Reduce carbon dioxide emissions, conserve energy, and make the air in your home healthier
The atmosphere in our homes determines the state of our health. Homes appointed with several appliances that consume a lot of energy, emit carbon dioxide into the air making it unhealthy to breathe. An energy efficient home is one that conserves energy and improves the quality of the air inside. Prudent use of energy can make the environment greener and the air a little more pure.

Harnessing the sun

Solar panels and water heaters are wonder gadgets that harness energy from the sun and save on precious electricity. Though the initial cost of installation is high, solar water heaters cut down your power bills to half.

The lights on your porch, driveway or garage can be run with solar panels installed on poles, similar to the ones on the city's streetlights.

Showers usually require less hot water than regular baths. Additional savings can be achieved by installing simple water-saving shower heads. This will reduce water consumption to a great extent.

Energy saving appliances

Most kitchen appliances today come with an energy saving label and cut down your utility bills hugely. Look for this symbol before purchasing refrigerators, ovens and dishwashers. It makes sense to exchange your old appliances for the newer energy efficient ones in the market today. Modern washing machines come with monitored, pre-set water controls. Wash only full loads of clothes when possible and clean your dryer's lint filter after every load.

Simple usage tips too can cut down on your energy consumption. Use heat-generating appliances such as washers, dryers, mixers or ovens during the cooler hours of the morning or evening. This also reduces the load on your air conditioner in the summer.

Electric cooktops are energy drains. LPG is a huge fuel saver and since gas stoves today come with different burner sizes according to the pan size, use the appropriate burner for your pan size. Also, flat bottom pots make better contact and conduct heat from the elements more efficiently than pots with warped or rounded bottoms. Copper-bottom pans and pressure cookers save on fuel by heating fast. Pressure cooking not only saves on time and energy, the steamed food is healthier.


Ceiling fans can save energy in both the summer and winter. In the summer, fan blades should revolve in a counter-clockwise direction. Since moving air feels cooler, using ceiling fans in the summer allows you to raise the thermostat temperature on your air conditioner, hence reducing the energy workload. In winter months, set your ceiling fan at its slowest speed and reverse it in order to gently push warm air down from the ceiling without generating a breeze.

Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs put out approximately four times as many lumens per watt. For example, a 25 watt fluorescent bulb provides as much light as a 100 watt incandescent bulb. Fluorescent bulbs also last about ten times longer.

Use an exhaust fan to pull excess heat and humidity out of the kitchen and bathroom in the summer. However, also remember that exhaust fans can rapidly pull the heat away from your house in the winter.

Keep television sets and computers switched off when not in use instead of leaving them on standby mode. The latest integrated digital televisions (IDTVs) have the capacity to receive digital signals without the need for a set top box, so they use one power supply instead of two. Unlike many set top boxes, IDTV's can be switched off without losing their settings and so don't have to be left on standby.

Invest in energy efficient printers instead of conventional ones.

Decor with conservation

Thick drapes and curtains insulate the home and keep it warm in winter. In the summer, keep drapes and curtains closed on the sunny side of the house. In the winter, open those drapes and curtains on sunny days to take advantage of the sun's heating power. Close all drapes, blinds or shades at night in winter to make use of their insulating properties.

Go in for sun-protective blinds and shades in summer to prevent the home from heating up.

Skylights not only look elegant and bring in the beauty of the night sky indoors, they also save on lighting costs. Modern skylights come with remote-controlled shades to keep the harsh sunlight away in summer.