Great Green Idea: Green Energy: 5 Ways to Conserve Energy

5 Ways to Conserve Energy

1. Cut down on your electric consumption. Do not leave electric appliances plugged in when they are not in use. Electrical appliances still consume energy even when they are in sleep mode for as long as they are still plugged in. By unplugging your appliances, you will not only conserve energy but also cut down on your electric bill. Energy-efficient appliances are also a very good option for saving energy, so make sure to check the energy-efficiency coefficient of the next appliance that you're considering to buy. When drying your hair, use a towel instead of a hair dryer which is actually notorious for its high electricity consumption.

2. Be less dependent on your heating and air conditioning units. Use warmer clothes, or layer on instead of increasing the room temperature at home. During warm seasons, use less clothes or a fan instead of using your air conditioner. Air conditioning systems consume plenty of energy so if you can find ways to keep yourself cool without using them, then its best to make use of those alternative methods. Some air conditioning systems also include meters which can measure the machine's electric consumption, which is very useful for keeping track of the machine's average energy consumption.

3. Minimize your use of the washing machine and clothes dryer. Instead of using your clothes dryer, you can dry your clothes using a clothes line that is strategically located in a sunny open space. Heat-generating machines such as clothes dryer and a clothes iron consume a lot of energy. You can save energy by ditching the clothes dryer and, if you want to go a little further, you can also hand wash your clothes, especially if there aren't that many clothes to wash. If you do prefer to use the washing machine and clothes dryer, be more efficient by washing your clothes in large batches.

4. Maximize the daylight hours. Get as much work as you can possibly accomplish during daylight hours. A large portion of our electricity consumption happens at night when we make use of artificial lights. To be more efficient, wake and start work earlier so that there will hardly be any work left to be done during night hours. Night time was always meant for relaxation and sleep, so use it wisely.

5. Conserve water. Using less water for your household needs can also translate to lower energy consumption. You'll be using less energy for the water to be pumped into your home, and you'll also contribute to the sustainability of your city's water supply. The treatment and distribution of drinking water actually uses energy so if you use less water, then you'll also be saving up on energy.