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Tips
Fully loaded machines that wash clothes and dishes at lower temperatures can reduce electricity usage. Air-drying clothes saves electricity, unlike using a tumble drier.
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Energy control Case study
The solar and pedal-powered rechargeable LED lights produced by Nuru Designs are transforming lives in rural Rwanda, by enabling children to study, home-based businesses to operate, and households to function after dark, while reducing emissions.
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Tips
Notices next to light switches can remind forgetful people to turn off the lights when they leave the room. Timer or movement-sensitive light switches are also energy efficient.
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In Numbers
Standby
The world’s standby products, using up to 10 per cent of household energy consumption, are estimated to cause 1 per cent of global CO2 emissions. For instance, a typical TV on standby has as big a carbon footprint as a typical person in Burundi.
Flickr: Earth Hour Global
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Tips
Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by:
Sharing televisions, computers and other electronic items with other household members. Buying energy-efficient electronics appliances, and plug timer switches.
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In Numbers
Lightbulb efficiency Newer energy efficient bulbs, such as lightemitting diodes (LEDs) bulbs, last up to five times longer and are over twice as efficient as compact fluorescent bulbs. Only 5 per cent of the energy used by incandescent bulbs is turned into light. Most escapes as heat.
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Xc h a n g e - C l i m a t e
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Buying a solar charger, such as for a mobile phone. This avoids buying products that use external power transformers (chargers). Better still, try doing without so many electronic devices, and enjoy the alternatives. Unplugging all idle appliances from the main switches. Better still pulling out plugs surprisingly saves electricity. If the plug gets even slightly warm, it is still using power. Many power companies offer slightly more expensive green tariffs, but the money is invested in renewable energy
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lifestyles
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