Wellington, Feb 10 – Feeling grumpy with the heat — and even grumpier about the threat of power cuts?
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has come up with 15 tips on how to power down in the heat wave — and even enjoy it.
1. Discover the wonders of fresh air. Switch off the air conditioners, open the windows, and turn on a fan.
2. Make use of technology. If your fan has two settings, use the lower one.
3. Relax and chill out naturally. If you must use the air conditioning, raise the setting from the usual 19degC to 21degC or 22degC.
4. Switch off lights in non-essential areas such as passages and photocopy rooms, and in rooms which are not being used.
5. Turn your computer off as soon as you’ve finished using it. Find some other way to impress the boss with how busy you are.
6. Wash clothes using the cold water setting. This will also save on shrinking clothes by mistake.
7. Celebrate the sunny weather — dry your clothes outside on he clothesline instead of using the drier.
8. Be a cool dresser. Women, rediscover your kaftans. Men, leave your ties in the drawer. But please, in the interest of aesthetics, don’t go as far as walk shorts and sandals.
9. Make the most of the warm evenings — have a barbecue and a salad outside instead of using the oven. You’ll probably spend on insect repellent what you would have saved on power, but think of the national interest.
10. Impress your loved one with your romantic yet practical nature. Save power by having a romantic dinner by candlelight. Or, eat early during daylight hours.
11. Cook the romantic dinner in the microwave instead of the oven. Or, even better, buy a ready-prepared upmarket dinner from the supermarket and pretend you made it. This will also save on power for washing-up water or the dishwasher.
12. Be brave — have a cool shower, and get cleaner and cooler at the same time.
13. If you feel like a shower just to get cool, have a swim at the beach or pool instead.
14. Turn your TV off at the wall instead of leaving it on standby. Better still, instead of watching TV, read a book or go for an evening walk when the temperature drops a bit.
15. Sleep in the nude.
NZPA WGT dj wrh 10/02/98 11-25NZ
