Changing times: how much we save?
| Date: March 28, 2009 | Source: Sources |
| Category: Trivia | |
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Loading ... The summer schedule, which begins the last Sunday in March, is to advance the clock one hour, energy expenditure in question would amount to a reduction of 5% and save $ 300 million per year. The important thing, however, is to maintain responsible behavior throughout the year, following some simple guidelines that reduce the consumption of electricity in our homes.
As every year, during the last weekend of March we have to advance our clocks one hour, as required by the EU Directive governing the "time shift" and that affects all member countries of the European Union . The objective of the implementation of daylight saving this one: get more sunlight and consume less electricity for lighting in our homes.
The directive, which applies as such from 1981 and renewed every four years since, born of a Community initiative in 1974 when, during the first oil crisis, some countries decided on an individual advance their clocks for this purpose. And today, following approval of the Ninth Directive by the European Parliament and the Council of the Union in January 2001 and has indefinite.
5% less power consumption and a saving of 300 million euros
The results of this initiative in the Spanish case are more than tested: 5% savings in electricity consumption for lighting, which would amount to euro 300 million total, as yield estimates of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving Energy (IDEA), public entity of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade. Of that, about 90 million correspond to potential savings in the total consumption of households, while the remaining 210 come from the services sector and industry.
But keep in mind the hassle of time change would be useless if we do not responsible consumption in our homes when do without artificial lighting, provided it is not necessary. Responsible behavior, moreover, must be supplemented by the use of efficient technologies in lighting by utilization of natural light, such as light sensors and lighting controllers in the rooms.
Save energy and lighting throughout the year
The period of daylight saving time ends on the last Sunday in October when we return to the initial schedule, delaying our clocks an hour. However, the important thing is that we save on expenses and light throughout the year, as recommended by IDEA and the Ministry. And more, if we consider that may lead to a reduction of around 100 euros in the annual bill, adding the lower impact contaminant emissions to the atmosphere.
To do so, both institutions propose a set of guidelines to save on electricity consumption for everyone: exploiting natural light, because by now the sun is free, do not forget the lights when you leave a room, unless you want see how it increases your energy bill later this month, replacing traditional light bulbs with low consumption, because 80% saves energy, uses the technique of "task lighting" with not only reduced in energy expenditure, will create more comfortable and welcoming environments, using colors to decorate your home, as a light needs less light, clean regular light sources, because the dirt makes the correct distribution in the room, using electronic regulators flow for halogen luminaires, with which you can adjust the light level to a specific need; used fluorescent tubes in areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, storage rooms and garages, and install motion detectors in the traffic areas, for the lights are lit only when someone.
