Over the years, we have learned about both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. However, it wasn’t until recently that we started paying attention to our rapid consumption of non-renewable sources of energy. Now that the world is facing an energy crisis, few people are unaffected. Should we really be leaving everything up to the governments or can we learn how to save power at home? The answer to this question is yes, we can learn to save power at home. Let’s take a look at what can be done.

Light bulbs – You have likely seen the advertisements for CFL or compact fluorescent bulbs in recent years. You may have even used them in your home or office. If you’re looking to save power at home, this measure is a great place to start. If you have concerns because they are more expensive than regular light bulbs, the benefits of compact fluorescent bulbs are more cost effective in the long run because of the power they save and the fact that they don’t need to be replaced as often. You’ll probably see a reduction in cost of your electricity bill as well.

Cars – When using the air conditioner in the car, raise all the windows before turning the air conditioner on. This will prevent your car from using unnecessary energy.

Computers – Most people never bother to turn off their computer monitors even though they shut down their computers. If you aren’t using your computer and monitor, shut both of them off. Make this a practice even at work to save power for the entire world.

Television – Anytime you aren’t watching your television, you should unplug the power cord. While this might not sound like a real big deal, it is a step that will help save power. Many appliances still pull power even though you think they are turned off.

Washing machines – Are you using your washing machine whenever you want to? Do you use it even if there’s not a full load of clothes? If you want to learn how to save power at home, learning to minimize the number of loads and making sure they are full loads is a great place to start.

Air conditioner – Set the temperature at the minimum or maximum level you are most comfortable with depending on the season. Try to set the temperature as low or high as you can (depending on the season). If air conditioning units are set at reasonable temperatures, a lot of energy can be saved.

Geysers or water heaters – Keep the geyser thermostat at the lowest possible setting. There’s no need to heat the water to very high temperatures or for long periods of time. Plus it’s a safety issue – very hot water can cause accidental burns, especially with children.

Refrigerator – Before refrigerating hot foods, bring them to room temperature before storing in the refrigerator. You can save additional power by removing frozen or cold foods hours before mealtime.

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