Energy Efficient Lighting

Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.

Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and counter-tops under cabinets.

Use dimmers, motion sensors, or occupancy sensors to automatically turn on or off lighting as needed and prevent energy waste.

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs to save about 50% on your lighting costs. CFLs use only one-fourth the energy and last up to 10 times longer.

Turn your lights off when you leave a room. Standard, incandescent light bulbs should be turned off whenever they are not needed. Fluorescent lights should be turned off whenever you'll be away for 15 minutes or more.

During winter, open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home and close them at night to help keep the heat in.

Energy Efficient Home Appliances And Electronics

Appliances account for about 20% of household energy use. Appliances and electronics really add up on your energy bill. When shopping for new appliances and electronics look for energy efficiency labels.

Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.

Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load.

Consider air-drying clothes on clothes lines or drying racks.

Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktop computers.

Don't over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it.

Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.

Make sure power management is activated on your computer.

In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Plug home electronics into power strips and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use.

Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.

Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use. Many chargers draw power continuously, even when the device is not plugged into the charger.

Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.

Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.

Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.

When shopping for a new clothes dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry.

Make your house energy efficient with insulation

Save up to 20% of the energy you use to heat and cool your house. Seal up holes to the outside by weatherstripping doors and sealing windows.

Adding insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces provides tremendous energy savings.

Efficient windows can lower the energy used for heating and cooling by up to 30%. If your home has only single pane windows, consider replacing them with energy efficient windows.

For people who live in mobile homes siding skirts insulate against winds in the winter and heat in the summer. The air conditioning ducts are often under the home so the skirts will also help to insulate the ducts.

Energy Saving Tips For Your Car

Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline, it can lower your highway gas mileage 33% and city mileage 5%.

Consider buying a highly fuel-efficient vehicle. A fuel-efficient vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an alternative fuel vehicle could save you a lot at the gas pump and help the environment.

Combine errands into one trip. Several short trips, each one taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

Get regular engine tune-ups. Replacing clogged air filters can improve gas mileage by as much as 10% and protect your engine.

Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve your gasoline mileage by around 3%.

Use the grade of motor oil recommended by your car's manufacturer. Using a different motor oil can lower your gasoline mileage by 2%.

Consider telecommuting, carpooling and public transit to cut mileage and car maintenance costs.

Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks. A loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5%.

Clear out your car; extra weight decreases gas mileage.

Use air conditioning only when necessary, consider opening a window instead.

Free and Low Cost Ways To Save Energy

Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, etc.

Check your furnace or air conditioner filter each month. Dirty filters block air flow through your heating and cooling systems, increasing energy use.

During hot months, keep window coverings closed on the south, east, and west windows if you are in Northern Hemisphere (north, east, and west windows if you are in the Southern Hemisphere). In winter, let the sun in.

Activate "sleep" features on computers and office equipment that power down when not in use for a while. Turn off equipment during longer periods of non-use.

Dress appropriately for the weather, and set your thermostat to the lowest possible comfortable setting. On winter nights, put an extra blanket on the bed and turn down your thermostat.

In summer, use fans whenever possible instead of air conditioning . Using fans to supplement air conditioning allows you to raise the thermostat temperature, using less energy. Fans use less energy than air conditioning.

About 15% of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. To save hot water, take five-minute showers instead of baths. Do only full loads when using the clothes washer or dishwasher. Lower the temperature on your water heater so that you are not having to add cold water to shower.

Switch to cold water washing of laundry. Use detergent formulated for cold water to get clothes just as clean.

Only heat or cool the rooms you need. Close vents and doors of unused rooms.

Install low flow showerheads and sink aerators to reduce hot water use.

Seal and weatherstrip your windows and doors to ensure that you're not wasting energy on heat or air conditioning that escapes through leaks to the outdoors.

Insulation your hot water tank to keep the heat from escaping.

Look for energy efficiency labels when buying new products such as TVs, furnaces, cell phones, refrigerators and air conditioners.

Replace your five most used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. These light bulbs use two-thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

Recycle minor things e.g. reuse empty soda bottles.

Take your own reusable bags to do grocery shopping to save the unnecessary production of plastic bags.

Only use air conditioning to achieve neutral temperatures (24-25 degrees). Lower temperatures use significantly more energy.

ENERGY SAVING TIPS

Here are some energy saving tips which are very useful and too easy for put it in to practice. You can save more than 10 % to 20 % energy or more by adopting the simple tips and it will definitely help you to minimize your energy bill, to save your budget and also it will reduce the MW demand

DOMESTIC /COMMERCIAL

01. Clean your tube lights and lamps regularly.
02. Use compact fluorescent tube lights with lower capacity instead of ordinary bulbs.
03. Use fan in summer instead of air conditioner as far as possible.
04. Set air conditioner coolness as per requirement.
05. Use daylight and fresh air by opening windows of home.
06. Use ISI mark appliances.
07. Don’t open and close door of refrigerator frequently.
08. Defrost freezer compartment regularly for a manual defrost refrigerator.
09. Take care for proper closing of refrigerator door.
10. Don't put hot meal in refrigerator.
11. Switch off refrigerator when you go out station.
12. Insulate heater pipes properly.
13. Use hot water as per requirement.
14. Use microwave oven instead of ordinary oven.
15. Turn off computer when not in use.
16. Use water pump as per requirement only.
17. Use washing machine with full load.
18. Dry cloths in open air instead in washing machine.
19. Use solar cooker.
20. Remove un used fixtures.
21. Use light color walls and furniture.
22. Use proper size of motors.
23. Use non-conventional energy as far as possible.
24. Switch off unused lights in lunch break in office.
25. Turn off lights when not in use immediately.

INDUSTRIAL

1. Minimize the use of belts in factory which lost energy.
2. Don't utilize damaged bearings / bushing which lost energy.
3. Use appropriate motor capacity for machine.
4. Use always ISI motors and minimize cable length.
5. Always use required capacity capacitors to correct power factor.

AGRICULTURE

1. Use good quality PVC pipes.
2. Use less resistance foot valves.
3. Keep motor / submersible in good condition and lubricate it regularly.
4. Use appropriate capacity motors as per length and diameter of suction and delivery pipes.
5. Use appropriate shunt capacitor for improve power factor which will reduce consumption.

Making Payment Of Electricity Bill DO's & Don;t Do

DO'S

1. When you contact our Divisional Office regarding your problems or queries related to our energy bills, please bring along your earlier energy bill(s) and receipts of the payments made by you.

2. Please pay your energy bill within the due date mentioned on the bill at the company's authorised collection centres.

3. To reduce cash handling and to avoid standing in a queue, we recommend that all bills be paid by cheques. While making payments by cheques please mention the Consumer No. on the reverse side of the cheque. If you are making payment for other services, like service line charges for a new connection, security deposit, etc., please furnish separate details with the description and amount.

4. If you are making payment by cheque, send a separate cheque for each bill. Draw only "ACCOUNT PAYEE" cheque in favour of "Reliance Energy Ltd." payable at a local bank for the total amount of dues shown in your latest energy bill.
If you want to make an "On Account" advance payment, tender cash or cheque for the desired amount to the cashier.

5. Extend necessary facility to our representative to enable him to record meter reading(s) at the time of his visit.

6. Inform us immediately if your address has changed or if there is any mistake in the company's records in regard to your address, to ensure prompt delivery of bills.

7. Contact our Divisional Office along with your previous bill in case there is any delay in receiving the energy bill.

8. Insist on the official printed receipt when you pay your energy bill. Check whether the receipt bears the stamp of the respective bill collection centre if the payment is made at a centre authorised by the company.

9. Furnish the required requisition form duly signed by yourself in case of change of name along with the consent letter from the existing registered consumer as per the company's records. Ownership/tenancy document(s) and original copy of the energy bill last paid should also to be furnished.

10. Your electrical installation should be periodically checked by any Licensed Electrical Contractor. Check earthing connection in three pin plug to ensure safety of family members. We also recomend the use of earth leakage circuit breakers for additional safety.

11. Ensure protection of your electrical installation from rain or water leakage during monsoon.

DONT'S

1. To avoid disconnection of supply don't keep energy bills in arrears .

2. Please do not pay cash to any person other than the cashier at company's authorised collection centres, against an official receipt.

3. Do not send cheque of part payment towards energy bill.

4. Do not use the "Cheque Box" if you are making payment after the "Due Date". In such an event pay the bill at the cash collection centres only and show the receipt of the payment to our representative when he visits your premises for disconnection of supply.

5. Do not send outstation cheque(s).

6. Do not make cash payments through unauthorised persons.

7. Do not use power for the purposes other than sanctioned.

8. Do not give a connection to other person through your connection.

9. Do not use power in excess of the sanctioned quantum of load.

10. Do not tamper with the company's seals on meters or with the service apparatus. This could amount to a criminal offence.

General Description of Electric Shock

Electric shock is a reflex response of a body when electric current passes through it.

How does electric shock occur?

An electric shock occurs when the body comes into contact directly or indirectly with any live electric circuit and the ground simultaneously.

Electric shock occurs because of the conduction of electric current in living organisms. It could be you, an animal, a bird or a tree. As a matter of fact, electricity always flows to the ground. By its own characteristics, electricity takes the shortest route to travel. It always finds a connection, which offers less resistance (or a better conductor) for its travel.

Metals and water are good conductors of electricity. Your body contains a lot of water. So you are a great conductor of electricity. If your body touches an electric circuit and the ground at the same time; electricity will travel to the ground through you.

As a result of this flow, you may be seriously injured or killed, even if you have no direct contact to the electric circuit and the ground simultaneously. The connection may be through a metallic ladder (a good conductor of electricity).

Effects of Electric Shock:

The primary variable for determining the severity of electric shock is the electric current which passes through the body. This current is of course dependent upon the voltage and the resistance of the path it follows through the body. An approximate general framework for shock effects is as follows:

Electric Current Physiological Effect
(1 second contact)
1 mA : Threshold of feeling, tingling sensation.
10-20 mA : "Can't let go!" current - onset of sustained
muscular contraction.
100-300 mA : Ventricular fibrillation, fatal if continued.

Note: mA (milli ampere i.e. one thousandth of an ampere). Ampere is a measure of electric current. Beyond 300 mA, the flow of current to the body can prove fatal, if the shock continues. So take care. For example, a bird can sit on a high-voltage wire without harm, because both its feet are at the same voltage. Secondly the bird is not 'grounded'. You will not receive a shok by touching a high voltage wire if there is no path for the current to reach the Earth or a different voltage point. If you have insulating shoes that prevent a low-resistance path to ground, you can escape serious shock even if you touch 220-volt circuit with one hand.

The role of electric current in electric shock: The severity of electric shock is mainly determined by the electric current (the most physiological variable) in amperes. This current is dependent on the voltage and the underlying resistance, You find that a voltage some times produces a mild tingling effect where as in different circumstances, it can be a lethal shock hazard. So establishing electrical safety in such conditions is quite difficult. Does 220-volt common domestic voltage produce electric shock ? It depends.


Case 1: In normal circumstances your body resistance is say 100,000 ohms. Then the current flow would be: I = 220 volts / 100,000 ohms = 0. 0022 = 2.2 mA (This does not do any harm. It produces a tingling effect only)


Case 2: Let us say you are sweating or wet and bare footed, then your body resistance might be as low as 1000 ohms. Hence in this case I = 220 volts / 1000 ohms = 220 mA (This is a lethal shock, quite capable of producing ventricular fibrillation and death. So please be careful.

Inference: The severity of shock from a given source will depend upon its path through your body.

What is Electricity?

What is Electricity?
Electricity is the flow of current. Due to this flow, a device such as an elecric bulb glows.

Click the switch 'ON', to see the bulb glow.

Click the switch 'OFF', to stop the flow of current.

Observation: The current flows inside the bulb. Also, current is available in the circuit; when the switch is on. When the switch is off, there is no flow of current. So the bulb stops glowing.

This is what Electricity is!

By the use of electricity we can drive motors, electric fans and many electric appliances such as a toaster, a television, an electric iron etc.

Where does Electricity come from?

Electricity is produced in Power Generating Stations. It is produced by rotating thick coils of wire inside very huge magnets.

We transmit electricity through wires.

Firstly, transmission of electricity is made via wires known as 'Transmission Lines' which are strung on towers. These transmission lines terminate in various intermediate places known as 'Sub Stations'. Here the heavy voltage is reduced through a device known as 'Transformers'. Then from the transformers by the use of overhead or underground electric lines, electricity is transmitted to the 'Loadends' (streets, houses, factories, etc.).

It is basically a closed circuit through which electricity flows. We close the circuit with switches. Now, whenever, we switch on any electric appliance (say an electric fan), it works (i.e. in this case the fan rotates). When we switch off, the electric appliance is detached from the electric circuit. So there is no flow of electricity. Hence, the electric appliance does not work.

How does Electricity travel?

Electricity travels through 'Conductors'. A conductor is a material through which electricity flows easily.

Metal is a good conductor. This is the reason why wires are made of metal. Electric wires starting from generating stations to transmission lines to sub stations to transformers and finally into buildings or into your house; are made of metal.
Water is a great conductor of electricity. Please remember that your body contains mostly water. So, electricity can travel through you!

Caution: If electricity travels through you, you may be injured or even killed. So be careful!

Electricity travels in the speed of light i.e. 186,000 miles per second. So it travels much faster than you. It will give you no time to react. So, it is better and safe to be away from electricity.

What are Insulators?

Insulators are used to keep electricity in power lines. Materials like glass, porcelain and plastic are used as insulators in power lines. If the insulator breaks, the power line disconnects from the insulator and as a result of this disconnection, the electric line can fall on the ground and energize the area around. If you touch this line, you will be injured or even killed. Even if the wire falls on your vehicle, it is energized by the wire. If by chance you touch the wire and the ground simultaneously, you will be hurt or killed. So do not touch any electric wire falling out from a power pole.



Rubber and plastic insulators are used around electric wires to keep the electricity inside. So even if you touch such insulated cable, you do not get shock. If the insulation is broken or worn off, the electricity can come through and shock you. Similarly, if you overload an outlet by plugging in too many things, then due to unusual flow of excessive current, the electric wire will over heat the insulator. As a result of this the insulators will burn, which cause shock or fire hazard.

How can Electricity hurt you?

When electricity travels through you, it can hurt you. Usually electricity finds the easiest path to earth or the ground. If you are in between ground and electricity, it will travel to the ground through you and you will experience electric shock. As a result of this, you may be hurt or killed.

Global Warming

Over past centuries, we have been burning high amount of fuels such as wood, coal, oil, natural gas and gasoline. The gases emitted in this process, such as carbon dioxide, methane are building up in the atmosphere. They act like greenhouse glass trapping the heat. The result, some experts believe is the Earth heating up and undergoing global warming.

Global warming could cause:
• Global Temperature rise
• Flooding - as polar ice caps melt, raising sea levels
• Extreme weather events due to shifting ocean currents
• Deserts to spread as land dries up

Tips To Save Energy: At Home
You can quickly and easily cut down monthly energy cost and help reduce global warming:

Know How
??? Use natural light and air to the maximum extent.
?? Switch off lights and fans when you leave the room.
?? Turn off from switch point or unplug electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use. These products use electricity (“standby power”) even when not in use.

Tips To Save Energy: At Work

Show leadership by being a responsible employee and save energy at workplace andcontribute in reducing global warming:

Know How?
?? Maximize use of natural light.
?? Turn off unnecessary office lights.
?? Turn off office equipment such as printers, computers, fax machines and coffee makers at night and when not in use.
?? Use laptop computers as it uses up to 90% less energy than desktop computers.
?? Set ‘sleep’ mode for computer monitors.
?? Keep windows and doors closed to prevent the loss of cooled air. Adjust blinds and window coverings on windows that receive direct sun.
?? Keep AC thermostat setting at 240C.?? Clean AC filters and ducts regularly.

Optimize Energy Consumption and Maintenance of Air Conditioner

Optimize Energy Consumption of Air Conditioner

Air conditioner has become a common appliance for homes as well as offices as a means of comfort. But it can contribute to as high as 50% of your total Energy Consumption. If the Air Conditioner is old, inefficient or poorly maintained, it becomes an Energy Guzzler.

With summer round the corner, this volume of “Save Power” brings you the tips ranging from installation of the Air Conditioner to its proper operation and maintenance. It also gives you insight on how to choose an Air Conditioner while you are making a purchase.

Care to be taken during Air Conditioner Installation

• Allow adequate space for the installation, maintenance, and repairs of AC system.

• Place the condensing unit in a shady spot, which can reduce your air conditioning costs by 1% to 2%.

• Get the installation done by authorised professional personnel observing manufacturer’s instructions Right Sizing is the key As rule of thumb a room requires about 10,000 BTU/hour for every 500 sq. feet of floor space.

However, the requirement of air conditioning capacity varies as per:

• Size and orientation of the space.

• The shade on windows, walls, and roof i.e. the heating of the space.

• INsulation of the rooms.

• Number of occupants and appliances in the roomIt is very important to buy a right sized unit as.

• If the unit is oversized

o it costs more to buy a larger air conditione.

o the larger-than-necessary air conditioner cycles on and off more frequently, reducing its efficiency and life.

o a larger unit consumes more electricity.

• If the unit is undersized

o It may not cool to desired temperature on hotter days.

oThe unit will keep on running continuously to achieve the preset temperature,affecting it’s life .

Operating Tips

• Use fan in stead of Air Conditioners whenever possible. They use much less energy.

• Make use of fans to supplement Air Conditioning. It allows you to raise the thermostat temperature resulting in lower energy consumption.

• Do not set temperature setting too low. 24oC to 25oC is comfortable for human body.

• Lowering the temperature by every single degree costs you additional power. You can save 3% to 5% energy for each degree set above 22 oC.

• Keep the room doors, windows and vents tightly shut when Air Conditioner is running, to prevent leakage of cooled air.

• Check the Air Conditioner settings. Make sure the ‘fresh air’ vent is closed. So that the cooled air does not escape the room. Open this vent once everyday for fresh air intake.

• Draw the curtains and drapes of the room during summer months to prevent solar heat gain

Maintenance of Air Conditioner

• Clean the Air Conditioner Filter every month. Unclean, cloggy filters block the normal air flow resulting in lower efficiency.

• Air Conditioner Condenser should be cleaned periodically. Use of professional help through Annual Performance Contract can be effective.

• Recycle or recharge the air conditioner refrigerant every few years by seeking professional help. This increases the air conditioner performance.

• If your Air Conditioner is not giving desired output, consider replacing it with a new Energy Efficient Air Conditioner.

Intend to buy or replace your Air Conditioner?

• Choose the right size air conditioner as per your needs• Look for the energy efficient BEE Star Labeled Air conditioner. More the stars in Red, more the EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) and lesser the energy consumption.

• By paying a bit more initially you can enjoy lower operating costs. Ahigher star Air Conditioner will pay for itself in few years compared toa non-star Air Conditioner.

• To find more about Energy Efficient air conditioner fitting your requirements please visit the website of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) at http://www.bee-india.nic.in/