1. BANISH “PHANTOM POWER” FOREVER

As the name suggests, some appliances and electronic devices are like vampires. They suck energy from outlets even when they’re on standby or turned off. Either unplug your items or place power strips (the type with switches of course) around your home and make sure you switch them off when they aren’t in use.

3. KEEP COOL WITH CEILING FANS

Cut down on AC usage with ceiling fans. Did you know that fans use 10% of the energy consumed by an AC and can make a room feel 10 degrees cooler? If you really have a thing against fans, remember to shut the doors to areas you aren’t using as cooling the entire house with your aircon means more energy and money.

5. A LITTLE MOISTURE GOES A LONG WAY

Good news for those who absolutely hate ironing. You can actually save time ironing when you remove the clothes from your dryer before they’re completely dried out. A little dampness is just perfect. Plus, your dryer uses less energy too!

6. LESS ISN’T MORE FOR THE FRIDGE

Learn to maximize your freezer space. If you have to stock up, do so as it requires a lot more energy to cool an empty space. Ensure the door seal is tight and free from gaps so cold air doesn’t escape. Ideal fridge temperature to keep your food fresh should be around 4 to 5 degrees and for your freezer, -15 to -18 degrees Celsius.

7. BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER FOR COOKING

If you use a big pan to heat up a small amount of food, you are essentially wasting more energy. Also, if you heat a large pan on a small cooker ring, you will have to heat it for longer. So, make adjustments accordingly.

Saving energy in the home is really about making small changes to your lifestyle, which in turn help to lower your energy bills. Take these steps today and feel better about unleashing less harmful emissions on our precious environment. We have to stop disappointing Mother Nature – her beauty is one to behold, and protect.