The idea of energy conservation is not new. Energy conservation is any behaviour that results in the use of less energy. Energy conservation is pivortal in protecting the environment and those around you.

One of the main causes of global warming is the accumulation of excessive amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Driving, air travel, power generation, manufacturing, purification of water and sewage and other activities release carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Efforts to save energy reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and this has a more positive effect on the global environment.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN DO to use energy more efficiently.
Here are some energy-saving tips for your household!

AIR-CONDITIONER

Don't go to extremes when setting the temperature.
it is the norm nowadays to set the temperature too low, but by raising the air-conditioner temperature by 1 degree Celsius, you can save around 10 % in energy. keep your temperature settings as moderate as possible.

Clean filters frequently
Filters should be cleaned about once every 2 weeks. when the filters are clogged, the efficiency of air-conditioners decreases. to clean filters, remove the dust with the vacuum cleaner, or if they are very dirty, wash them in lukewarm water with a neutral soap and dry thoroughly before replacing.

Reduce the heat with the curtains.
One way to use the air-conditioner more efficiently is to block the heat that penetrates through the windows. Draw your curtains to cut the solar rays entering the house.

Find a good place for the air-conditioner compressor unit.
If there are objects or enclosures around the air- conditioner compressor unit, the air-conditioner does not cool well. To boost the efficiency of the air conditioner, place the air-conditioner compressor unit at a well-ventilated area.

Make use of fans.
Even at the same temperature setting, it feels cooler when there is a breeze. If you use a fan together with the air-conditioner, you can set the temperature a little higher and still feel cool.

LIGHTS

Use energy saving bulbs instead of incandescents bulbs.
When a comparison is made of the cost of electricity required by incandescent bulbs (40W) and energy saving bulbs (8W) equivalent to 40 watts, the energy saving bulb is cheaper in the long run because the running cost is cheaper.

Switch of lights
Switch of the lights before you leave the room and when the room is vacant. Consider ways to optimise your use of natural light from the sun during the day time.

WASHING MACHINE

Save time and electricity by washing large loads.
Try to wash large loads instead of many small loads to reduce the time required and the electricity cost.

REFREGERATOR

Change the temperature settings depending on the amount of food.
The refregerator temperature can be set to "high", "medium" or "low". If the temperature is set at "medium", there is a saving in electricity consumption compared to "high", and if the temperature is set at "low", there is a saving compared to "medium". Keep this in mind and remember to adjust the temperature setting depending on the amount of food in the refregerator.

Don't leave the door open for so long.
It is easy to take frequent looks inside and to hold the door open while checking ingredients for the day's menu. However, holding the door open and frequent opening and closing result in higher electricity consumption. Do not open the door more than necessary.

Placement is important.
When there is no space around the refregerator, electricity consumption increases because radiant heat cannot escape. There are some models that can be placed right next to the wall, but to leave as much space as possible.

ELECTRIC HOT WATER POT

Turn off the main power when not using it for a long period.
It is more economical to reheat the water than to keep it warm for along period of time. If you are not going to use hot water for a while, turn off the electrical outlet.

VACUUM CLEANER

Remove the dust before cleaning.
Cleaning with a full dust bag and a dusty filter places a burden on the motor. Cleaning the dust bag and the filter prior to vacuuming saves energy.

Focus on dirty spots.
With carpets, dirt accumulates where people walk, and with wood flooring dirt accumulates in the corners. It is more effective and recommended that you vacuum longer and carefully in the case of carpets, and shorter but more frequently in the case of wood floors.

RICE COOKER

Use the "warm" setting not more than seven hours.
If you use the "warm' setting for more than 7 hours, the amount of electricity used is equivalent to the amount needed to cook a new pot of rice. So, instead of keeping the rice warm for more than 7 hours, save electricity by cooking a new pot of rice.

TELEVISION

Turn off the television when not watching.
Leaving a big television set on when you're not watching can waste as much energy as six 60-watt light bulbs.

Watch television together with your family.
In our affluent society, one household could have several television sets. To minimise the usage of electricity, watch television together with your family. This also helps foster closer family ties.

Turn off the main power.
Television's standby power consumes only a small amount of electricity, but the regular daily effort to turn it off adds up to significant energy savings. For some models equipped to receive digital broadcasts, it is recommended that the remote control be used to turn of the power so that the satellite download service remains connected.

The amount of electricity consumption varies with the type of television.
The amount of electricity varies depending on whether the television is plasma, liquid crystal, or cathode-ray tube type. As you can see, even with televisions of the same size, the cathode-ray tube television consumes less electricity than the plasma television. Moreover the larger the television screen, the more energy is consumed.

EVEN WHEN NOT USING THE APLIANCES, you are using standby power!

Turn off the main power.
If you turn off the power with the remote control instead of the main power switch, the standby power remains on to receive signals from the remote control. This consumes electricity. in some cases, the amount of electricity consumed by standby power amounts to 10% of the household's electricity consumption.

When away from home for long periods, turn off the main power of electrical outlets.
household electrical appliances that are on standby to receive signals from remote controls consume a small amount of electricity when the main power switch remains "on". When you plan to be aware from home for a long period, remove plugs from outlets whereever possible. This is not only for energy saving but also for safety.

HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM saving energy

Saving energy can help reduce your household electrical bill which in turn will improve your household budget. Conserving energy resources benefits Brunei Darussalam as a country as well as the global environment. Conserving energy helps safeguard the earth for future generations.

DRIVE SMART
save energy

"Before driving"
Weight check- leaving items in your car increases the weight. The heavier your car, the more fuel you will waste.

Tyre pressure check- the air pressure in your tyres has a large effect on your mileage. Tyre pressure should be checked once a month. If you drive with tyres below the standard pressure, you will waste more fuel.

"While Driving"
Acceleration- Leisurely acceleration is more comfortable and saves fuel. When accelerate more slowly, thereby reducing fuel consumption during acceleration.

Driving at steady speed- stop-and-go driving, where you frequently slow down and speed up, consumes a large amount of fuel. Driving at a steady speed is aan important technique for saving energy.

Coasting- Utilisationof coasting, where you take your foot off the accelerator and allow the car to move by inertia, greatly reduces fuel consumption.

Stop idling- turn off your engine if you stop even for only a short period of time. Vehicles continously consume gasoline even whie idling. Turning of the engine when the car is stopped is the surest way to save fuel.

Reduce air-conditioner usage- remember to turn down or turn off your air-conditioner whennthe temperature drops.

"When Parking"

Use a sunshade or park in a shady area, if possible.
The temperature of a car parked in the sun will rise to 50 degree Celsius in a short span of 10 minutes. By placing a sunshade inside the front windshield, you can reduce the temperature increase. This will in turn help reduce the burden on the car air-conditioner when you start your engine. If you must park in the sun, leave the windows slightly open to let out hot air.

Gasoline & Petrol subsides
Gasoline and diesel are subsidised petroleum products in brunei Darussalam.

May, 2009. Playing our part: ENERGY MATTERS.