Low Carbon Lifestyles at Home

Change just 5 lamps in your home to more energy efficient ones. By doing this, you can
- Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 37 to 278 kg
- Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 37-278 kg is equivalent to 3-27 additional trees.
- Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 266 to Rs 2014

Electrical Appliances

Buy BEE 5 star rated appliances

Use a BEE 5 star rated refrigerator

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 101 kg
Reduce annual electricity bills by around Rs 730
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 101 kg is equivalent to 10 additional trees.

Use BEE 5 star rated split air conditioners (1.5 tons)

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 197 kg per air conditioner
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 197 kg is equivalent to 19 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 1428 per air conditioner.

Use BEE 5 star rated fans

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 46 kg on every fan
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 46 kg is equivalent to 4 additional trees.
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 334 on every fan

Go Solar

Power your home using solar photovoltaic energy -A 640 Wp Photovoltaic panel can power 5 tubelights and 3 fans for 300 days of the year

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 617 kg
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 4480
Annual CO₂emission reduction of 617 kg is equivalent to 61 additional trees

Switch to a solar inverter for your electricity requirements during power cuts - A 1 kWp photovoltaic panel generates 4 kWh power if there is sunshine for 5 hours. It occupies an area of around 10 m²

With a 1kWp system, reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 984 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 984 kg is equivalent to 98 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 7140 for 25 years

Install a solar water heater

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 687 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 687 kg is equivalent to 68 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 4986

Do not buy voltage stabilizers for equipment that do not need them

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 359 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 359 kg is equivalent to 36 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bill by Rs 2606

Practice Energy Efficiency

Reduce the temperature setting on the geyser

Geysers come with a factory setting of 60°C but water at 40°C is enough for a comfortable bath

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 172 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 172 kg is equivalent to 17 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by 1247

Use the geyser efficiently

Bathe in quick succession and don't keep the geyser on for longer than necessary

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 344 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 344 kg is equivalent to 34 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 2493

Eat together

Heat food at one go to reduce unnecessary use of the microwave oven for just 5 mins a day

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 30 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 30 kg is equivalent to 3 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 217

Use a cold cycle in the washing machine

Energy required to heat water for a hot wash cycle is high and therefore better avoided. Reduce just two hot wash cycles per week

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 64 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 64 kg is equivalent to 6 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 464

Dry your clothes in the sun

Just one washload a week dried on a line instead of a dryer can make a difference

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 371 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 371 kg is equivalent to 37 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 2692

Switch off all appliances at the plug point and not with a remote

Switch off the HD set top box at the plug point when you turn off the TV

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 135 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 135 kg is equivalent to 13 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 977

Go out and play instead of watching TV or playing on a device

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 22 - 89 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 22-89 kg is equivalent to 2-9 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 159 - 643

Use a table lamp for studying. It provides better task based lighting

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 57 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 57 kg is equivalent to 5 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 413

Turn off lights and fans when not in use

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 26 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 26 kg is equivalent to 2 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 186

Do an hour of yoga instead of running on a treadmill

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 446 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 446 kg is equivalent to 44 additional trees
Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 3238

Conserve Water

Install water efficient showers and faucets. Use water carefully

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 75 - 189 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 75-189 kg is equivalent to 7-19 additional trees

Change flush tanks in the bathrooms
- Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 39 - 99 kg
- Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 39-99 kg is equivalent to 4-10 additional trees
Harvest Rainwater
- Harvest 1000 litres per household per day over 40 days of rainfall

Be Fuel Efficient

Regularly inflate vehicle tyres

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 140 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 140 kg is equivalent to 14 additional trees
Reduce annual fuel costs by Rs 3864

Switch off the ignition at traffic red lights

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 85 - 122 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 85-122 kg is equivalent to 8-12 additional trees
Reduce annual fuel costs by Rs 2532 - 3351

Driving at a steady 45 km/hr on highways gives you the best fuel economy

For a distance of 500 kms of highway driving

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 32 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 32 kg is equivalent to 3 additional trees
Reduce annual fuel costs by Rs 356

Walk if you need to go short distance. Do not drive

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 9 - 63 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 9-63 kg is equivalent to 1-6 additional trees
Reduce annual fuel costs by Rs 271 - 1712

Reduce Waste

Do not waste food

Reduce food waste by just 1 kg/day
Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 118 - 470 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 118 - 470 kg is equivalent to 11-47 additional trees

Carry a reusable bag when you go shopping. Refuse additional packaging and reuse bags as much as possible

Reduce just one paper or plastic bag a day
Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 11 - 28 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 11 - 28 kg is equivalent to 1-2 additional trees

Practice fuel efficiency in the kitchen

Use the pressure cooker daily

Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 135 kg
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 135 kg is equivalent to 13 additional trees
Reduce annual fuel costs by Rs 1265

Use fuel efficient cooking methods

Reduce gas usage by 20 mins a day per household
Reduce gas usage by 20 mins a day per household
Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 67 kg is equivalent to 6 additional trees
Reduce annual fuel costs by Rs 632

Use fuel efficient biomass cookstoves. Reduce usage of wood and time

Reduce annual CO₂ equivalent emissions by 1220 kg per household

Fuel efficient cooking techniques:

Cover cooking pots and pans with lids
Reduce the flame once food starts boiling
Use optimum quantity of water for cooking
Keep all ingredients ready and at hand before turning on the gas
Use broad bottom vessels
Allow refrigerated food to come to room temperature before heating it
Clean the burners regularly
Soak rice, dal etc. for some time before cooking
Eat together so that food is not heated multiple time

Source : Toolkit on Low Carbon Lifestyles

Last Modified : 9/14/2023

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