The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the dynamics of work and relationships. The work model in the world or in Brazil will be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of companies that intend to adopt home office after the new coronavirus crisis is expected to grow 30%. This is what the executive director of Infobase, André Miceli, who carried out the study Marketing and Technology Trends 2020: Humanity Redefined and New Businesses, said.
At this time when we are living longer, it is important to be aware of our energy consumption practices. Remember: conscious use of energy is everyone's responsibility!
Check out some tips that will help you save energy:
1- Turn off the lights and replace them with energy-saving ones
Don't turn on lights unless you need to. Replace regular light bulbs with energy-saving ones, which tend to be more expensive than conventional ones, but will save you money at the end of the month. Another tip is to paint the walls in light colors, as they help to reflect sunlight more effectively.
2- Pay attention to your cell phone and computer usage
3- Unplug electronic devices!
Did you know that keeping devices on standby uses energy? According to the Akatu Institute, in the case of a DVD player, for example, the consumption of electronic devices on standby can be greater than when they are in use. If the device is used for two hours, twice a week, and the rest of the time is on standby, in one month it will consume enough energy to use the DVD player for four months. Appliances on standby can account for 12% of consumption of a house.
As for computers, the tip is: if the break from an activity with the electronic device is short – more or less than 15 minutes – it is best to leave it on, turning off the monitor. However, if it is a long break, it is best to turn off the device to avoid consuming and wasting electrical energy.
4- Plan your meals
If you know in advance what you intend to eat, you will save a lot of electricity by defrosting food in the microwave, one of the most common uses of the appliance. To do this, defrost the food you are going to use the day before, preferably in the refrigerator, and thus save energy.
5- Avoid opening and close the refrigerator several times
Organizing your shopping and storing all your food in the refrigerator at once saves a lot of electricity. Every time you open and close the refrigerator door, hot air enters and it takes a lot of energy to cool it down again. If you store everything in the refrigerator at once, opening and closing the door only once, the electricity savings over the course of a year are equivalent to the amount spent on running the refrigerator for one to two months. Remember: the refrigerator is one of the items that consumes the most electricity in a home.
6- Be careful with the air conditioning
Air conditioning is sometimes indispensable. Since it is a device that requires a lot of energy, there are some steps you can take to optimize its use, such as avoiding opening doors in the area where the air conditioning is on, and keeping the device's filters clean at all times, so as not to impair air circulation.
7- Be careful when bathing
Electric showers can be considered one of the biggest energy-consuming villains. Therefore, it is important to monitor your shower times and not leave the shower on for too long.
Showers usually have a switch with 3 positions: Winter, Off, Summer. When it is not cold, leave the switch in the Summer position, which will save 30% of energy on heating the water. In addition, avoid turning on the shower at times when many other appliances are on, as this overloads the electrical grid.
It is also important not to try to take advantage of a burnt-out heating element, as this will increase consumption and is also dangerous. Another tip is to control the length of your shower to save energy and water!
