Energy efficiency- Year nines share tips and tricks
As energy prices soar across the country, some Year 9 students outline the importance of energy efficiency and give their top tips for keeping your energy bills down!
Energy efficiency matters (Eve)
Energy efficiency, you’re probably thinking no not this again, but it’s actually incredibly important and can save you some money so you can buy more sweets at the Post Office!
Energy efficiency is using less energy to perform the same task, by minimising the amount of energy wasted. Energy is wasted when it is not used for the purpose intended, for instance when a light is turned on its use is to give off light, however some energy is wasted on heating. An example of this is an incandescent light bulb (an average bulb) compared to an LED bulb. The LED light is on average 83% more efficient, wasting much less energy on heating and costs £4.50 less to run every year.
Although saving money can be nice, another key aspect (and the most important) is that through using less energy you reduce your contribution to Climate Change. Many households still use non-renewable energy sources (e.g. gas boilers and non-renewable electricity) and therefore every unit of energy they use emits carbon dioxide. Through buying the most efficient graded appliances and changing your behaviours you can lower amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere.
Another lesser-known benefit to using energy efficient items is that they need to be replaced less often. Which also reduces the amount of waste you create. For example, an incandescent light bulb needs to be replaced every 0.9 years, whereas a LED light lasts for 20-30 years.
Save energy, save money and the planet! (Valentina)
It may seem that leaving a light on for longer than it needs to be is not a big deal. However, in the grand scheme of things it makes such a difference. For instance, when boiling a full kettle, a lot of energy is used for heating and yet only a small fraction of the water is used. All the energy is wasted, and we end up paying more for less. If everyone tried harder to turn off all their lights or made sure their washing machine was full before they ran it, a great difference would be made.
Now some might be asking, why is energy efficiency so important? Well, people don’t realise what effect wasting energy has on the environment. We still generate a lot of our energy from fossil fuels, and this emits carbon dioxide which causes climate change.
Not only is energy efficiency good for the environment, it is also good for the economy and bank balances. We spend so much money a year on electrical bills, just think how much we could save by being energy efficient?
Reduce your energy use and protect others (Caroline)
Energy efficiency can also help prevent energy poverty. This is where, due to depleting resources and increased demand, the cost of electricity and gas increases such that some people can no longer afford the energy they need. By using less energy, we can save resources and keep prices low for everyone.
Tips: (Lauren, Esme, Lucy, Caroline)
- Use only what you must when it comes to water. Use your mug to measure how much water you need to use when pouring it into the kettle. This will save energy, as there will be less water to heat, and less water wasted.
- Use less electricity. Don’t leave lightbulbs and appliances on when you’re out. Turn off items to by the plug if you don’t need them. (Does that clock on your oven need to be on ALL the time?)
- Upgrade your home. Change from light bulbs to LED lights, choose energy-efficient appliances, improve insulation and draught-proofing. Also consider using a smart meter and smart thermostat.
- Spend less time in the shower (this goes without saying)!
- Turn the thermostat down on your central heating (even 1˚C makes a big difference)
- Hang your clothes to dry instead of using a dryer
- Set your dishwasher and washing machine to the eco setting and only use them when full.