How to save electricity

In our daily life, there are many simple steps you can do to save electricity. These steps can easily become your habit, which will save your cost and benefit our environment at the same time.

• Be sure to turn off lights when you leave a room.

• Turn off machines when you leave a room (examples include TV’s, computers, radios, stereos, video games, VCR’s, and DVD players)
• When you go away on a trip, be sure to unplug these same machines because they have stand-by functions that consume electricity even when they are turned off.

• Fill your dishwasher efficiently and limit the number of times you run it.
• Do not place furniture and other things in front of air conditioning vents.
• Keep doors and windows closed when air conditioning is on.
• Hold a ribbon or feather up to windows and doors to see if there are any drafts.  If there are, put in weather stripping or caulking to keep the outside air out and to keep the air conditioning.   Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth and take shorter showers.  This will not only save water, but it will also save the electricity that it takes to pump and heat the water.
• Make use of daylight hours and do not turn on lights and lamps.
• Use one large light bulb instead of a few small ones.  One 100-watt light bulb uses less energy and gives off more light than two 60-watt bulbs.
• Use fluorescent light bulbs because they use 75% less energy and last longer than incandescent light bulbs.
• Use light bulbs that are low in wattage in areas of your house where you don’t need bright light.
• Make sure that outdoor lighting is turned off during the day.  Use motion-detectors lights or timer switches.
• Decide what you want from the refrigerator or freezer before you open them so you don’t waste electricity by standing there looking inside and keeping the door open.
• Do not set temperature excessively low. Too much ice wastes electricity required for regular defrosting.
• Wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
• Vacuum the coils of your refrigerator every few months in order to lower your energy bill and to keep the condenser working better.
• Before putting hot foods into the refrigerator, cool them to room temperature (unless the recipe tells you not to do this).
• Cook several food dishes in the oven at the same time.
• Keep the oven door closed until the food is done cooking.
• Defrost food before you bake or microwave it.  This uses 1/3 less energy than if you baked food that was still frozen.
• Choose a washing machine with better energy efficiency grading by referring to the energy label.  
• Select the right size of a washing machine for your family.
• Use cold water cycle whenever possible and do not use too much detergent.
• Wait until you have a full-load before washing as a half load uses the same amount of energy as a full load.
• Don't leave mobile phone on charge unnecessarily.
• Iron all items in one session to avoid reheating the iron.
• Use the iron at the correct temperature setting. Iron items that require high temperature first, then medium, then switch off and use the residual heat for fabrics such as silk that requires lower temperature.
• Don't iron unnecessary items