a model that’s 12 years old or older.


Lighting

  • Get into the habit of turning lights off when you leave a room. —-Saving Energy 0.5 %
  • Use task lighting (table and desktop lamps) instead of room lighting.
  • Take advantage of daylight
  • De-dust lighting fixtures to maintain illumination—–Saving Energy 1 %
  • Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL):
  1. CFL use 75% less energy than Normal bulbs.
  2. CFL are four times more energy efficient than Normal bulbs.
  3. CFL can last up to ten times longer than a normal bulb.
  • Use electronic chokes. in place of conventional copper chokes.—-Saving Energy 2 %
  • Get into the habit of turning lights off when you leave a room.
  • Use only one bulb for light fittings with more than one light bulb, or replace additional bulbs with a lower wattage version.
  • Use energy-saving light bulbs that can last up to ten times longer than a normal bulb and use significantly less energy. A single 20- to 25-watt energy-saving bulb provides as much light as a 100-watt ordinary bulb.
  • Use tungsten halogen bulbs for spotlights—they last longer and are up to 100% more efficient.
  • Fit external lights with a motion sensor.
  • Use high frequency fittings for fluorescent tubes because they cut flicker and are even more efficient than energy-saving light bulbs. They are suitable for kitchens, halls, workshops and garages.

Save on Your Fridge & Freezer:

  • Defrost your fridge regularly.
  • Check that the door seals are strong and intact.
  • Don’t stand Freezer’s Back Side too near the Wall.
  • Avoid putting warm or hot food in the fridge or freezer—it requires more energy to cool it down.
  • Clean condenser coils twice a year.
  • Get rid of old refrigerators! They use twice the energy as new Energy Star® models.
  • Keep refrigerators full but not overcrowded.
  • Defrost your fridge regularly. When ice builds up, your freezer uses more electricity. If it frosts up again quickly, check that the door seals are strong and intact.
  • Do not stand the fridge next to the oven or other hot appliances if you can help it. Also ensure there is plenty of ventilation space behind and above it.
  • Keep the fridge at 40°F and the freezer at 0°F. Empty and then turn your fridge off if you go on a long vacation (but make sure you leave the door open).
  • Aim to keep your fridge at least three-quarters full to maintain maximum efficiency. A full fridge is a healthy fridge.
  • Avoid putting warm or hot food in the fridge or freezer—it requires more energy to cool it down.

Air Condition Unit

  • For Home Purpose use Window unit Instead Of Split Unit.
  • For Office and Commercial Purpose Use Split AC instead of Window unit.
  • Consider installing a programmable t. Just set the times and temperatures to match your schedule and you will save money and be comfortably cool when you return home.
  • Get air conditioner maintenance each year.
  • Checks the condenser coils, the evaporator coils, the blower wheel, the filter, the lubrication and the electrical contacts.
  • Replace worn and dirty equipment for maximum efficiency.
  • Replace air conditioner filters every month.
  • Turn off central air conditioning 30 minutes before leaving your home.
  • Consider using ceiling or portable fans to circulate and cool the air.
  • Try increasing your air conditioner temperature. Even 1 degree higher could mean significant savings, and you will probably not notice the difference.
  • Keep central air conditioner usage to a minimum—or even turn the unit off – if you plan to go away.
  • Consider installing a programmable thermostat. Just set the times and temperatures to match your schedule, and you will save money and be comfortably cool when you return home.
  • Get air conditioner maintenance each year – ensure your service person checks the condenser coils, the evaporator coils, the blower wheel, the filter, the lubrication and the electrical contacts. Replace worn and dirty equipment for maximum efficiency.
  • Replace air conditioner filters every month.
  • Buy the proper size equipment to meet your family’s needs – an oversized air conditioner unit will waste energy.
  • If you have a furnace, replace it at the same time as your air conditioner system. Why? Because it is your furnace fan that blows cool air around your home, and a newer furnace fan provides improved air circulation all year round, plus saves energy costs.

Water Heater

  • Check your hot water temperature. It does not need to be any higher than 140°F for washing purposes.
  • Plug the basin or bath when you run any hot water.
  • Use a timer to make sure the heating and hot water are only on when needed.
  • Insulate your hot water pipes to prevent heat loss, and your water will stay hotter for longer. Plus, you will also use less energy to heat it. And simply fitting a jacket onto your hot water tank can cut waste by up to three quarters.
  • Take showers—a bath consumes 5 times more hot water. Buy a low-flow showerhead for more efficiency and it will pay for itself in no time.
  • Avoid washing dishes under hot running water, and do not pre-rinse before using the dishwasher.
  • Repair dripping hot water taps immediately
  • Make sure hot water taps are always turned off properly.

Washing Machine

  • Wash full loads of Washing Machine—you will use your machine less often, saving time, and it is more energy-efficient.
  • Wash at a lower temperature or the economy setting to save even more.
  • Use the spin cycle, and then hang washing out rather than tumble drying—your clothes and linens will smell fresher!
  • If you need to tumble dry, try a lower temperature setting.
  • Use your dryer for consecutive loads, because the built-up heat between loads will use less energy.

Oven/Electrical Cooker

  • Make sure your oven door closes tightly.
  • Use a microwave rather than conventional oven, when possible.
  • Keep the center of the pan over the element, and keep the lid on when cooking on the stovetop.
  • Only boil the amount of water that you need—just ensure there is enough water to cover the heating element. Turn the element or electric kettle down as soon as it reaches the boiling point.

Computer / Laptop

  • Buy a laptop instead of a desktop, if practical. —-Saving Energy 5 %.
  • If you buy a desktop, get an LCD screen instead of an outdated CRT.
  • Use sleep-mode when not in use helps cut energy costs by approx 40%.
  • Turn off the monitor; this device alone uses more than half the system’s energy.
  • Screen savers save computer screens, not energy.
  • Use separate On/Off switch Socket Instead of One.
  • Laser printers use more electricity than inkjet printers.

Fan

  • A ceiling fan in operation through out night will gobble up 22 units in a month.
  • There is a wrong notion that fan at more speed would consume more current.
  • Fan running at slow speed would waste energy as heat in the regulator.
  • The ordinary regulator would take 20 watts extra at low speed.
  • The energy loss can be compensated by using electronic regulator

Buy efficient electric appliances:

  • They use two to 10 times less electricity for the same functionality, and are mostly higher quality products that last longer than the less efficient ones. In short, efficient appliances save you lots of energy and money.
  • In many countries, efficiency rating labels are mandatory on most appliances. Look Energy Star label is used.
  • The label gives you information on the annual electricity consumption. In the paragraphs below, we provide some indication of the consumption of the most efficient appliances to use as a rough guide when shopping. Lists of brands and models and where to find them are country-specific and so cannot be listed here, but check the links on this page for more detailed information.
  • Average consumption of electric appliances in different regions in the world, compared with the high efficient models on the market.

Ghost consumers:

  • Identify the “ghost consumers” which consume power – not because they are in use, but because they are plugged in and are in stand-by mode.
  • The TV consumes 10 watt power When It’s is in Stand by Mode.
Ex. TV is in stand-by-mode for 10 hours a Day.

Energy Consumption / Day= 10 X 10 = 100 Watts. = 0.1 KWH.

Energy consumption / Month= 1X100X30=3000 Watts=3KWH ( Unit) .

Energy Consumption in Rupees. = 3 X 4 = 12 Rs/Month.

  • The TV consumes 5 watt power when we don’t plug out from switch Board.
Ex. TV is in un Plug Mode for 10 hours a Day.

Energy Consumption / Day= 5 X 10 = 50 Watts. = 0.05 KWH.

Energy consumption / Month= 1X50X30= 1500 Watts=1.5 KWH ( Unit) .

Energy Consumption in Rupees. = 1.5 X 4 = 6 Rs/Month.

  • The cell phone charger uses 3 watt per hour when plugged.
  • Mosquito mats consume 5 watts per hour.
  • If you use an electric geyser, do not leave it in thermostat mode, for it causes standing losses of 1-1.5 units.

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Jignesh Parmar

Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control), B.E (Electrical). He is member of Institution of Engineers (MIE), India. He has more than 20 years experience in transmission & distribution-energy theft detection and maintenance electrical projects.

9 Comments


  1. Alok Singh
    Dec 07, 2017

    Very nice article, as i am working in energy efficiency projects and doing energy audits i can understand the value of each single tips.


  2. YUVRAJ SHINDE
    Oct 28, 2015

    Thank you. I have saved about 30 units in a month. Very very thank you


  3. Kedarnath
    Feb 11, 2015

    Already we r save the power as switched off the unwanted lights,a/c,water dispensers and Geyser so we need Ur help to save more at summer how to save please help.


  4. Sam Ascock
    Sep 05, 2014

    For an electrical engineer, the use of the word ‘bulb’ for is actually a LAMP infureates me so much, as a professional I would expect an electrical engineer to us the correct word, bulbs grow, lamps glow, try to remember it.
    Rant over…….
    Regards Sam


  5. Ibrahim Seder
    Nov 07, 2011

    Good tips.
    BR


  6. Hitesh Patel
    Aug 27, 2011

    Good Article. Everybody should read this tips and implement and save money.


  7. Rajnikant Dodiya
    Aug 24, 2011

    Thank you very much for this valuable information.

    Regards,
    Rajnikant Dodiya


  8. Y. N. RAVI SHANKAR
    Aug 24, 2011

    Very good articale, I wish everybody including me must implement the tips given by Mr. Jignesh to save Electrical power and Money.


  9. Edvard
    Aug 23, 2011

    Excellent overview Jignesh! Thank you for the tips, I believe it will help a lot to many people to become aware of wasted electrical energy at home!

    BR

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