The worlds growing energy demand is no secret, we are all faced with the menace of a warming climate and our cities are turning into urban heat islands. From our homes here in Connecticut, to mega industries, we are wasting a considerable amount of energy which does not bode well for our energy infrastructure, our economy and the climate overall. Energy saving is the need of the hour and many countries are already ahead in the game while the world overall is moving towards an energy transition. A major shift in attitude can accelerate our push toward a more sustainable and energy-efficient future. Cutting edge technology and being cognizant of where savings can occur  will ensure we remain energy efficient in the long run.

Energy conservation starts from individuals, families and households. By being energy efficient we use lesser energy for the same service being provided. It requires awareness about energy requirement, unnecessary wastage and how it can be optimized for daily use. The two major motives for this are minimizing utility / services bills and conserving the environment by keeping our households, and cities cooler, thus keeping global warming at bay.

As the mercury rises, our utility bills start soaring. To navigate a way around this, our homes need to be as energy efficient as possible. Finding cost reduction solutions can be challenging, so where do we start?
Following is a breakdown of major energy consumers at a typical home:
1. Air conditioning: 46%
2. Heating: 14%
3. Running appliances: 13%
4. Lights: 9%
5. Electronic media: 4%

Air Conditioning
As a life saver in our hot and humid Connecticut summers, the air conditioner utilizes the most energy at 46% of an average household. An average central air conditioning system unit uses around 3500 W and runs in 2 to 3 cycles in an hour for 10-15 minutes. This translates to 28-63 kWh per day, resultantly 850-1,950 kWh a month, based on the unit’s efficiency. In order to reduce the load on power, use the following strategies:
• Turn on ceiling fans - for summers counter-clockwise while for winters use them clockwise. 
• Use inverter air conditioners; these are quite popular these days
• Audit your home's insulation - is there enough to keep cool air in and hot air out?
• Maintain air conditioners periodically - talk with your HVAC provider to see if a maintenance plan makes sense.  
• Keep temperature of air conditioners at a set point and avoid "dialing it down" when you first start it up. This will not help your home cool down any quicker and will only cause higher electrical usage.
• Use the right compressor rating for the right space, i.e., a small compressor in a large room will consume more power as the compressor will operate
continuously
• Use reflective glass windows for lesser heat accumulation.

Heating 
A welcome convenience in harsh Connecticut winters, heating contributes to 14% of energy consumption. Commonly, a heater will run for 3 hours a day and use around 4500 W, loading up to 13.5 kWh / day, or 405 kWh a month. Following solutions will contribute to a lesser utility bill:
• Use smart heating appliances for power conservation
• Older heaters (water based) should be insulated
• Hot pipes should also be insulated
• Installation of smart shower heads and aerators of faucet are useful
• Upgrading to solar to offset electrical costs in areas with optimum sunlight

Appliances
Appliances cater to 13% of the total power bill. We can optimize energy use using the following strategies for home appliances:

Refrigerator:
It is not uncommon for refrigerators to use around 225 watts and mostly refrigerators are used all day, an average household will consume about 162
kWh per month. 

•  Open the door sparingly; don’t let the cool out too often
•  For best consumption, keep it in a well-ventilated area
•  Use refrigerator at manufacturers recommended temperature
• Use inverter technology green star labeled refrigerator for optimal consumption

• Instead of using the oven, opt smaller units like microwave, toaster etc.
• Oven and stove may be used during the cooler times during the day
• Avoid pre heating unnecessarily
• Use residual heat to cook the last phase by turning off the burner before taking food off the burner

Lighting
At a typical household, lighting would account for 9% of the total energy consumption. Bulbs vary a good deal based on type and Wattage. Consider a 100 W incandescent bulb used 2 hours a day will only take 0.2 kWh / day or 6 kWh / month. Sum it for 50
bulbs and lights in a typical household, it soars to an astronomical 300 kWh / month.
Conserving electricity with the following strategies will be useful:

• Switch to smart home solutions, lights automatically turn off if no one is around
• Green star rated efficient LED bulbs
• In winters, use natural light to the maximum
• Install sensor-based LED lights and set timers on them so they don’t glow all
  night 

Television and Media Equipment
Lastly, electronic appliances contribute to 4% of the total energy load. Home entertainment systems consume a quite a chunk of energy. Watching TV at an average of five hours per day and other sources like computers, PlayStation used for 6 hours per week can gobble up around 55 kWh a month.
Keep energy consumption in check using following essential tips:
• Avoid standby modes
• Look for energy star rated models while shopping
• Keep brightness low
• Turn off when not in use or use smart sensor-based electronics which automatically switch off

In a nutshell, it all starts with the mindset. We are living in changing times and this phase will transform the world for better. One of the UN SDG’s, access to efficient energy will be a critical component of our energy efficiency drive for a sustainable future. As more and more nations convert to electrification and automation, energy saving solutions will be the main headlines everywhere soon. In order to stay ahead of the game, adapting in time is the way to go.