Electricity is generated when a turbine rotate a rotor with the help of some force. This force can be generated with the help of steam, diesel, gas, water or wind. First 2 energy producers releases greenhouse gas and uses earth’s coal and oil storage. As the amount of coal and oil is finite energy costs are reaching record highs (Demand of coal < name="tip">Consider using high-intensity discharge (also called HID) or low-pressure sodium lights.Exterior lighting is one of the best places to use fluorescent lamps (CFLs) because of their long life. If you live in a cold climate, be sure to buy a lamp with cold weather ballast since standard CFLs may not work well below 40°F. CFLs are most efficient when they operate for two or more hours at a time. CFLs use at least 66% less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent lights. Replacing four of the most often used incandescent light bulbs with CFLs can save you $35 annually.
Turn off decorative outdoor natural gas lamps; just eight such lamps burning year-round use as much natural gas as it takes to heat an average-size home during an entire winter.
Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit or a motion sensor so they will turn on only at night or when someone is present. A combined photocell and motion sensor will increase your energy savings even more. Use CFLs in the fixtures that are hard to reach such as ceiling fans, other ceiling fixtures and enclosed outdoor fixtures. Because CFLs last longer, you enjoy the convenience of buying and changing bulbs less frequently.
Consider using 4-watt mini-fluorescent or electro-luminescent night lights. Both lights are much more efficient than their incandescent counterparts. The luminescent lights are cool to the touch.
If you have torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps, consider replacing them with compact fluorescent torchieres. Compact fluorescent torchieres use 60% to 80% less energy, can produce more light (lumens), and do not get as hot as the halogen torchieres. Halogen torchieres are a fire risk because of the high temperature of the halogen bulb.
Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.
You can use recessed downlights (also called recessed cans) , which are designed specifically for pin-based CFLs, and can be used in retrofits or new construction.
Use CFLs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home. Consider carefully the size and fit of these systems when you select them. Some home fixtures may not accommodate some of the larger CFLs. Rooms that have several kinds of lights i.e. overhead and counter lights in a kitchen should have separate switches for the various types. A three-level switch on table and floor lamps is an easy way to use one fixture for several lighting needs.
Buy fixtures that have a dimmer, which allow you to manually adjust the intensity of light in a room. Because most lights use less electricity at lower settings, you do not need to pay for more light than you need. Dimmers can be used with incandescent lights, including low-voltage systems, but only with new-screw-based dimmable fluorescent bulbs. Other fluorescent lights must have their own dimmable ballasts.
Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops.
Make sure you are getting the best possible light by cleaning fixtures and replacing any yellowed or hazy lenses and diffusers twice a year.
Make sure that skylights have been installed properly with a diffuser at the bottom to ensure light is evenly spread.
Replacing four 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 23-watt fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) that use about two-thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer saves $190 over the life of the bulbs. If all our nation’s households did the same, we’d save as much energy as is consumed by some 38 million cars in one year. You see that it is extremely easy to do so.
Resources :
http://www.energy.gov/
http://www.electricity-guide.org.uk/
http://www.ase.org/
Signing off,
Mrinmoy
Turn off decorative outdoor natural gas lamps; just eight such lamps burning year-round use as much natural gas as it takes to heat an average-size home during an entire winter.
Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit or a motion sensor so they will turn on only at night or when someone is present. A combined photocell and motion sensor will increase your energy savings even more. Use CFLs in the fixtures that are hard to reach such as ceiling fans, other ceiling fixtures and enclosed outdoor fixtures. Because CFLs last longer, you enjoy the convenience of buying and changing bulbs less frequently.
Consider using 4-watt mini-fluorescent or electro-luminescent night lights. Both lights are much more efficient than their incandescent counterparts. The luminescent lights are cool to the touch.
If you have torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps, consider replacing them with compact fluorescent torchieres. Compact fluorescent torchieres use 60% to 80% less energy, can produce more light (lumens), and do not get as hot as the halogen torchieres. Halogen torchieres are a fire risk because of the high temperature of the halogen bulb.
Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.
You can use recessed downlights (also called recessed cans) , which are designed specifically for pin-based CFLs, and can be used in retrofits or new construction.
Use CFLs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home. Consider carefully the size and fit of these systems when you select them. Some home fixtures may not accommodate some of the larger CFLs. Rooms that have several kinds of lights i.e. overhead and counter lights in a kitchen should have separate switches for the various types. A three-level switch on table and floor lamps is an easy way to use one fixture for several lighting needs.
Buy fixtures that have a dimmer, which allow you to manually adjust the intensity of light in a room. Because most lights use less electricity at lower settings, you do not need to pay for more light than you need. Dimmers can be used with incandescent lights, including low-voltage systems, but only with new-screw-based dimmable fluorescent bulbs. Other fluorescent lights must have their own dimmable ballasts.
Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops.
Make sure you are getting the best possible light by cleaning fixtures and replacing any yellowed or hazy lenses and diffusers twice a year.
Make sure that skylights have been installed properly with a diffuser at the bottom to ensure light is evenly spread.
Replacing four 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 23-watt fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) that use about two-thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer saves $190 over the life of the bulbs. If all our nation’s households did the same, we’d save as much energy as is consumed by some 38 million cars in one year. You see that it is extremely easy to do so.
Resources :
http://www.energy.gov/
http://www.electricity-guide.org.uk/
http://www.ase.org/
Signing off,
Mrinmoy
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