Ways to save on water and electricity

1 Set your AC thermostat to 24C. If your room is too cold, it’s consuming a lot of energy. Setting your AC at 24C is often enough to keep you comfortable in a room. Each degree can mean up to 9% savings on cooling costs.

2 Ensure regular maintenance of AC units, including cleaning and replacing the filter. Also make sure that all doors and windows are closed so cold air doesn’t escape.

3 Unplug electrical appliances when not in use. Connected devices, even if turned off, use 5 to 10% of electricity at home.

4 Reschedule using energy-intensive appliances before or after peak load hours (12pm to 6pm). Ensure you have a full load of laundry before running the machine to save both water and energy. If you can’t wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load. Washing machines can use as much as 30-35 gallons (114-133 litres) of water per cycle.

5 Use smart irrigation systems when watering plants in the gardens and schedule it in the early morning (before 8am) or in the evening (after 6pm) to reduce evaporation. By watering the lawn in the middle of the day, as much as 30% of water can be lost due to evaporation during summer months.

6 Checking water connections to make sure there are no leaks. An average of one in five toilets has leaks.

7 Close the water valve before going on vacation. Check for any leaks before travelling as leaks within the house before the meter are the responsibility of residents.