Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a major concern with regards to global warming. Presently, 80%-90% of the energy available to us is wasted due to inefficient, wasteful management of resources and appliances. Considering the worldwide dwindling supply of energy-resources, these figures are shocking and serve to highlight the deep flaws in our handling of natural resources in general.

Here are some tips for lowering your energy-consumption at home:

Check your gas- and electricity supplier for their ecological credentials and switch to a supplier that holds credible certification for eco-friendly energy if necessary.
Use energy-efficient light-bulbs. They last longer than conventional light-bulbs and use 80% less energy. LED-bulbs are preferable to other energy-saving light-bulbs, which may contain mercury and need to be disposed of properly to ensure they don't end up in landfills where they contaminate the soil.
Use your kettle to boil water, instead of a pot, and heat only as much water as you are going to use.
Keep the lid on your pots and pans when cooking to reduce cooking time.
Wash your clothes at low temperatures. Most energy during a wash-cycle is used for heating the water.
Regulate your heating habits. Turn the heating off when you leave your home and only heat rooms that you spend a lot of time in. Try to switch the heating off at night: as long as you make sure you are well insulated in bed you should not need heating.
Reduce the amount of electric equipment in your home. Question which ones you really need. Consider doing your dishes by hand and avoid unnecessary gadgets such as electric toothbrushes.
Don't leave appliances on stand-by (e.g. TV, laptop etc.). Instead, switch them off at the socket. This can make a big difference to your energy consumption.
Don't leave mobile phones on charge over night, if you can help it. They keep consuming energy even when they are fully charged.
Avoid battery powered appliances. They use up more energy than other appliances.
Opt for appliances with energy-efficiency certification.These include fridge/freezers, kettles etc.
Take a shower instead of a bath. And keep showering-time to a minimum. This dramatically reduces the amount of water than needs to be heated.