Electricity & electrical appliances

Lighting

• Lighting in your home can account for 15% to 20% of your electricity bill. Switch lighting on only when you need it, and switch it off when you don't.
• Utilise daylight as effectively as possible.
• When buying new lighting, consider choosing compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs unless you want to operate your lights with dimmers. These use 75% less energy to give the same amount of illumination, and last up to 10 times longer than conventional bulbs.
• Place you lighting carefully, and use 'task' lights where possible.
• For overall lighting, use one high wattage lamp to replace several low wattage lamps.
• Use dimmers where possible (except for fluorescent lamps).
• Use non-opaque, light-coloured lamp shades.
• Choose a light coloured, high-reflectivity decoration scheme for your main living areas.
• Keep light fixtures and lamps clean to maximise their efficiency.

Air-conditioning

• When buying an air-conditioner, check its Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). A minimum EER of 2.2W/W (or 7.5 Btu/h/w) is recommended; the higher the number, the better it is.
• Use ventilator fans instead of air-conditioning where possible.
• Try not to install any air-conditioner in direct sunlight.
• Do not obstruct input or output air vents.
• Close off areas that do not require air-conditioning, and turn units off in unoccupied areas.
• Keep windows and doors shut when the air-conditioner is running, and draw curtains or blinds to keep direct sunlight out.
• Clean or replace the filter in all air-conditioners at the beginning of the cooling season. Check and clean filters bi-weekly from then on.
• Weather-strip doors and windows to prevent the leakage of cooled air.
• Use timers if possible, to switch your air-conditioning both on, and off.
• Many people set their air-conditioning too low. Just set the cooling to an energy-efficient temperature - so that your home feels comfortable, rather than cold.