In Hong Kong, most households use more electricity in the summer than in the winter, because of the frequent use of air conditioner.
To ditch the use of air-con seems like a tall order. In July and August, the sweltering heat can be so extreme that heat stroke is hardly a rarity.
Check out these energy-saving tips so that you can have a comfortable and environmentally friendly summer.
Use a fan and turn the temperature up
To save electricity, use a fan along with the air-con to increase ventilation in the interior. This effectively disperse the cold air to the whole space and up the efficacy of the air-condition. Keep the temperature at 25 to 26°C to minimise energy expenditure.
Repeatedly switching on the air-con wastes electricity
If you are leaving home for only ten minutes, do not switch off the air-con. This is because each time you switch on the air-con, the machine has to start the refrigeration progress anew, which consumes extra electricity.
Prevent direct sun exposure to the air-con
Install the air conditioner in shaded area. This is because air-cons will consume extra energy to dissipate heat when the temperature of the machine and the surrounding area rises.
Leave some space between the refrigerator and the walls
Heat cannot dissipate efficiently when there is no space between the walls and the refrigerator. This results in higher energy consumption.
Always keep the coolant tubes in a well-ventilated space, and clear the fridge of expired food, so that the refrigerator can function properly, and its lifespan lengthened.
Clean the air-con filter regularly
A dusty filter will decrease the inflow of air. This draws out the duration of refrigeration and increases energy consumption.
Run full loads when washing your clothes
It takes as much energy to wash a small load as it does a full load. Running full loads saves a lot of energy in the long run.
Make use of all that produced heat
When ironing clothes, first iron the clothing items that require a high heat. Then switch the iron off, and use the remaining heat to iron delicate items like silk and satin.
LED light bulbs
LED light bulbs are more durable and energy-efficient than incandescent light bulbs and compact fluorescent tubes.
At the same energy input, LEDs produce five times more light than incandescent light bulbs.
When purchasing LEDs, pay attention to the lumen value of the light bulb; the higher the value, the brighter the light bulb.
If the brightness value of two light bulbs are similar, compare their power input to see which one is more energy efficient.
Unplug electrical appliances not in use
Some electrical appliances like computers, TVs and sounds systems consume electricity in standby mode. Unplugging these appliances when you’re not using them.
