© Justin Polkey
Culture & Living
A greener environment requires reducing your carbon footprint, and what better place to begin with than your own home? Here, we look at the best ways to make sure you're using energy efficiently in your home
So, you’ve swapped your plastic water bottles for glass and bought indoor plants to cleanse the air. But with soaring energy costs and climate change, is that enough to ensure cleaner and greener living? It’s a global challenge, one that’s in dire need of sustainable alternatives. But how can you, sitting in your homes, do your bit to contribute to creating cleaner energy? Are there small, simple changes you can make in your daily lives to ensure a more, eco-friendly environment? Vivek Gilani, environmental engineer and founder of environmental consultancy, cBalance Solutions, believes that individuals can have a significant impact on reducing energy consumption in their homes. Here are some practical and cost-effective tips that might go a long way in creating a sustainable future.
…And we don’t just mean mentally. Take a walk around the house and you will notice just how many electrical appliances are plugged in with the switch on. Do you really need them to be on? When you leave your electrical appliances on standby mode, you are unnecessarily using energy. Just switching them off is the easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint. The added advantage? Reduced electricity bills.
For those times, when you do need the lights, replacing your old bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs is a great idea. Not only do they last 25 times longer than regular ones, saving you the expense of buying more, they also consume 75 per cent less energy.
While we are talking about electricity, here’s a thought. How about we make the switch to solar panels as well? The renewable, free source of energy is not only clean as it doesn’t emit any greenhouse gases, but is cost-effective as well. There are a variety of systems one can opt for, depending on the quantum of electricity required and the budget. All it requires is a bit of motivation and research. And if it’s just light you’re looking for, just open the windows wide and let the sun take over.
Almost 60 to 70 per cent of a house’s energy consumption comes from the use of air conditioners, specially in summers. Gilani offers a number of practical solutions to reduce the same. “Firstly, install double glazed windows that greatly reduce the amount of heat coming inside the apartment. If that’s not possible, then put low-emissivity film on the windows to get the same effect,” he suggests. Setting the AC temperature to around 26 degrees and combining it with the fan can also reduce energy consumption. “Finally, work with an interior designer who has the skills to cordon off the area where the AC is not required, specially when you sleep. That reduces energy consumption directly by 30 per cent and has a significant impact on your electricity bills too,” he adds.
According to Gilani, a big way to reduce energy consumption can be the household refrigerator. “Make sure it’s a five-star rated refrigerator. Secondly, ensure that it isn’t leaking. You can do a simple test by placing a lit torchlight inside the fridge and closing the door at night. If you can see light peeking out from the corners, it means that the air is leaking out. Get it checked and repaired immediately,” he suggests. He also recommends leaving enough space between the back of the refrigerator and the wall.
So, you think turning off the tap during brushing your teeth is enough? Think of that leaking faucet that you've been planning on getting fixed for the longest time and never getting around to it. Get that done, pronto. Some of the other ways of saving water and becoming an eco-friendly home are to install low-flow showerheads, shortening shower time and recycling water wherever possible.
All set for a hot water bath and realise the water is scalding hot? Reduce the temperature, Gilani says. “The first thing you need to do is to use buckets for bathing. The amount of water you have to heat for a shower is 25-40 litres, whereas the job gets done in 10 litres with a bucket. Secondly, ask an electrician to change the setting on the geyser from 60-70 degree to around 50 degree, which, again, saves a lot of energy,” he adds.
Making a toast for yourself? Skip your large, electric oven and reach for that toaster lying inside the cupboard. Boiling potatoes for dinner? Bring out that pressure cooker and let go of the electric stovetop. Wherever possible, try and use gadgets that consume less energy. You will be doing both the environment and your monthly electricity bills a big favour.
Do you really need to take your car out for your weekly trip to the local grocery that's hardly a mile away? All that time wasted looking for a spot to park, only to get caught in a traffic jam on your way back home? Just wear a pair of walking shoes and take that much-needed stroll to do your shopping. Carpool as much as you can or make use of the public transport. Walking up the stairs to your home instead of taking an elevator might be a small thing, but according to Gilani, for every three-storey elevator journey you avoid, there’s enough energy to light a bulb for two hours.