Energy - the luxury good
Just because we have energy and resources at our disposal anytime and anywhere, we should not use them mindlessly, writes guest author Monika Hardmeier. On the contrary, a clever use of these commodities is the alpha and omega for a sustainable lifestyle.
The third and final week of the first module of the Energy Efficiency Challenge’s Team Competition is titled Energy and Work. The topic-specific actions are meant to show how we can reduce our energy consumption by using our resources carefully, without limiting our well-being.
It is part of our lives
Whenever our laptop battery level is low, we plug it into the nearest power point. As soon as we shiver when we sit in the morning in our pyjamas at the breakfast table, we simply turn up the heating. Long, hot showers, appliances on standby and lighting up even the last corner of rooms are now common.
The facts
Up to 31.3 percent of energy consumption in Switzerland is needed in private households, around 70 percent of which by domestic heating. Ranking second, at 12.9 percent, is demand for hot water. But even entertainment media, cooling equipment and lighting account for nearly 8 percent when added up.
Small changes, a big impact
Computers, televisions, coffee machines and other electrical appliances are an integral part of our everyday lives. Instead of keeping them permanently on standby, it pays to turn them off completely after each use or to buy and use a multi-plug strip with a power-off switch. This way we avoid energy from being used without any benefit for anyone.
Room temperatures, ranging between 18 to 20 degrees Celsius in the winter, should be more than enough. By turning down the thermostat by just 1 degree, you can save up to 6 percent of annual heating energy consumption. Instead of keeping a window or two open for hours, so-called impulse ventilation is recommended. If you open several windows in the office or flat at the same time for five minutes, this will result in optimal ventilation and less loss of heat.
Saving hot water should be one of the easiest tasks in our everyday lives. By installing water savers on showerheads and faucets, you will not even notice less water flows in your everyday routine.
Take a moment this week to sit together with your team, get creative and think about how we can help ETH to achieve greater energy efficiency. And remember, everybody who turns off the light when leaving a room helps.
Sources
- Swiss Federal Office of Energy (2013). external pageAnalysis of Swiss energy consumption 2000 - 2012 broken by purpose of use.
- WWF Switzerland. external pageEnvironmental Protection Tips.
- weAct. external pagewww.weact.ch.
About the author
Monika Hardmeier studied psychology at the University of Zurich from 2011 to 2012, before starting her studies of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich in 2012. After having participated for the first time in a weACT Challenge in spring 2013, she has been involved in the weACT Students Association. She has been actively helping in the organisation of the EE Challenge. She has also written blog posts for NZZ Campus.