Office
Lighting
- ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent torchiere lamps use up to 70 per cent less electricity than halogen lamps.
- Compact fluorescent lights use up to 75 per cent less energy compared to incandescent bulbs and last 8 times longer. They are good choices in areas where lights are on continuously for more than 3 hours a day.
- Try dimmer switches on all frequently used lights (only compact fluorescent lights designed for dimmers will work on dimmer switches).
- Use task lighting to save energy. Concentrate bright light only where it is needed instead of lighting the entire room brightly.
Baseboards
- Caulk and seal any gaps underneath baseboards to prevent indoor air from leaking out.
Windows
- Keep the shades on the north windows shut whenever possible during the winter.
- Caulk around your windows; 30 per cent of the outside air that enters a home comes through gaps around windows and doors.
VIDEO – How to seal and caulk windows
TV
- 40 per cent of the energy consumption of consumer electronics (TV, DVD stereo, etc.) occurs when they are turned OFF and in standby mode. Pull the plug or turn off the power bar to prevent “leaking electricity”.
Computer
- Turn off your computer, monitor, printer, speakers, etc. when not in use. You'll save more energy than it takes to start them back up.
- Your monitor uses a lot of energy, so be sure to turn it off. A screensaver does not save energy. An older computer monitor (not the new flat panel type) uses up to 50 per cent of your computer's total energy, so turn it off or let it “sleep” whenever you can.
- Laptops use just 10 per cent of the energy required by most desktop PCs. Laptops require only 15 watts of power, and have extensive power management features.
- Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products when buying new home entertainment equipment. They use up to 50 per cent less electricity in standby mode.
- An ENERGY STAR qualified computer uses 70 per cent less electricity than a model that does not have power management capabilities.
- Unplug battery chargers as soon as the device is fully charged or when the charger is not being used.
