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Conserving Energy in The Home
We all depend on energy to make our lives more comfortable and enjoyable, we use energy to heat our homes, run our cars, to manufacture all of the “creature comforts” which we don’t want to be without. While we all recognise the vital importance of energy in our daily lives, in general we do not use energy in an efficient manner.
The future of Energy in Ireland depends on:
- Security of supply;
- Environmental sustainability / Renewable energy;
- Availability of Raw Materials;
- Conservation Measures;
Relatively small changes by each of us can have a major impact on our environment, our security of supply and will not negatively affect our level of comfort; it will however save us some money.
In practical terms we must reduce our energy usage, and where we need to use energy we must use it in the most efficient manner possible. With new sources of Oil, Coal, Gas etc becoming more difficult to locate, and in any case these are diminishing resources, our energy suppliers must endeavour to change from a dependence on fossil fuels to renewable energy - as an island nation we have one of the richest potential renewable energy resources in Europe - wind, ocean and bio-energy (bio fuels and biomass).
In practical terms we must reduce our energy usage, and where we need to use energy we must use it in the most efficient manner possible. With new sources of Oil, Coal, Gas etc becoming more difficult to locate, and in any case these are diminishing resources, our energy suppliers must endeavour to change from a dependence on fossil fuels to renewable energy - as an island nation we have one of the richest potential renewable energy resources in Europe - wind, ocean and bio-energy (bio fuels and biomass).
Where does our energy come from?
Most of the energy we use on a daily basis comes in the form of electricity, which in turn is generated by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gas, wood, turf. It must be noted that coal, oil, natural gas and turf have developed over many thousands of years, and as fossil fuels, they are a finite resource and cannot be replenished.
As we generate energy from fossil fuels we are also having a detrimental effect on our environment, Scientists now accept that burning fossil fuels is probably the greatest cause of Global Warming, and produces harmful greenhouse gasses.
The term Sustainable Energy refers to methods of producing energy which are less harmful to our environment, our electricity is increasingly being generated from wind, water, and the sun, the advantage of these sources of energy is that they can be used indefinitely, and can be termed renewable sources of energy. If you can substitute some of your energy requirements by using renewable sources of energy such as solar energy (or even wood which can be replanted) to heat your home, this will significantly reduce your reliance on energy produced from fossil fuels like oil and coal.
As we generate energy from fossil fuels we are also having a detrimental effect on our environment, Scientists now accept that burning fossil fuels is probably the greatest cause of Global Warming, and produces harmful greenhouse gasses.
The term Sustainable Energy refers to methods of producing energy which are less harmful to our environment, our electricity is increasingly being generated from wind, water, and the sun, the advantage of these sources of energy is that they can be used indefinitely, and can be termed renewable sources of energy. If you can substitute some of your energy requirements by using renewable sources of energy such as solar energy (or even wood which can be replanted) to heat your home, this will significantly reduce your reliance on energy produced from fossil fuels like oil and coal.
How can you reduce energy consumption (and reduce your fuel bills)?
Sometimes it’s the small things which make the largest differences, small energy conservation initiatives taken by you in the home or in the workplace will add to the collective efforts of many individuals and companies, and have a very significant positive impact on our environment. For example remember to turn off electrical equipment - do not leave it on “stand-by” – the equipment could still use up to 20% of its normal energy requirements it would use when fully on.
- Attics:
- Bathrooms & Shower Areas:
- Bedrooms:
- Living Rooms / Family Rooms:
- Home Heating:
- Hot Press / Water Cylinder:
- Insulation:
- Kitchen / Utility Rooms:
- Lighting:
- Other Energy Saving Hints:
- Peak Hour:
- The Car:
- At Work:
- Recycle:
Poor attic insulation could account for up to 15% of the heat lost from your home. Insulate your attic and insulate the water tank and any pipes to prevent freezing but the area under the cold water tank should not be insulated you also need to ensure adequate ventilation of the roof space.
Dripping taps or toilet cisterns can use enormous quantities of water if left unattended. Never leave water running unnecessarily - particularly hot water, generally speaking taking a shower is more energy efficient than a bath, it consumes less water and less electricity heating the water.
Use low wattage CFLs as generally we need a lower level of lighting in the bedroom than in other parts of the house. Control heating by turning off (or down) radiators when the rooms are not in use this will still ensure that you have the room warm and cosy at bedtime. Electric blankets need only be turned on approximately half an hour before you go to bed, and should be turned off prior to getting into the bed.
Outside of the Kitchen, the living room is probably the most used room in the family home. This is the room where we tend to watch TV or listen to the music centre. Unplug or switch off the TV or music centre when you are not using them - they use energy even in "stand-by" mode. Keep the heating comfortable, and turn it down when the room is warm enough. Keeping the curtains closed at night will reduce wastage through the windows. Generally a softer lower lighting is preferable in the living room so use CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps), or lamps to light the area you are using.
Turn your heating down A temperature of around 18 to 20 degrees Celsius is an ideal room temperature, ensure that your boiler is regularly maintained and in good working order, a faulty boiler can add 20% to the cost of your fuel bills. Did you know that by turning down your thermostat by 1 degree Celsius you can reduce your energy consumption by up to 10%? Electric heaters are very heavy users of electricity, and can be expensive to run if not used sparingly. If your central heating boiler is heating your hot water, you should fit a cylinder thermostat which will help maintain the hot water at the temperature you selected and avoid unnecessary wastage of energy.
The water cylinder must be fitted with a Lagging jacket - an 80 mm thick lagging jacket properly fitted on the hot water tank or cylinder will keep water hotter for longer, and reduce the need to re-heat the water. Use a timer on your immersion heater so that you heat water only when you need it. Keep the door of the hot press closed, and remember to insulate the pipes coming out of the water cylinder as well, as this will also conserve energy.
It’s a total waste of money heating your home if all the heat is escaping through the walls, roof or through your windows so check all windows and external doors for draughts, survey the areas where your house is losing heat and then get professional advice / help to address insulation. It is estimated that up to 20% of the heat lost from a house is lost through poorly insulated walls , check if your walls insulated or dry-lined, if not consider improving insulation in wall cavities. Double or Triple Glazing is essential; the area exposed by a single glazed window will allow eight times more heat to escape than a wall of the same area (double glazing also has the effect of reducing noise levels from external sources such as passing traffic etc.) Deal with any drafts in doorways, windows etc. However take care to ensure that you leave adequate ventilation allowing fresh air to circulate.
The kitchen is probably one of the most used rooms in any house; consequently it is one of the rooms where significant quantities off electricity, gas, and fuel are used. Defrost and clean your fridge / freezer at least twice per annum, on no account let “frost” build up in the freezer compartment, and let food cool down prior to placing it into the fridge / freezer.
When using your cooker , keep the pots covered, turn off rings which are not in use, don’t open the oven door while cooking as the cooker will take some time to return to normal cooking temperature. Microwave cookers generally use less energy than conventional cookers.
Don't overfill your kettle - only boil as much water as you need, indeed it is generally more economical to use the kettle to heat water for cooking rather than boiling it in the saucepan.
Toast bread in a toaster instead of under the grill, you will save significant amounts of energy.
When using washing machines use the lowest water temperature required for the items being washed, use economy cycles where possible, it is estimated that in excess of 70% of the energy consumption of washing machines is used just to heat the water! Wait for the dishwasher or clothes washer to be full before you switch it on, and don’t use this type of equipment between 5pm and 7pm, which is peak usage time for electricity generation. Think about stopping the dishwasher before the drying cycle, open the door and let the dishes dry naturally.
Use Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs, which last up to ten times longer and only use a fraction of the electricity required for a conventional bulb. (A 20 Watt CFL bulb will give approximately the same light as a 100 watt conventional bulb.) Turn off lights when leaving a room; do you really need a 100 watt bulb in every room?
We are so used to the “remote” these days we neglect to fully turn off our televisions, radios etc, but a television in standby mode can use up to half the electricity as when it is fully switched on. All lights and household appliances should be turned off when not in use.
Set your computer to energy saving mode and switch it off when not in use.
When purchasing or choosing a new household appliance such as a fridge, cooker or washing machine etc., check the energy efficiency label attached to the appliance, you hope to have the appliance for a reasonable time, remember energy efficient appliance costs less to run and is kinder to the environment. Items such as washing machines (clothes / dishes), clothes driers, fridges / freezers, ovens / cookers / microwaves, televisions and radios, are all rated from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the least efficient. An “A” rated appliance will use less energy and cost you less to run.
Make sure that your boiler is working efficiently , have it serviced at least once per year, and have the thermostat controlling the heat output checked.
The daily peak for electricity usage occurs between 5pm and 7pm in the evening, in winter electricity demand goes up by about 20% during these hours. This increases the pressure on the national electrical grid and results in increased use of fuel, and Co2 emissions. So if you can cut back on your energy usage during these hours, you will reduce the requirement for power generation, and reduce emissions of CO2.
Cut out that unnecessary journey in your car , it would be healthier for all of us if we considered walking or cycling to the shop for that loaf of bread. There are now some dedicated cycle lanes in Newbridge; this should encourage greater use of bicycles. When travelling to work consider car-pooling as this would reduce the number of vehicles on the road, reducing congestion, noise pollution and save you the petrol costs. Make sure your car is maintained, as a badly maintained car engine will consume far more fuel. Try to keep to lower speeds (between 65 and 80 km/hr - where it is safe to do so), and ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.
Just because you are at work doesn’t mean that you should forget the energy saving actions you take in the home. Switch off lights and heating when they're not in use. Turn your computer off at night or whenever you are not going to use it for more than an hour. Ensure that all other office or factory equipment is fully switched off at the shift end. Walk or cycle instead of driving a short distance to work, otherwise consider car pooling with colleagues if possible.
If you recycle glass and paper, these products can be recycled / reused resulting in a massive saving in energy costs, it also reduces the amount of raw materials needed to manufacture these items from new.
For further information or energy conservation:
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
The Irish Wind Energy Association of Ireland
Electric Ireland
Eirgrid
Recycling in Newbridge
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Composting in the Garden
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Conserving Energy in The Home
- Conservation of Water
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Recycling Electrical / Electronic Equipment WEEE
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Recycle - Repak & Rehab
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Recycling Survey 2008 - Newbridge
