It’s not as if saving money has ever been “out” of fashion, as such, but it is certainly en vogue these days. We used to be concerned about receiving those energy bills and would mutter under our breath as we tore open the envelope. Often we would make a mental note that we were going to turn off those lights when we went out of the room. Back then, though, it did not seem to be so urgent and we were somewhat poor at following through. If we fast forward to today, we seem to be living in a different world. Now we are looking for a whole array of different ways to save electricity, as we realise just how pressing this need is.
Once the domain only of environmentalists and tree huggers, we now all know how important it is to cut back on our energy use, so that we do not emit carbon dioxide to damage the planet. We hear all kinds of reports on the news about how global warming is changing polar ice packs and that people in far-off countries are in danger of losing their ability to feed themselves, due to climate changes and weather pattern alterations. Closer to home, we hear that companies are going to be penalised for using too much energy and emitting carbon and imagine that these costs will be passed along to us as well.
Quite apart from the holistic considerations and our concern for Mother Nature, energy costs themselves have been going through the roof. Government attempts to regulate the industry have not been very successful and the whole infrastructure seems to be creaking and groaning under the strain. How much longer will the system be able to put up with spikes in energy use, as we rely on those old fossil fuels to provide the raw material? We all know the benefits of renewable energy, but we collectively have not moved forward fast enough to try and embrace them. We would be helping the environment in no small way if we were able to receive the majority of our energy from renewable sources, wind, solar, etc.
Getting down to business, what can we do at home to help both ourselves and the environment? There are many things. For a start, we should always purchase highly efficient equipment for our kitchens and for our heating and air-conditioning needs. Look for a refrigerator, for example, that consumes around 100 KwH per year and you will be in possession of an appliance that is four times more efficient than the European Union average. You may have to spend about five or maybe 10% more to actually buy the machine, but just think about how much energy you could save and how it would help to reduce your electricity bill. These appliances may last for 4 to 5 years and the additional amount you pay to buy them up front will definitely be saved in the long run. Remember that they will need less repairing as well and you won’t be as annoyed by that fan circling on whenever you are trying to sit down and watch the television!
