Residential

Energy saving tips – Lighting and general

Turn off lights in areas not being used.
Open curtains in the morning, rather than turning on the light.
Paint rooms in light colours, as this aids reflection of available light.
Use desk or standard lamps where most light is needed, so less lighting is required in the rest of the room.
Halogen desk lamps are more efficient than incandescent ones, as they consume only 25 – 35% of the energy and last 2-4 times longer than an incandescent lamp while giving the same light output.
Clean lamps and fittings – over time, dirt build up reduces light output.
Use fluorescent tubes, they use a quarter of the electricity consumed by ordinary bulbs and last around eight times longer.
Light dimmers save you money and can extend the life of incandescent lamps.
For security lighting, install time, motion or light sensing switches.

To minimise heat loss, don't leave waterbeds unmade.
Turn the TV off if you are not watching it.
Use energy efficient appliances (star rating).
Switch off electric blankets during the day.
Save on cooling costs in summer by drawing curtains early in the day when a hot day is forecast.
Make sure that skylights have been installed properly with a diffuser at the bottom to ensure light is evenly spread.
Invest in a pool cover. You can save up to 90% of the energy your swimming pool uses in summer by using a cover.
Ask the pool manufacturer if you can use a timer to reduce the pump run time.
Use gap-filler to fill any draughty gaps around the house, especially between polished floorboards and skirtings.
If you're buying an exhaust fan for the kitchen or bathroom choose one with automatic shutter doors. This will help prevent heat loss.
Consider using timers for aquarium lights and pumps, in order to cut down on energy consumption without affecting the health of the fish.
Use the energy saving standby mode on your computer.
Iron large batches of clothing at one time to avoid wasting energy reheating the iron.
Leave delicate items last when ironing and do them after turning iron off as residual heat can be used.

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