Introduction
Our lives depend on many home appliances. Air conditioners, refrigerators, and lighting make our daily lives very convenient. But by using those home appliances, we are consuming a lot of electricity and emitting a lot of CO2. If we don’t do something about it, it will be bad for the global environment and we may end up with hotter summers than we have now… However, with just a few changes in the way we use them, we can save money on electricity and reduce CO2 emissions. In this article, we will introduce energy-saving methods for each home appliance and their effects in an easy-to-understand manner. Let’s all start living earth-friendly and protect the environment for the future. I know it’s not much of an effect until before this analysis! I thought…
How we use electricity at home
How electricity is used by each home appliance
Knowing which appliances use the most electricity is the first step to saving energy. Take a look at the following table. This data is based on a survey of household electricity use conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
We can see that air conditioners and refrigerators alone use about half of the total electricity. Efficient use of these appliances is the key to energy conservation. In addition, home appliances such as lighting and hot water heating can also be very effective, depending on your ingenuity.
How to Use Electricity in the Entire Household
Electricity consumption changes with the seasons. For example, in summer we use a lot of electricity for cooling, and in winter for heating and hot water. Knowing this makes it easier to consider energy-saving actions appropriate for each season.
How to save energy for air conditioners
Air conditioners are the appliances that use the most electricity in the home. Simply using it correctly can lead to significant savings.
For example, closing windows and curtains before using the air conditioner to prevent heat from escaping from the room will greatly improve the efficiency of heating and cooling. Also, when cooling, a fan or circulator can be used in conjunction with a fan or circulator to distribute cool air throughout the room, keeping the temperature set at a higher level for a more comfortable stay. Furthermore, when heating in winter, carpeting the floor and using thick curtains will keep the heat inside the room from escaping outside. These simple measures will help you stay comfortable while saving electricity.
Review temperature settings
You can save a lot of energy by simply raising the temperature setting of your air conditioner by 1°C for cooling and lowering it by 1°C for heating.
If you change the temperature setting from 27°C to 28°C for cooling, you can save about 30 kWh of electricity per year and reduce CO2 emissions by about 15 kg.
If the temperature setting for heating is reduced from 21°C to 20°C, you can save about 26 kg of CO2 emissions per year.
Clean the filter
Dirty air conditioner filters reduce efficiency and use extra electricity. Cleaning the filter once a month will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 16 kg per year.
Other ideas
Close gaps in windows and doors to increase the efficiency of air conditioning.
Turn off air conditioners in unused rooms.
Use fans and circulators together to increase the efficiency of heating and cooling.
How to save energy for refrigerators
Refrigerators operate 24 hours a day, so you can get a great effect depending on your ingenuity.
Be careful not to overstuff.
If you overcrowd the refrigerator, cold air cannot circulate properly. By leaving an appropriate amount of space, you can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 21 kg per year.
Do not overcool
If the refrigerator temperature is set from “high” to “medium,” CO2 emissions can be reduced by approximately 30 kg per year. (ambient temperature 22°C)
Shorten the time when the refrigerator is open
Do not leave the refrigerator open too long, and take out what you need immediately. Just by shortening the opening time, you can expect to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 3 kg per year.
Consider the location of the fridge.
Placing the refrigerator slightly away from the wall facilitates heat dissipation and improves cooling efficiency. This can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 22 kg per year.
How to save energy on lighting
Lighting is an area that can be easily improved. A little effort goes a long way.
Replacement with LED lamps
Replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lamps can significantly reduce power consumption. LED lamps are economical because they consume less power and have a longer life. You can reduce CO2 emissions by about 44 kg per year.
Turn off when not needed
Turn off lights frequently when leaving a room or in unused rooms. Installing lights with sensors can prevent unnecessary lighting.
Utilize natural light
Opening windows during the day to let in natural light may eliminate the need for lighting. For example, you can reduce daytime electricity use by locating desks and work areas near windows. In addition, brightly colored walls and curtains can help spread natural light throughout the room. In addition, installing facilities such as skylights and sunrooms can bring in more natural light. Through these efforts, you can create a bright and comfortable living space while reducing your electricity bill.
How to save energy on hot water supply
Even in situations where hot water is used, energy can be saved with ingenuity.
Shorter showers
Shorter showers (1 minute) can reduce CO2 emissions by about 29 kg/year. The effect is even greater if the whole family works together.
I was surprised at this! I used to leave the shower on all the time…
Don’t leave baths too long apart.
If you leave the bathtub unattended for 2 hours to heat water (200L) that has dropped by 4.5°C (1 time/day), you can reduce about 86 kg of CO2 per year.
Use a high-efficiency water heater
Energy consumption can be significantly reduced by installing a high-efficiency water heater. Although an initial investment is required, it will save money in the long run.
Let’s try to save energy together!
Created by Sustainability Nexus
By combining these methods, an entire household can reduce CO2 emissions by about 500 kg per year. This is equivalent to about 20% of a household’s CO2 emissions. In addition, if energy-saving behavior spreads, it can also bring about significant changes in the community and society as a whole. For example, if the demand for electricity is reduced throughout the region, the construction of new power generation facilities may be curbed. Also, by reducing CO2 emissions, we can help slow the progression of global warming. Each of our small actions is an important step toward leaving a brighter environment for future generations.
| Home appliances | Reduction (kgCO2/year) | Percentage of reduction |
| Air conditioners | 230 | 10% |
| Refrigerator | 82 | 3% |
| Lighting | 67 | 2% |
| Water heating | 114 | 5% |
| Total | 493 | 20% |
Conclusion
Energy conservation is a very important action that can help households while protecting the global environment. Just a little effort on home appliances used on a daily basis, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, lighting, and hot water supply, can have a big effect. If everyone in the family works together, the effect will be even greater. Let’s start taking energy-saving actions that we can take today!
References
１.Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
2.Ministry of the Environment, Japan: Statistical Survey of CO2 Emissions from the Household Sector
3.Oowa Corporation “Use Wisely! Three key points for downlight installation”
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