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Energy saving tips that will also save you money

Here are some tips on saving energy, which will help you to lower your bills.

Energy consumption

One of the first steps to saving money on energy is understanding what you're spending. A smart meter tells you how much gas and electricity you're using in real time.

HK Electric and CLP Power are both rolling out smart energy meters for customers until 2025, as part of efforts to transform Hong Kong into a smart city. These meters will provide consumption details to help you optimise your energy use.

If you haven't got a smart meter yet, you can check your bills and compare your usage to the expected usage for similar households.

Once you've worked out how much energy you're using and how much it's costing you, there are plenty of simple steps that might help you cut back. You don't have to lower your standard of living, just be a little more mindful of your energy consumption and ways you can change your behaviour.

How to reduce consumption

Lighting

  • Only turn lights on when you need them, and use daylight as much as possible. Switch lights off when you leave a room
  • Place your lamps where they will be most effective at providing brightness in a room, to avoid lighting unused areas
  • Replace incandescent lightbulbs with more efficient LED bulbs
  • Install dimmer switches to reduce energy consumption
  • Use timers to automatically switch lights off at a certain point of the evening

Air Conditioning

  • When you're shopping for an air conditioner, check the Energy Efficiency Ratio and try to get the one with the lowest number
  • Don't install air conditioners where they'll be in direct sunlight
  • When the air conditioner is running, close doors to other rooms, to ensure that only the area you're in is kept cool. Close the windows too
  • Prevent cool air slipping out by placing weather strips on doors and windows
  • Keep the air conditioning temperature at a comfortable and energy efficient level
  • Try to use a fan instead of an air conditioner as fans consume less electricity

Cooking

  • Think carefully about the oven or cooker that's best for you and your family needs. A multi-jet cooker or oven is more flexible and reduces waste, while steaming or stir-frying save energy
  • Adjust the gas flame to fit the size of the bottom of your pan. And put the lid on pots to trap heat
  • When using your oven, try to cook several dishes in the same session to use it to its full capacity
  • Boil only as much water as you need, don't fill up the whole kettle
  • Turn your oven or gas off before you've finished cooking, as there will be residual heat to complete the job
  • Make sure your oven door is properly sealed to prevent heat leakage, and replace the seal if necessary

Water Heating

  • Taking a shower consumes about half as much in heating costs as taking a bath. It also uses less water
  • Try to fit a low-flow shower head, which will not only save water, but also heating energy
  • Try not to use hot water when it's not necessary, such as for washing your hands
  • Switch off the pilot light when not using your water heater
  • Remember to have your water heater inspected from time to time, to ensure its energy efficiency and safety
  • When using your washing machine, try to avoid higher settings. Most detergents work well at lower temperatures, like 30 degrees Celsius. You can also save money by using the eco-wash setting, and by hanging clothes instead of using a tumble dryer

Other tips

Other simple steps could help, such as not leaving gadgets on standby.

If you're shopping for a computer, consider a laptop instead of a desktop. Not only do laptops typically use less power, they also allow you to move to a different part of the home which is at a comfortable temperature.

Home improvements

If you're planning to upgrade your home, try to incorporate as many energy efficient features as possible. This could include extra insulation, smart technology, or simply latest generation appliances which consume less electricity.

While this may cost more upfront, it will pay off in the long run. Not only will you save on your monthly energy bills, but you'll lower your carbon footprint and create a comfortable living environment. You could even increase the value of your home.

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