Energy-efficient Lights
- Lightbulbs are one of the most commonly used electrical appliances in most homes. It is not uncommon for a home to have several lightbulbs on at the same time for the majority of the day. Since lightbulbs are used so frequently, it is important to use ones that use energy more efficiently to reduce electricity consumption. Standard lightbulbs are called incandescent bulbs---incandescence is light created from heating up an object. The problem with normal bulbs is that a large amount of energy is lost in the form of heat, which makes them inefficient. Compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, are energy-efficient bulbs that produce light using florescence, which generates less heat and is therefore more energy-efficient than a normal bulb. Replacing standard lightbulbs with CFLs as they burn out is a good way to save electricity. CFLs do cost more than normal bulbs, but they also last much longer, which results in savings over time.
Refrigerator Use
- Refrigerators require a large amount of electricity to run, and are on all the time to keep food cool. When the fridge is shut, it only needs to use a certain level of electricity to maintain the air temperature, but every time it is opened, it must work harder to cool the air, since hot air will get inside. To reduce the amount of electricity your refrigerator uses, limit how often you open it. To do this, decide upon the items you want to take out of the fridge before opening it, and strive to locate and take the item quickly to keep as much cold air inside as possible. Setting the temperature level of the fridge higher will also save electricity, but do not to set it so high that your food goes bad. By using food fairly soon after purchasing it, you may be able to run your fridge at a higher temperature without allowing food to spoil.
Unused Devices
- Another important part of saving electricity is making sure no appliances are draining electricity when you are not using them. Whenever you leave a room, turn off the lights and other electrical devices that are on. Refrain from keeping a TV on when you aren't watching it, and turn off computer monitors when you are out of the room. You should also shut down your computer at night to keep it from using energy during the evening. It is also important to note that many electrical devices can use up electricity even when they are not turned on. Simply having a device plugged into a wall socket may result in wasted electricity. Make it a habit to unplug all devices from wall sockets when they are not in use. Things like cell phone chargers, hair dryers, and AC units are common culprits of wasting electricity.
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