Conserving Electricity in the House

Conserving electricity in the house not only help you reduce your household electricity bill, but contribute towards a cleaner and sustainable living space to our true home – planet Earth. While most of us may already aware that fossil fuels become scarcer and electricity is the prime source of energy we use in our day-to-day life, to be more conscious about our power consumption has become something that is inevitable.

Flick the switch, turn the key, press the button and then pay the bill. Multiply that by six billion and you’ve got a picture of energy consumption on Earth today. Set aside those benefits of conventional energy system and how that this system is regrettably depleting our resources, polluting our air and affecting global climate change for a moment. Let’s start contribute a little bit as a single person, each of us, NOW…

Why Conserving Electricity in the House?

Because our house is one of the place we spend most of our time at! Home sweet home, imagine living in a energy efficient green house, and still having a good and healthy lifestyle. There had been many proven concepts and products that not only able to conserve the energy usage but also giving a healthier lifestyle in the market. You may want to check out tools like Google Power Meter or trendy concepts of Archipod for SOHO people mentioned in Better Homes and Gardens | Green Office Archipod.

People power. Just as energy usage or wastage could be huge when you multiply it by six billion people, the savings could be in equal scale. Never think that you are too small to change the world, it all starts with you and me. A sustainable eco system for our children and mankind is not something that could be overlooked.

10 Tips For Conserving Electricity in the House

1. Turn off unnecessary lights, appliances and electronic equipment. Put appliances that don’t need to be left on during the day onto power strips, and turn off the strip when not in use to avoid “phantom” energy drain.

2. Set the air conditioning thermostat to appropriate degrees. Just a few degrees can add up to big savings. (For those observing enough, you may find that most people are wearing jackets or clothing to keep them warm enough just because their office’s air conditioning temperature is too cold)

3. It is important to use conventional materials to block out heat and sunlight during summer months, as it will result in requiring less energy to cool your space. Never underestimate the use of blinds and curtains with black-out panels.

4. Use energy efficient appliances. Don’t buy new appliances instantly, only replace those old one with energy efficient appliances when it is necessary. Do you know that fluorescent light bulbs are more efficient than tungsten ones, and LCD monitors and TVs are more efficient than cathode ray tube (CRT) ones?

5. When it comes to washing, wash only full loads of laundry and try washing on cold or warm rather than hot. Use the dishwasher only when full and rather than heat drying, let the dishes air dry.

6. Minimize leakage. Sealing leakages in the house and in appliances helps to improve energy efficiency. Check the exhaust fans, ductwork, electrical wiring, furnace flues, warm-air registers, windows, electrical outlets, switch plates, etc. for leakages and fix them, if any.

7. Use your appliances in the most efficient way. This not only give your appliances a longer lifespan, but conserving electricity at the same time. For example, allow warm food to cool off to room temperature before refrigerating them, and make sure that you remove all the ingredients at one time when opening your refrigerator to prepare for meals because the more times you open your refrigerator door, the more power you consume.

8. When it comes to cooking and food, try to plan meals that can be cooked in the oven all at once, thereby making use of all of the energy it takes to heat your oven. Try cooking on the grill too as it saves energy and prevents heating up your kitchen (thus requiring more air conditioning).

9. Use the “traditional” ways. Don’t be too rely on modern days appliances just because you are a bit lazy. For example, rather than vacuuming, try sweeping the floor with a broom and mop the floor clean, you not only be able to save the electricity bill but exercise at the same time, keeping you fit and healthy too!

10. Check out more resources on how to improve the electricity consumption to a more efficient stage. You can learn and improve through the internet, the media, and sharing among like minded people.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed. If it is good for the environment and better for your wallet, what is stopping you from conserving electricity in the house?

Smart Grid Electricity Feasibility

Smart Grid electricity feasibility is important as climate change is one of the biggest threats facing humanity today. Flick the switch, turn the key, press the button and then pay the bill. Multiply that by six billion and you’ve got a picture of energy consumption on Earth today.

We’re hard-wired to a conventional energy system that drives our transportation, powers our communications and is the lifeline to industry and commerce. Despite the benefits, we know that this system is regrettably depleting our resources, polluting our air and affecting global climate change. Guaranteed access to energy is no longer being taken for granted and the quest for “energy security” has become the buzz-word behind global trade relations and even a justification for conflict. Who has the power after all?

The paragraph above is the Synopsis of a documentary by David Chernushenko – a green economy educator, who embarks on a global journey to examine the alternatives to the conventional energy system and experience the critical resistance being met along the way. (source: Powerful: Energy for Everyone! project by Living Lightly)

The Internet of Electricity

A smart grid would be networks, microprocessors and digital sensing technologies, a “web” of clever, hi-tech components that will be as flexible as it is intelligent. View is as the Internet of Electricity – which Al Gore coined the term “electranet” in an op-ed for Newsweek a couple years back. Once you consider the massive and unpredicted explosion of the Internet, a microgrid of “privately owned, consumer-driven, small-scale, geographically distributed renewables” doesn’t seem so far-fetched after all.

This small, locally made energy can be quite a mouthful that even Fast Company magazine (known to cover the latest best and “next” practices in the business world) stated that “The evidence is growing that privately owned, consumer-driven, small-scale, geographically distributed renewables could deliver a 100% green-energy future faster and cheaper than big power projects alone.” It was written by Pulitzer Prize-nominee Anya Kamanetz in their July 2009 article “Beyond The Grid“.

Energy Production For Everyone

With Smart Grid system, public and private utilities may begin to lease their infrastructure and focus on managing the exchange of energy between individuals, rather than the distribution of energy from centralized power plants. A massive network of individual energy producers could generate and exchange power instantly with friends, neighbors, and business associates.

By taking control of our energy appetites and reclaiming control of our energy supply, we can lead prosperous lives powered mostly by renewable energy, and less social and ecological harm will be done in the name of fuelling our energy needs. Who knew we had such power prior to Smart Grid electricity feasibility?

Fuel Economy Chart

The two most common ways to measure automobile fuel usage are Fuel Consumption and Fuel Economy. Either way, it is important because it saves you money, reduces climate change, reduces oil dependence costs, and increase energy sustainability. Understanding the fuel economy chart enables you to do your part to reduce climate change, which is to reduce your carbon footprint with green vehicles and getting the best gas mileage your car can deliver!

Fuel Economy Chart

Commuters can offset their carbon footprint if they are well educated and concern about the real home we have – Earth. All great journeys start with small little steps. Let’s check out what is Fuel Consumption and what is Fuel Economy, and the 4 Gas Mileage Tips that could help you to getting the best gas mileage your car can deliver!

What is Fuel Consumption?

Fuel Consumption is the amount of fuel used per unit distance, most commonly measured in litres per 100 kilometres (L/100 km). Widely used in Europe, China, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the lower values mean better fuel consumption, as it means you use less fuel to travel the same distance.

What is Fuel Economy?

Fuel Economy is the distance traveled per unit of fuel used, most commonly measured in miles per gallon (mpg) or kilometres per litre (km/L). Widely used in market areas affecting the largest number of vehicles worldwide, including the UK, U.S. (mpg) and Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan, parts of Africa, The Netherlands, Denmark and Latin America (km/L). Higher values of mpg means travelling further for the same amount of fuel.

Fuel economy and fuel consumption are reciprocal quantities. A related measure is the amount of carbon dioxide produced as a result of the combustion process, typically measured in grams of CO2 per kilometre (CO2 g/km).

4 Gas Mileage Tips to Fuel Economy

You may already know how to offset your carbon footprint as a commuter, let’s look at the 4 useful tips that could help you reduce the amount of gas you use.

1. Drive more efficiently.
Drive sensibly and observe the speed limit – this will not only safe you gas, but also safer for you and others. (Fuel Economy Benefit: 7–23%)
Remove Excess Weight – Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. (Fuel Economy Benefit: 1–2%/100 lbs)

Avoid Excessive Idling as idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas. When you use overdrive gearing, your car’s engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

2. Keeping your car in shape.
Though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done, fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent. (Fuel Economy Benefit: 4%)

Keep Tires Properly Inflated – Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner’s manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall. (Fuel Economy Benefit: Up to 3%)

Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil, and look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives. (Fuel Economy Benefit: 1–2%)

3. Planning & Combining Trips not only ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient, but also reduce the distance you travel.
When commuting, drive your most fuel-efficient vehicle, take advantage of carpools and ride-share programs, and stagger your work hours to avoid peak rush hours. Consider telecommuting (working from home) if your employer permits it. Consider using public transit if it is available and convenient for you.

When traveling, reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by placing items inside the trunk whenever possible. Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones because an extra 100 lbs in the trunk reduces a typical car’s fuel economy by 1-2 percent.

4. Choosing a more efficient vehicle.
Do you know that the difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $718 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $2.87)? That’s $3,588 extra in fuel costs over five years!

www.fueleconomy.gov has gas mileage estimates and more information for 1984-2011 model year cars. Selecting which vehicle to purchase is the most important fuel economy decision you’ll make! http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/choosing.shtml

For more resources, refer to fueleconomy.gov, the official U.S. government source for fuel economy information.

Smart Grid

A smart grid delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers using digital technology with two-way communications to control appliances at consumers’ homes using energy information provided by utility smart meters and energy monitoring devices. With the aim to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability and transparency, this technology not only able to help us optimize our homes and businesses so we can buy electricity at the cheapest rates, it also allows everyone to sell unused power back to the system as a smart grid meter spins both ways. Want to know how you can save money and make money with your home’s power consumption system at the same time?

How Smart Grid Works

Smart grids essentially take an electricity grid and deliver to it communications and computer technology, so that suppliers can deliver electricity to consumers in a wider range of conditions, while also accommodating wind and solar power sources.

Such a modernized electricity network is being promoted by many governments as a way of addressing energy independence, global warming and emergency resilience issues.

Google Power Meter

Looking for a free energy monitoring tool that helps you save energy and money ? Want to know your home’s energy consumption from anywhere online? Then you should consider Google PowerMeter - a solution that uses energy information provided by utility smart meters and energy monitoring devices which enables you to track energy over time, predict your costs, and alerts you on the always on power that you may overlook!

With this online tool, you can:

• customize your experience by adding your estimated cost per kWh
• sign up for weekly emails
• share your usage with family and friends
• set an energy savings goal for yourself
• track your progress with the budget tracker… and more!

How Google Power Meter Came In Place

Seeing the potential that a massive network of individual energy producers could generate and exchange power instantly with friends, neighbors, and business associates, Vanguard IT companies like Google and Cisco are jumping on board the energy train, jockeying to be the lead innovators in metering and communications for the rapidly approaching Smart Grid.