how to reduce use of electricity

Title : How to reduce use of Electricity
Introduction
Electricity is a secondary source of energy. Primary sources of energy are oil, coal, uranium or the forces of nature.

Energy is a source of usable power, needed for food production, transportation, heating, cooling, and lighting. The largest sources of energy in the world are oil (34%), coal (26.5%), and gas (20.9%)1, adding up to over 80% of global energy. These types of fuels are called fossil fuels because they are found in fossil carbon deposits in the ground. An important difference between fossil fuels and other sources of energy is that fossil fuels are non-renewable, meaning that once they are used, they are gone and cannot be replenished. Other common sources of energy are nuclear, hydro, and solid biomass. Nuclear power is produced in a reactor where heavy atoms are split, producing energy. Hydro power is power generated from the downhill flow of water from rivers and lakes, such as with a dam. Solid biomass is the burning of wood, crops, or charcoal.2
Alternative sources of energy include solar, wind, and geothermal. Solar power is energy collected from sunlight used to generate electricity, from panels installed on rooftops. Wind power is collected from the spinning of turbines, as you can see in the picture below. Geothermal power is heat under the ground used to make steam to turn generator turbines and make electricity.

History
The United States, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Canada were the world's five largest producers of energy in 2006, supplying 50.3% of the world's total energy. The United States, China, Russia, Japan, and India were the world's five largest consumers of energy in 2006, accounting for 51.8% of world energy consumption.3 Between 2006 and 2030, China and India’s demand for energy is projected to nearly double, while demand in the rest of the world will increase by 30%.4 Why China and India? They are both countries that have large populations and have experienced high levels of industrial growth.5 As their citizens have become more wealthy, their demand for energy has risen. While some areas of the world have benefitted from exporting energy from fossil fuels, other regions do not have access to reliable sources of energy. Globally, 1.6 billion people lack access to electricity in their homes, and 2.4 billion rely on biomass fuels to fulfill their daily needs, like heating their living space and cooking.6 In fuel producing countries, there are environmental impacts to petroleum production like toxic waste run-off into key water sources. Ecuador, Nigeria, Columbia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan are some examples of countries that have faced serious environmental and social consequences from their oil production. recently, an offshore oil rig caught on fire, which has caused 5,000 barrels of oil a day to spill out into the Gulf of Mexico.
Fossil fuels give off carbon dioxide when they are burned, which is released into the air. From 1973 to 2007, the amount of CO2 from fossil fuels almost doubled.9 Air quality affects everyone, regardless of their nationality or origin, since air moves between countries and across oceans.

We need energy in order to do many of our day-to-day tasks, yet fossil fuels will eventually run out. In addition, the environmental impact of producing and burning fossil fuels has serious consequences for human, animal and plant life. Alternative fuels can also have disadvantages:10
Nuclear PowerA by-product of the creation of nuclear power is nuclear waste, which can take 10,000 years to decompose.
UraniumThe element used in nuclear power creation, is a nonrenewable resource.11
Hydroelectric PowerDams are expensive to build and can kill aquatic life nearby.
Wind EnergyWind does not blow all of the time, which means that it is not always a reliable source of energy.
Solar EnergySolar panels take up a large amount of space and require sunny environments.
BiomassBurning biomass, such as animal waste and crops, releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and may lead to further deforestation.12
Hence the need to reduce the use of electricity.
Observation:
By using our electricity resources more effectively, or by using renewable energy sources like solar, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also reduce our electricity bills.

Every kilowatt-hour of electricity saved means one less kilogram of carbon dioxide generated by the power station and released into the atmosphere. the following nine actions can help you manage rising electricity costs:
1. Turn off lights and equipment when not in use .
2. Make sure setback thermostats and energy management systems are programmed correctly .
3. Install the most energy-efficient lighting options available and incorporate control devices .
4. Maintain heat, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment regularly .
5. Check other equipment regularly and ensure it is operating correctly .
6. Install variable speed drives .
7. Purchase energy-efficient equipment .
8. Monitor energy usage monthly .
9. Get employees involved in saving energy-ask them how to reduce energy use
If you're not using it - UNPLUG IT
Unplug or turn off the plug switch of your lamps, your computer, your cellphone, your dustbuster, your sewing machine, your hairdryer, your kettle, your toaster or any other appliance that you normally leave plugged in.When an appliance is plugged into a socket, even if you are not using the appliance - whether it's the kettle, cell phone, TV, radio - the item is still drawing power that you are paying for! Unplug your appliances when you are not using them. Standby modes consume electricity.
• Select the size of appliance that meets your needs. If an item is too large or too small it wastes electricity and your money.
• When purchasing new appliances, select appliance which offer the best energy savings. (Many appliances have the Energy Star label.) Check for Energy Efficiency Ratings. Energy efficiency labels indicate a product's energy performance. The energy label ranks the appliance's efficiency from "A" to "G" - with A and A+ being the most efficient and G being the lease efficient. The more efficient a product it is the less energy it requires to operate • saving you on electricity bills and • saving our environment as there are less CO2 emissions . Even if A products cost more initially it will save you in the long run.
Advantages:
• Saving electricity means saving money.
• Saving electricity means reducing our consumption of non-renewable, not sustainable resources.
• Saving electricity means reducing emissions and water consumption at power stations thus taking steps to save our environment.
• Keep track of your electricity bill. See if you can bring it down!
• Appliances with elements use the most electricity. When purchasing appliances for your home, select the most energy efficient appliances.
• Replace your globes with energy efficient globes.
• Use solar powered garden lights, calculators and torches.
Reccomendations: Twenty Things You Can Do to Conserve Energy
Insulate your walls and ceilings

Modernize your windows. Replacing all your ordinary windows with argon filled, double-glazed windows
1. Plant shade trees and paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color if you live in a cold climate.
2. Weatherize your home or apartment, using caulk and weather stripping to plug air leaks around doors and windows
3. Turn your refrigerator down. Refrigerators account for about 20% of Household electricity use. Use a thermometer to set your refrigerator temperature as close to 37 degrees and your freezer as close to 3 degrees as possible. Make sure that its energy saver switch is turned on. Also, check the gaskets around your refrigerator/freezer doors to make sure they are clean and sealed tightly.

Set your clothes washer to the warm or cold water setting, not hot
Make sure your dishwasher is full when you run it and use the energy saving setting, if available, to allow the dishes to air dry. You can also turn off the drying cycle manually.
Turn down your water heater thermostat
Select the most energy-efficient models when you replace your old appliances. Look for the Energy Star Label - your assurance that the product saves energy and prevents pollution. Buy the product that is sized to your typical needs - not the biggest one available
Be careful not to overheat or overcool rooms
Clean or replace air filters as recommended. Energy is lost when air conditioners and hot-air furnaces have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters. Cleaning a dirty air conditioner filter can save 5 percent of the energy used.
Buy energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lights. Although they cost more initially, they save money in the long run by using only 1/4 the energy of an ordinary incandescent bulb and lasting 8-12 times longer. They provide an equivalent amount of bright, attractive light.
Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket,
Use less hot water by installing low-flow shower heads.
Whenever possible, walk, bike, car pool, or use mass transit.
When you next buy a car, choose one that gets good mileage
Reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying minimally packaged goods, choosing reusable products over disposable ones, and recycling
If your car has an air conditioner, make sure its coolant is recovered and recycled whenever you have it serviced
4. Work with your employer to implement these and other energy-efficiency and waste-reduction measures in your office or workplace. Form or join local citizens' groups and work with local government officials to see that these measures are taken in schools and public buildings.
. Stay abreast of environmental issues on both local and national levels, and write or call your elected officials to express your concerns