Energy and you
There are many simple measures that everyone can take to reduce their energy use:
Lighting and heating
· Switch lights off in empty rooms; if you’re leaving a room for more than 20mins turn the lights off.
· Only light the area you need.
· Consider the heating. Each degree heating is increased by can add up to 8% to the energy bill!
· Keep doors and windows closed in cold weather. Adjust heating instead of opening windows.
· Dress lightly in summer to reduce the need for air-conditioning
· Make the most of daylight where ever possible to reduce lighting use.
Computers, printing and copying
· Photocopy in batch to minimise energy use caused by “firing up” photocopiers.
· Did you know a computer left on overnight for a year uses over 500kWh of energy? Generating that much energy creates enough C02 to fill a double-decker bus. Switch computers off when not in use.
· Switch off photocopiers and printers, as well as computers after hours. A photocopier left on standby overnight wastes enough energy to make 30 cups of tea. That’s nearly 11000 cups a year!
· Remember to print and copy on to both sides of a sheet of paper. This is the easiest way to halve you’re paper consumption.
· Adjust font size and margins before printing to optimize paper use. The ‘Print Preview’ function is the easiest way to see if you’re going to waste paper BEFORE you print.
· Unplug phone chargers when not in use. According to O2 only 5% of energy used by the UK’s phone chargers actually charge phones!
· A screensaver does not save energy; they are designed to stop images ‘burning’ onto the monitor display.
Break time
· A fridge door left open for just 30mins over the course every day for a year wastes enough energy to power a lighthouse for 4 days! Try not to leave the fridge open while you’re making the tea.
· Don’t overfill the kettle; kettles are one of the most energy hungry appliances in the kitchen so only boil the amount you need.