There are many things you can do to ensure your home is
energy efficient. Read through the following suggestions and learn what actions
you can take to decrease your:
Use the lowest wattage light bulb that provides adequate light. Avoid using
multiple globe fittings.
Install fluorescent lamps in areas where the light will be on for long
periods of time, e.g. the living room. Fluorescent tubes give out more light per
watt than other bulbs.
Have each light activated by its own switch, as opposed to one switch
operating several lights.
Keep lights and fittings clean.
Defrost your freezer regularly.
Dust the coils at the back of your refrigerator once a year and make sure
there that air can circulate around your unit when it is in place.
Make sure your refrigerator door seals properly.
Dry washing on clothes racks instead of using a tumble dryer. If using the
dryer, thoroughly spin the clothes first.
Wait until you gather a full load before running the dishwasher.
Cook using a microwave instead of the oven.
If using the oven, select the hotplate that best fits the pot. Also maintain
the oven seals and open the oven door as little as possible when cooking.
If you own a heated water-bed, make up this bed as soon as you rise in the
morning. The bed sheets and blankets will help maintain the heat in the water.
Use timers to turn lights and appliance on and off when you are on holidays,
rather than leaving these on for the duration.
Install draught stoppers. Seal gaps around external doors and windows using
weather strips (draught excluders).
Have the installation in your roof topped up when necessary.
Stop heat loss through windows using thick, close fitting drapes. Perhaps
attach Velcro to the sides and bottom of both the curtain and window frame. Also
cover the gap between the curtain rod and window frame with a cap made from
fabric matching the curtain. Double glazed windows also reduce heat loss.
Make certain that all window and curtains are closed when heating.
Use ceiling fans to distribute the heat.
Close off doors to separate heated areas of the house from those that are
unheated.
Minimise the area that is to be heated and if possible select an area that
does not feature any external doors.
If only a small area needs heating, use a portable heater in preference to
central heating.
Close the vents off to those areas of the house you don’t wish heated by a
central heating system.
Only purchase heaters that have thermostat controls and timers. Also look
for heaters which are rated highly in terms of energy efficiency.
Clean and service heaters regularly.
Switch off the heating when you go to bed and whenever you are not at home.
Turn off the pilot light to gas heaters over the summer.
Use vegetation, other building and fences as wind breaks.
Install draught stoppers. Seal gaps around external doors and windows using
weather strips (draught excluders).
Provide shade to windows by using external blinds or awnings on sunny days.
Maintain the air conditioner by dusting all coils and fans.
Switch off the cooling when you go to bed and whenever you are not at home.
Exhaust fans in the kitchen or bathroom can be used to move hot air out of
the home. These use very little power and could be run overnight, especially
where there is little air movement through open windows.
If you install a wall-unit cooler, this should be positioned on the shaded
side of the home, away from direct sunlight.
Install and use ceiling fans to create a cooling breeze.
On hot days, restrict your use of lights as these generate heat, as does
cooking, ironing, etc.
Plant deciduous trees for shading your home through the summer. Vines are
also ideal for reducing the heat absorbed through walls. Select a vine that
loses its leaves over winter.
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