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| energy saving
tips Air-conditioning
- The air-conditioning unit achieves cooling by
removing heat from the room, consuming electricity in the process. Thus, reducing
the amount of heat gained by the room will reduce the amount of electricity consumed
for air-conditioning. Consider using sun-shading devices, blinds or solar
control film to keep out heat gained by the room through windows.
- The size, or cooling capacity,
of air-conditioning units is usually specified in terms of Btu/hr or kW. (1 kW
= 3410 Btu/hr) Ensure that the air-conditioning unit is properly sized to
meet the amount of cooling required, as oversized or undersized air-conditioning
units can cause reduced comfort and operate inefficiently.
- Multi-split
units are generally more energy efficient than separate single-split/ window units
in air-conditioning multiple rooms simultaneously. Consider a multi-split
units if you usually require air-conditioning in more than one room.
- The thermostat senses room temperature to regulate
the operations of the air-conditioning unit. Avoid placing lamps, TV sets,
or other heat generating appliances near the air-conditioning thermostat,
which may cause the air-conditioning unit to operate longer/harder than necessary.
- The energy consumption by the
air-conditioning unit increases with the difference between the room and outdoor
temperatures. Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible.
You may wish to consider thermostat setting of 25°C.
- Dirty
air filters impede airflow, leading to increased energy consumption. Check
the air filters once a month and clean or replace them as necessary.
- Besides the air filters, the
condition of other components of an air-conditioning unit (such as the refrigerant,
pipes and motors) also affects its efficiency. You may also wish to consider
regularly servicing your air-conditioning units.
- Direct
sunshine on the air-conditioning unit's outdoor heat exchanger decreases its efficiency.
Consider shading the air conditioner where necessary, but do not block the
airflow.
| Refrigerators
- Generally, larger models use more energy to
operate, so buy the smallest model that meets your needs.
- Consider operating one large refrigerator/
freezer instead of two smaller refrigerators/ freezers.
- Consider
the need for additional features such as automatic icemakers and through-the-door
dispensers, which increase energy use.
- Avoid
placing the refrigerator near heat sources such as sunlight, or other
heat generating appliances, as it will make the refrigerator's compressor work
harder.
- Ensure that there
is sufficient space for proper airflow near the compressor and condenser
coils.
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- Ensure that
the door seals (gasket) are air tight by closing the door on a thin piece
of paper. Consider replacing the seal if the paper does not stay in place.
- Uncovered foods release moisture
and make the compressor work harder. Cover all food and liquids and allow hot
food to cool before placing it in the refrigerator.
- Avoid
overcrowding the refrigerator as
too many items obstruct air circulation and reduce cooling capabilities.
- Decide what you want before opening
the refrigerator door.
| Lighting
- Switch lights off in unoccupied rooms.
- Consider installing dimmers,
timers, and sensors, to control the amount of time and level of lightings required.
- Use fluorescent tubes
or compact fluorescent lamps, as they are energy-efficient and long-lasting.
- Clean the lights and fixtures
regularly.
- Consider the
use of task lighting to focus more light where required, allowing lower lighting
levels for general areas.
Computer
- Ensure
that the monitor power management feature is enabled to realise the energy
savings. Monitors in sleep mode consume significantly lower amount of electricity,
and the reduction in heat generated also lowers air-conditioning requirements.
Find out how to enable the monitor power management feature here.
- The energy consumption
of LCD monitors can be half to two-thirds of that for a CRT monitor. Find out
more about the benefits of LCD monitors here.
- Switch off the computer completely
when not in use for long periods (e.g. more than 30 minutes).
Washing Machine
- Wash
a full load of laundry at a time. Alternatively, you could set the water level
to match the amount of laundry.
-
A significant amount of energy used is for heating of water. You may wish to consider
the need to wash with the hot water cycle. Alternatively, use cold water during
the rinse cycle to cut a load's energy use in half.
- Use
the right amount of detergent to avoid having to wash or rinse the load again.
- Pre-soak or use a soak
cycle when washing heavily soiled garments to avoid two washings and save energy.
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