Your guide to an energy-efficient & sustainable living space

Apart from sailors, most human beings spend a lot of their time on land. To be more specific,we spend more than 70% of our time in buildings and architectural spaces.It is hard to ignore the inseparable relationship between the health and well-being of all humanity based on our energy decisions in our day to day lives as we depend on energy for numerous reasons.

Now that the world is fighting the pandemic and an economic slow down, there is pressure building for the common man to utilize the little resources available.The marvel about sustainable energy conservation is that there are several ways through which we can be champions of change and contribute through the little things we do at home.

Firstly, optimizing the electrical appliances within your home would be a great step towards energy saving. What is meant by optimizing home appliances? You need to look at the times that you leave your entertainment hub on standby or leave the kettle and blender plugged in after use. It is estimated that 5% of all energy consumed in a household is attributed to the phantom load or energy leakage from appliances that are plugged in and are on standby. Essentially, if your monthly electrical charge comes up to 1000 Kenya shillings, you could have saved about 50 shillings through optimization.

Switching to LED light bulbs instead of the traditional bulbs is another way to save on energy. These light bulbs last longer, are more durable, and offer comparable or better light quality than other types of lighting. Not only do LED lights consume less electricity, but are also much cooler than incandescent lights, reducing the risk of combustion or burnt fingers.

Thirdly, maximizing on the use of natural lighting is another way of exploiting natural resources to serve our energy goals. Having bigger windows that allow access to natural lighting is a decision cherished in the construction stages. However, it is possible to attain maximum use of natural lighting without altering the size of the windows. This can be achieved by a adding mirrors to your space at a position opposite the windows to amplify the illumination of the room. Additionally, opting for brighter colored blinds and curtains will enhance the lighting within the spaces.

Fossil fuels in Kenya generates 32.5% of the electrical energy used in which 15% of this is what we use in our homes. Renewable energy such as solar power is one of the best options towards reducing the carbon footprint and maximizing on sustainable energy in the long term. Adoption of solar panels or solar water heaters are ways you can reduce your electricity cost.

As proof of concept, the 2020 CoRE Awards Sustainable Badge winner Rockwill Green Energy managed to satisfy 80% of one of their client’s electricity demands by maximizing on the roof’s span as well as parking shades of the client’s home.

From the above highlighted solutions, it is easy to demystify the myth that going green and seeking energy sustainability is an expensive-out-of-reach endeavor.The decision on embracing sustainable energy solutions through our daily lives should be our contribution towards humanity. The journey of saving one kilowatt of electricity cumulatively makes the world a better place. If you’d like to learn more on energy conservation, click here

_{Contributor ; Alvin Muchai}