Saving Energy in Your Home

Why do we need to save energy?

There are three main reasons why we should all do our best to reduce the amount of energy we consume in our day-to-day lives:

Nearly all of Hong Kong's electrical power, and our gas supplies, come from fossil fuels - coal and oil - which have to be imported. Once they've been burnt, these fossil fuels are gone forever. So the more energy we use each day, the less there is left for the future. Burning fossil fuels creates pollution, and this in its turn is having a growing and adverse effect on the complex control mechanisms which regulate the earth's climate. Consuming less energy, by being more efficient in the way you run your home, will naturally save you money. At the same time, you will be helping to protect the environment and safeguarding the future.

There is a worldwide need to reduce the amount of energy consumed, and everybody has their part to play, whether in industry, transport, business, construction - or at home.

These notes have been prepared to show you how to save energy in every aspect of running your own household. They include tips on what kind of items to look for when buying new equipment - and how to operate your electrical, gas and water appliances for maximum efficiency.

We are not suggesting that you reduce your standard of living in any way: simply that, with a little bit of thought, you can enjoy all the amenities and lifestyle that you do now, yet also be making your own, positive contribution towards the environment.

How to save energy in your home?

There are three main types of energy which are consumed in the homes of Hong Kong:

In each of these areas, there are many opportunities to become more efficient with the energy we use in running our homes. Added together over a year, the savings both in resources and your own running costs could be substantial - and so would the benefit to the environment.