How it can help.
The beauty of Watts Clever Wireless Energy Monitor is that it shows you how much energy you’re using right now. And it also shows how much it’s going to cost you every day and every month, unless you alter your behaviour.
It can’t save you money on its own.
It can help you change your habits.
So we suggest you check the display quite regularly. If it shows that your usage is high, it could mean there’s something you can switch off now, like a light bulb or an appliance on stand-by.
As you leave the house, it’s a good idea to check the display. It will show you exactly how much electricity you’ll be using even when you’re not at home. Perhaps you’ll be persuaded to switch off the TV instead of leaving it on stand-by.
Check the display before you go to bed. How much money will you spend while you’re asleep? And what can you save by switching off an appliance?
Monitor how much money it costs you just to boil the kettle, or cook a meal. Can you save by only partially filling the kettle (ensuring the element is covered), or by turning down the rings on your hob?
Test out whether you can save money and power by switching off appliances, rather than leaving them on stand-by. You might be surprised how much energy is wasted when some appliances are not turned off altogether.
Energy saving ideas.
Don’t use the remote to switch off the TV or stereo as leaving the appliance on stand-by still uses up electricity. By switching off at the power button or even the socket you will save both energy and money.
In most homes about 10-15% of the electricity bill is for lighting. Always turn off the lights when you leave a room. Wherever possible change to energy saving light bulbs as they use 80% less electricity than traditional bulbs.
Your washing machine and tumble dryer are two of the appliances in your home that use the most energy. Making some small changes to how you use them will help you save energy and money. When using the washing machine, between about 85-90% of energy is used just to heat up the water. Dropping the temperature of your wash will significantly decrease energy consumption. Only use the machine when you have a full load and if you have to do a smaller wash, use the half load function. You can avoid using the dryer so often by line drying clothes whenever possible or using an indoor clothes dryer when the weather is bad. If you do need to use the dryer, then ensure the clothes are as dry as possible after washing, e.g., they have gone through a fast spin so that there is minimum excess
water, reducing drying time considerably.
In your business think about the power consumption of all new devices such as Computers, Faxes, Copiers before you renew your leasing or new purchase. Include in your new purchase criteria the standby and running energy consumption. Many responsible manufacturers have worked hard on energy efficiency that will not only save you money but are kind to our environment, and the costs are about the same. Some computer manufacturers have introduced technology and software that can significantly reduce the energy requirements of CPU's, Video Cards, Cooling and Hard Drives when the machine is idle (most of the time), but in an instant will burst into full speed when you need it, In a business environment with multiple computers this can result in significant benefits.
Here are a few tips to help save electricity when cooking.
When heating water only heat the amount of water needed and use the correct size pan. If only using a small pan, then use a small electric ring. Using lids on pans will save energy and help them come to the boil quicker.
The location of your fridge is all important to how energy efficient it is. Where possible make sure it is out of direct sunlight and not close to the oven. Make sure you defrost your fridge and freezer on a regular basis as ice will make a freezer work harder therefore wasting energy. Only set your fridge to as cold as you need it and avoid keeping the door open for long periods of time as the more cold air that escapes, the harder the fridge has to work. Never put warm or hot food into the fridge as it will have to work extra hard to try and keep cold. Aim to keep your fridge at least three-quarters full to maintain maximum efficiency.
Unplug any chargers when not being used for charging.
Set computers to sleep and hibernate. The “hibernate mode” turns the computer off in a way that doesn’t require you to reload everything when you switch it back on. Allowing your computer to hibernate saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer. Keep your printer turned off when not
in use.
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