Although solar electricity seems the most glamorous way to do your bit for the environment,
the most effective to reduce waste and use is to cut down on the amount of electricity we use each day.
Did you know for example that every kilowatt hour of electricity saved reduces the production of 0.43 kilograms of CO2?
To help you reduce electricity consumption I shall tell you how much electricity some appliances in your home use each month.
One of the biggest users of electricity in the home is the clothes dryer which can consume almost 4,000 Watts.
Next comes the dishwasher which consumes up to 1500 Watts each time you use it.
Another high consumer is the hairdryer with an average of 1200 Watts.
This is followed by the microwave which consumes about 1000 Watts per use.
The middle range of consumers includes the vacuum cleaner at 800 Watts,
the coffee maker at 700 Watts, and the washing machine at 500 Watts.
At the lower end of the scale are the fridge at 150 Watts,
the television with 150 watts and the CD player on 35 Watts.