Make houses, offices energy efficient

Whether we admit it or not, it is a fact that all of us have been using the subsidised electricity lavishly, but after the lifting of subsidies this mindset is not going to work anymore. 

By adopting certain techniques, we can easily reduce the consumption of electricity to an affordable level.

There are certain areas where the electricity is simply being wasted and if we stop this wastage at least 50 per cent of the total consumption can be reduced easily.

For example, if we don’t use the bulbs during daytime and rely on the natural sunlight by opening the windows, we can save large units of electricity and hence the less electricity bills.

Speaking to DT News yesterday, Raman C. Angel, the principal architect of one of the biggest architecture companies in Bahrain, said that today’s houses must be properly planned to make them environment friendly and energy efficient.

He said that it was quite possible to build such buildings and houses where you could work in the daylight, saving plenty of energy units. No doubt the extreme hot weather conditions can make it difficult to open the windows but there is a way out. Angel said that the insulating materials should be used generously while making the house. “Walls, roofs and floors all should be insulated -- more the insulation, the better,” he says. He said that the proper use of windows should be made like double glazed windows and the back-up of proper curtains. “Proper uses of clerestory or skylight can help us fight the extreme hot climates which are quite usual in Bahrain,” he adds.

Angel stressed that the houses must be properly weatherised. If your windows and doors are weatherised, it will help you prevent from extreme temperature like weather stripping on both doors and windows.

“Always plan your house with the consideration of natural light and ventilation,” he says, explaining, “Adding plants or greenery will make your house cozy as well as environmentally friendly.” He said that using solar external lights would also help save electricity and replacing of the incandescent light with LED light can also make a big difference.

The Supreme Council of Environment has always been advocating the use of renewable energy like wind or solar energy. In the present circumstances perhaps this is more appropriate time to switch over to the renewable energy resources.

Conserving electricity will not only decrease the electricity bills but also help stop global warming, one of the severest issues our planet is facing today and the world leaders gathered in France to find out a viable solution. If we could put our share in helping stop the global warming it would be a great service to humanity.  

To meet the new situations simply we need to change our mindsets and make energy saving as our second nature. If we take a look around our homes and offices with this thing in need we would be in a better position to make the electronic appliances more energy efficient. It is a matter of changing of habits now.