Back to BlogsDecember 14th is observed as the Energy Conservation Day to raise awareness on the importance of energy conservation in every area of life. For a consumer, energy saving also implies savings in terms of money as well as promoting sustainable consumption. Energy Conservation also addresses the issue of rising pollution levels and environmental conservation.
We, at Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), constantly work for raising awareness among consumers about sustainable living with the objectives of saving money, saving the environment and promoting sustainable consumption. We have observed from our various outreach activities that far reaching change is more achievable by creating awareness among the youth and sensitizing them about their responsibility towards the environment. We therefore undertake many activities where we engage with young and old students.
As responsible citizens and consumers, we request you to engage with young people in your family, friends and communities to take forward the campaign to conserve energy and the environment. We are here to provide our help in this mission to save the planet for a better tomorrow.
Star labels on home appliances help you save energy
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India has a Standards and Labelling programme which gives Star rating for energy efficiency to electrical appliances. Products such as tubelights, fans, LED bulbs, ACs, refrigerators etc. have Star rating stickers called BEE star labels, which indicate how much electricity the appliance consumes. Star labels can help you make an informed decision to purchase energy efficient appliances which are affordable and fulfil your need.
A higher star rating means a more efficient appliance, which means a lower electricity bill every month. Star rating is from 1 to 5, with 1-star being the lowest and 5-star being the highest. That is, a 5-star labelled appliance is most energy efficient as it consumes less electricity for giving best performance.
How to select a star labelled appliance
Using energy efficient appliances will help you save energy and money with lower electricity bills. A 5-star labelled appliance costs more than a 3-star labelled appliance in the same category. But in the long term, the 5-star appliance uses less energy (electricity) and thus becomes more economical to use.
Consider the following to help you to make the correct decision while buying an appliance.
- What are your needs – Volume/size/capacity of the appliance required as per family size.
- How much usage is anticipated – Number of hours the appliance is essentially required.
After evaluating these factors, you can choose an appliance of appropriate size and star rating.
An illustration
You may think that a higher capacity air conditioner is better, but it will cause inefficiency and mean higher buying and running cost. So, it is important to choose the right size of air conditioner (Tons) as per the room size and appropriate star labelling. Illustratively, for the same room size and same capacity AC, a higher star rated AC is advisable if usage is more, whereas a lower star rated AC is okay if usage is less.
For example, for a room size of 13×12 feet, if AC is used for 8 hrs per day, then a 1.5 Ton AC with 5-star rating is advisable. If it is used for 5-6 hours per day, then a 4-star AC of same capacity is quite energy efficient. And if the AC is used for 4-5 hours per day, then a 3-star rated AC is advisable.
Tips to save electricity
- Opt for energy-efficient appliances, BEE star labelled products.
- Switch off all electrical and electronic appliances such as fans, lights, air conditioners at plug point when not in use.
- Maximise use of natural light and fresh air whenever possible.
- Completely switch off devices like computers and laptops when not in use instead of putting on standby.
- Clean the filters in air-conditioners regularly. Insulated walls and roofs decrease heat and reduce load on air-conditioners.
- Install a solar panel to move towards using green energy.
- Use traditional earthen pots for cold water during summer.
- Use LED lighting system instead of tube lights and bulbs as LEDs are more energy efficient.
- Run the washing machine only when there is a full load.
- Clean the condenser coils of your refrigerator at least once a year.
- When going away from home for long, set the refrigerator regulator at minimum.
- Service your electrical appliances / equipment on time to save energy and money.
- Inspect and repair gasket of refrigerators, air conditioners, and pressure cookers – this will avoid loss of energy.