Top 10 Energy Saving Tips

Spotted this on Treehugger this morning, it’s a concept by a designer called Gilles Belley. It’s an energy saving power adapter that automatically shuts down devices that are on standby. If it’s on standby, blue LEDs come on to let you know that it’s still using power. If you don’t press a button within three minutes, then that device is turned off completely.

Very nice. But, this technology is already available!

EthicalSuperstore.com already sells the bye bye standby and the Intelliplug.

So, if you want to start saving the planet (and save some money while you’re at it) here are our top 10 tips for saving energy in the home.

1. Be a bright spark – use energy saving light bulbs

Just one energy efficient light bulb (also called compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFL for short) can save £10 a year on your electricity bill and they can last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

BioBulbs produce bright, natural daylight and operate for up to 10,000 hours.

Over it’s lifetime, a single compact fluorescent light will be responsible for half a tonne less CO2 than the equivalent incandescent bulb.

2. Avoid standby

Televisions, stereos and computer equipment can still use between 10 and 60% of their power when they are on standby.

You can now save energy, money and the environment with the Bye Bye Standby which switches off your household appliances overnight with the push of a button.

You’ll also prevent an additional 150 KG of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere.

3. Look for the Logo

When buying new household appliances look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. ‘A’ rated appliances are the most efficient in their category and will save money as well as energy.

4. Use Solar Energy to do the charging

Even in the UK, the sun always comes out eventually, and when it does, why not let solar energy do the charging?

EthicalSuperstore.com have three solar powered mobile phone chargers available starting from only £24.95. You’ll emit less CO2 too, around 1KG a year.

5. Switch to renewable energy

Switch to non-polluting, green electricity with a renewable energy supplier. Ethical Superstore have teamed up with Ecotricity.

Sign up and we’ll send you a FREE £20 EthicalSuperstore.com voucher to spend on whatever you like.

Switching to a renewable energy provider like Ecotricity will save you from emitting a massive 1.7 tonnes of CO2 annually.

6. Turn off your mobile phone charger

If we all switched off our mobile phone chargers when we’re not using them then then we’d save enough power to decommission a power station.

Once your batteries are charged up, switch it off at the wall. If you’re not using it, unplug it!

This includes your iPod charger, laptop power supply and your digital camera power supply. The average family will also emit 7KG less CO2.

7. Wash your clothes economically

Wait until you’ve got a full load and try to wash at 30°C.

This will save around 40% energy per wash and save the average family 90KG of CO2 each year.

8. Turn your central heating thermostat down

Turning your central heating down by 1° C and you’ll save up to 10% of your heating bill.

This could save you £30 – £40 per year and 400KG of CO2.

9. Boil only as much water as you need

An eco kettle has a built in reservoir so that you only boil the amount of water you need.

This could save you 45KG of CO2 each year.

10. Get outside more

Watch less television, put a jumper on if it’s cold, go outside and fly a kite. You’ll find that you don’t use nearly so much electricity.

via Live earth, Lazy Environmentalist, We’re in this Together, Treehugger and Global Cool.