Reduce your energy use

Gas and Oil, also known as fossil-fuels, are non-reusable resources and their use, mainly through transportation, increases the greenhouse effect. It is therefore important for us to either use less fossil fuel or switch to energy from sustainable sources such as solar, wind, water or wave energy. 

Lighting is an easy way to reduce your reliance on fossils fuels. There are a number of options available to you:

• Use low energy Fluorescent or LED light bulbs instead of ordinary filament or halogen bulbs which create a lot of heat, and thus waste a lot of energy. The low energy bulbs cost more at the start but use 70% less electricity than ordinary light bulbs and last 10 times longer.
• Use motion sensors for outside lights at night so that they only switch on when they are needed, such as when you come home from a night on the town or when a thief is circling your house. Solar powered lights with motion sensors are also an option.
• Avoid using lights inside the house during the day. Try to maximise your use of daylight by pulling back the curtains and opening a window.
• Turn lights off when you leave a room.
• Install dimming controls to use less power when lights are on.
• Add a little romance to your life and have dinner by candle light every so often. Use scented candles to get in the mood for love.

Energy-saving light bulbs save money in the long term (PHOTO Jacques Harter)

Take a cold shower every now and again. Cold showers are supposed to improve circulation, relieve depression, keep your skin and hair healthy and strengthen your immune system. For those of you with an aversion to cold showers, consider this – if the water is coming from a tank in your garden and flowing through an exposed black pipe into the house, the water isn't likely to be that cold!

Invest in a solar water heater. While the start up cost may be higher than a standard water heater, in the long run, given that the sun shines year round in Seychelles, you will make significant savings in your electricity bill. Ensure that you have a good quality stainless steel water tank though, as rust can be a problem in Seychelles.

Solar water heaters are a good investment to reduce your reliance on PUC electricity (PHOTO Elke Talma)

Instead of using air con in your home, try natural ventilation using shutters or louvered windows. Alternately, use a fan. You can also plant trees around your house as these will provide shade and moisture to keep your house cool.

Switch off computers, monitors, printers, wireless routers, scanners, TV and radios at the wall socket when not in use. The standby mode still uses power. For example, computers and computer monitors can be switched off but they are still drawing energy if they are plugged in at a wall socket that has an on/off switch. It is also a fire hazard to leave computers and monitors on.

Switch off electrical appliances at the plug (PHOTO Jacques Harter)

When boiling water, fill the kettle with only as much water as you need as electric kettles use a lot of energy. Next time you make a cup of tea, watch the meter turn as you wait for the kettle to boil.

When doing laundry set the temperature dial on the washing machine at no more than 30OC to save on electricity. Alternately, when buying a new machine get one with an efficiency star rating or one that works with “fuzzy” logic, which automatically calculates wash time based on the weight of your laundry and how dirty it is.

Cover your pots and pans when cooking. Your food will cook faster and you will use less energy. You should also steam your vegetables. This is not only healthier but also uses less energy, less water and preserves texture.

A covered pot will cook more rapidly and save gas or electricity (PHOTO Jacques Harter)