Doing your bit for the environment is good, especially if it can save you a little money too! Here we look at ways you may be able to do this:
1. Remote control lighting.
Obviously if you use a remote control and/or a timer to switch your lighting on and off, you can save energy and costs since it is easier to operate your lights and therefore easier to switch them off when they are not required. It may take a little new discipline to develop the habit of switching off lights when they are not really needed, but it can reduce your electricity bill as well as reducing your much talked about "carbon footprint."
2. Use low energy bulbs.
Low energy or CFL bulbs are becoming much more popular and affordable these days. They have in the past been criticised for the lower light levels they emit and the fact that they take a little time to get up to maximum light output, but they are improving and although they do cost more than conventional bulbs, prices are tumbling and they last much longer than ordinary ones. They are also becoming much more compact in size. So, if you haven't already changed your bulbs over, consider it now. The equivalent to a 60 watt conventional bulb only consumes about 11 watts, so it could reduce your energy demands by about 80% on each bulb replaced.
3. Dimmable bulbs.
Typically, it has not been possible to replace bulbs operated by a dimmer switch with energy saving bulbs, since they have not been dimmable. Now, however, dimmable ones are becoming available. Not only can they be operated by existing dimmer switches but also by normal on/off switches, where repeated operation of the on/off switch will dim the bulb as required. These are still fairly new to the market and as such are a little expensive (typically around £10 a bulb), but as we have already seen with the standard energy saving bulbs, be prepared to watch the prices fall as they become more popular.
4. Take devices off standby.
This has already been mentioned under "Possible Scenarios", but consider remotely controlling the power to your TV, Video or DVD player and stereo equipment so that they are not left in "standby" mode every night. Either using a single remote to disconnect the power to them when you go to bed or a timer to ensure power is off when you are normally in bed - or both - has the potential to reduce your power consumption and associated energy bill.