10 Top Tips - Energy Management Reduces Carbon
Save Money,Reduce Utility Bills,Carbon Footprint- Electricity Saving
Oct 12, 2009
Saving energy is not only good for the environment by reducing CO2 emissions, but can also save money for every household and workplace. Indeed with domestic emissions of carbon dioxide amounting to more than 40% of the UK total carbon production, it is unsurprising that energy management within the home is a major issue.
Carbon Footprint for the Average UK Household
The carbon footprint for the average UK household amounts to approximately 5.5 tonnes per year. Of the total UK CO2 emissions in 2007 of 543 million tonnes, more than 40% was for domestic usage comprising:
- 142 million tonnes from the energy used for heat, light and power in homes
- 91 million tonnes for transport, cars, buses, motorcycles
Energy Management for the Modern Home
With the average family spending around £1,300 annually on gas and electricity supplies alone, it certainly makes sense to do everything possible to reduce household utility bills. Good energy management within the home will save at least £250 per household per year, by increasing household energy efficiency.
10 Top Tips for Electricity Saving Within the Home
- Leaving appliances on standby wastes over £1.8billion of energy in the UK annually, always turn appliances off
- Families can save over £37 per year from electricity bills by switching off electricity at wall sockets
- Energy saving light bulbs use around a quarter of the power of standard light bulbs and last eight times longer. On average using energy saving light bulbs saves at least £7 per year from electricity bills
- Switch all lights off on leaving a room
- Turning heat thermostats down by 1 degree C will save around £55 per year from utility bills. The recommended temperature for a living room is 21 degrees C, and 18 degrees C for a bedroom.
- Using central heating programmers, set heating and water to come on when required rather than all the time
- When using washing machines always make up a full load and try 30 degrees C wash as modern detergents are far more efficient and a cooler wash will be a quarter of the price of the hottest cycle
- Always unplug mobile phone and laptop chargers when not in use
- Only boil the amount of water required in kettles
- Buy only A+ rated appliances
The Big Switch Off, UK
The Big Switch Off is a mass impact local energy efficiency campaign. Councils throughout the UK have been participating in the event to raise awareness of energy consumption both in the domestic and commercial environment.
An October 2009 campaign in the areas of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland aimed to achieve a local electricity saving of over £13m, with energy suppliers in the region participating to produce reliable figures of exactly what energy savings had been achieved in the campaign.
Year on year, the Big Switch Off Campaign aims to achieve greater local participation across the UK by highlighting successful local case studies, which then encourage more participation from families, schools, businesses and groups.
However, reducing energy consumption requires a long term behavioural change, the first step along the way to this change is an investigation of what the carbon footprint is for each home and business, together with suggestions on how to cut down CO2 emissions.
- For a free home energy report, detailing household carbon footprint and suggesting power saving methods amounting to up to £300 per annum, contact the Energy Trust.
If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read: Start an Energy Efficient Lifestyle or How to Lead a Greener Lifestyle - Leave the Car at Home
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