Energy Efficiency Technology
and Development

Air-conditioning

• Use a fan instead of air-conditioner as far as possible. It consumes only one tenth of electricity comparative to air-conditioners.

• Make sure that all windows and doors are closed when air-conditioners are on.

• Clean the air-conditioner filters regularly. This can improve the cooling efficiency and reduce energy consumption by 30%.

• Set the air-conditioner to 25.5°C in summer.

• Every degree warmer means a 3% reduction in power consumption.

• Choose air-conditioners with "Grade 1" Energy Label. This can reduce electricity consumption by 11%.

• Turn off some or all air-conditioners 15 minutes before leaving the room.

Lighting

• Replace incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) / light-emitting diode (LED). CFLs / LEDs use 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs, and have lifespans that last up to 6 to 8 times or even longer than incandescent light bulbs.

• Use task lighting to minimise general lighting.

• Keep light bulbs and fittings clean to maximise brightness.

• Turn off lighting if it is not needed.

• Make use of daylight whenever possible. Daylight can offer significant energy savings. Furthermore, using less electric lamps can minimise the heat generated from within itself.

• Adjust the lighting intensity to optimal level and save energy.

Transport

• Buy fuel-efficient motor vehicles.

• Record the odometer reading in the log after filling up the fuel tank fully to track the fuel economy.

• Use liquefied petroleum gas instead of petroleum to minimise related emissions.

• Drive electric vehicles (EVs) as they are driven by the chemical energy of batteries as their energy source, thus producing zero emission.

• Car pool with neighbours, friends or colleagues who travel on the same route to reduce emissions.

• Riding public transportation like the MTR and buses.

• Consider riding a bicycle or walk to nearby destinations.

Refrigeration

• Select refrigerators with "Grade 1" energy label to reduce electricity consumption by 30%.

• Do not put refrigerators near a heat source like ovens or dishwashers as this will affect their normal operation.

• Keep refrigerators away from direct sunlight through a window.

• Do not set refrigeration temperature unnecessarily low.

• Allow hot food to cool down to room temperature before putting it into refrigerators.

• Leave enough space between refrigerators and walls or cabinets so that air can circulate around the condenser coils. Trapped heat increases energy consumption.

• Check door seals to make sure they are airtight. Broken seals will increase electricity consumption by 5-15% and should be mended as soon as possible.

• Avoid opening refrigerator doors frequently or for a prolonged period. This will cause the temperature inside refrigerators to rise.

Cooking

• Use induction cookers for cooking. Induction cookers apply electromagnetic technology to induce heat which shortens the cooking time. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the efficiency of energy transfer for an induction cooker is 84%, which is highly energy efficient.

• Use pressure cookers for cooking. When the temperature reaches 120°C inside the sealed environment of a pressure cooker, the cooking time will be roughly 4 times faster.

• Use microwave ovens for cooking. Microwaves use high-frequency radio waves to penetrate food and heat up water molecules, making it an effective tool to reduce cooking time and energy consumption without wasting energy and time in pre-heating the oven.

• Turn off ovens 5-10 minutes before the food is ready to make use of the residual heat.

Reduction of Heat Transfer

In everyday life, reducing heat transfer is a way to save energy.

• In the summer, use curtains to reduce sunlight and heat from entering the house. This helps reduce the energy consumption of air-conditioners.

• Use energy efficient windows and glass such as multi-layer glass structures, special translucent coating, insulation in glass to reduce heat transfer, so as to minimise energy consumption.

• In the winter, put on thick clothes to keep warm. This reduces the energy consumption of heaters.

• Use vacuum flasks and thermal cookers to reduce heat loss and keep food content hot. This also eases the reheating process.

• Use light-coloured refrigerators to reduce heat loss.

Computers

• Set computers to sleep mode to save up to 90% of electricity when it is idled for 10 minutes. Turn off the master switch when not in use.

• When not in use, turn off the master switch of printers which are connected to personal computers.

Electrical Appliances

• Appliances still consume electricity while in "standby" mode, which is about 10% of energy consumed in full operation. Turn off the master switch for electrical appliances when they are not in use.

• Use washing machines only when there is a full load. Dry clothes in the sunshine and fresh air instead of using tumble dryers.

• When using washing machines, it is better to use cold water.

• Turn off the master switch, where appropriate, to avoid keeping the appliance in standby mode when leaving home so as to minimise the energy wastage and to lower the potential for fire hazards.