It’s 2013, and if you’re still spending a ton on your energy bill, you should know that it doesn’t have to be that way. Right now, about 20% of the energy we consume goes to lighting. But, with a few energy-efficient changes, we can see that number (and the numbers on our monthly bills) dwindle. This post is the first in a series on how to make the lighting in your home or business more energy-efficient. 

Everyone’s got to eat, and for many of us, the kitchen is the very heart of the home. The kitchen also requires excellent lighting for cooking and cleaning up. So, I figure it will be a good place to start an energy-efficient lighting makeover.

While power outages aren’t a common occurrence in and around Sydney, there are times when you have to deal with an electricity outage due to inclement or stormy weather. Our modern day living is highly dependent on electricity and without it; our lives can literally come to a standstill. This is why it becomes important to check back and ensure that we have some proper power and outage solutions in place.

While most electrical outages don’t last for over a few hours, it’s best to be prepared for the situation. We have listed a few tips that will help you prepare for a power failure or a power outage:

There is no point in running around in frenzy when there is a power outage; and it is important that you create a plan in advance for this type of a situation. It doesn’t have to be a very complex one, but should include some basic things such as being able to locate where the candles and emergency lights are kept, so you can access them easily. You should also know where the emergency kit and the additional supplies are kept. .

It is very important that you have an emergency kit that can be used in case of power failures and power outages. You have the option to purchase a ready kit from the market or put together one yourself, with all the essentials such as:

These are just the basic things your kit needs to contain. The items and quantity of the items would be dependent on the number of people in your household.

Whenever any power outage or failure occurs, it is a good idea to check the utility service provider website. The companies generally post updates on the scale, probable duration and size of the outage. If you find that the problem isn’t at the utility company’s end, you should check with your neighbours to know whether they too are facing the same problem.

This will give you a clearer picture about whether the power problem is exclusive to your home or your entire neighbourhood has been affected by it. It’s important that you keep the freezer and refrigerator doors shut till the power problem is fixed.

Getting a standby generator installed on your property is one of the best ways of dealing with a power failure or outage. You would be able to use the generator to power the basic appliances in your home and maintain the indoor temperature on your property at comfortable levels. Speak with your local electrician about getting a good capacity generator installed.