Monthly Archive for July, 2008

How to save more money on Gas

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on July 30, 2008
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As the gas prices keep rising higher, the money in our wallet keeps evaporating faster. There are many ways in which you can save more money that you usually spend on gas every now and then, thereby reducing your overall gas consumption.

Before formulating any plan, you must think consider its pros and cons wisely, to save more money. One technique that has been around for a while but has drawn more attention recently is hypermiling. However use your mind and think carefully before doing so, as some of the hypermiling techniques are illegal and extremely dangerous.

There are several ways that we may adopt to save more money. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to learn these tactics, but people simply waste money and just don’t tend to follow them.
The simplest way to minimize your expenses is to avoid usage of your car for short distances. Moreover walking is good for health, and even much better for wealth in this case!
Also when you need to fill up gas, do it completely. As much money as you try to save today, double its amount will be wasted after a couple of days, since each time you will have to travel to the station wasting more gas and hence more money. So instead, do it all at once to save time and money.
Moreover the gas prices keep creeping up day by day. So you never know, by getting your tank filled up totally today, you could save a considerable amount of money that you could have paid extra, by filling gas on a higher price later.
Always check the air pressure in the tires on a weekly. Keep all tires inflated to the recommended pressure of your car, because doing so minimizes gas consumption. You could even consider buying an inexpensive air pump and an accurate tire gauge for this purpose to save more money over the longer duration.
Make sure to clean out any unnecessary items in your car. If you have heavy objects in your car that are not really needed, remove them. Remember that lighter the car, lesser in gas consumption and more money you save by doing so.
Whenever you have to drive a lot, try to combine trips. If you can do several short trips in one longer trip, you will save fuel and time. Once you get into town, some of your stops may be near each other. Try to park between some of them and walk. Also make sure to park in the first spot you find. If you wander all over the parking lot looking for that really close parking space, you’ll use more gas and waste more money. Don’t be afraid to walk an extra, as it would only help you to save more money.
So evidently, there are almost countless ways to save more money on gas, try to just think a bit before you do something, you would definitely land up saving more money.

Fuel Saving Products

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on July 30, 2008
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As per statistical records, well over fifteen percent of car buyers reject a certain car model because they are not satisfied with its fuel saving features. Many consumers rule out certain car models because they have very poor gas mileage.

You may find millions of advices on fuel saving on magazines, web sites, in fact almost wherever you may go. Indeed changing the oil and the air filters on a regular basis will ensure fuel saving, but quite obviously would never produce drastic improvements

You would come across many fuel saving suggestions that can’t be implemented as everyday habit. Perhaps one person out of hundred would be able to consistently drive everyday maintaining the same speed at all time, not using air conditioning to the minimize fuel consumption, not to mention the traffic jams that probably only god might save you from.

As a result the consumers are in search of some alternatives like fuel saving products which could ensure increased fuel saving capabilities. These fuel saving products, fall under several categories, one of them being gas additives.

In scientific terms, hydrocarbons in the gas have the tendency to accumulate, making it impossible for the oxygen to access the fuel entirely. Consequently the gaseous hydrocarbons burn partially and the residues resulting in exhaust emissions. The fuel saving products work to ease this process and make exhaust emissions lower.

You may find these fuel saving additives in shops or over the internet. Regardless of the form, they share a common characteristic, that every apparently product which saves fuel needs to be added when filling up the gas tank.

But just as incase of many others, these fuel savings products need to be used several times before their effects will become apparent. It is also important that you need to stick on to the same fuel saving product to realize its effects, if any!

Fuels saving products are supposed to improve the maneuverability of your car and the drivability of your engine. Any fuel saving product must be tested and registered so it’s safe to use, but you have to make sure that these conditions are fulfilled.

You can possibly test these fuel saving products in an independent lab but that won’t make them less reliable. The best way to test a product which saves fuel is to compare the test results on the same car, tests which has been performed with and without a fuel saving gas additive.

Although some of these fuel saving products have proved to be useful but as per statistical records overall performance has been disappointing, as about 95% amongst the hundreds of these fueling saving products tested were found to be rather ineffective, meaning having negligible effect.

The same applies to the use of fuel saving products, from the categories of Air Bleed Devices, Liquid Injection, and Internal Engine Modification, which resulted in very small increase in fuel efficiency but at higher exhaust emissions. Installation of these products could be considered as illegal tampering as per the regulations.

Many of them even have the potential of messing up the car’s exhaust emission control system. The customers are advised to have a good look at the price of these, and even the possible consequences before making the decision, not to mention the negligible potential fuel savings!

Save Earth - Go Green

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on July 29, 2008
in Eco-Friendly Products, Energy Saving, Global Warming, Go Green, Green Living and Saving Tips
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Burning EarthDo you just crib about global warming or you only ‘THINK’ what will happen to earth in upcoming years? Shake yourself and arise. Time has arrived for each of us to realize the responsibility and ‘ACT’ accordingly. Check out some ideas how to go green…

Trees the Mantra
Save Trees The environmentalists have time and again stressed on the importance of trees. But why? Yes you know the answer: they absorb carbon dioxide which traps a lot of heat, prevents soil-erosion,provides home for diverse plants and animals. One should use furniture made from eco friendly sources like bamboo, and reclaimed wood. Buy classic and traditional things as they are always in vogue. And by the way if you are bored of your furniture and dining tables then don’t just throw them but check out for buyers on Craig’s List, eBay, or Freecycle.

Adieu to Chemicals
Ban Chemicals We use chemicalated things to eliminate eerie crawlies and unknown of the fact that they are slowly killing us. The man-made chemicals have an advantage of 200 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals. Pesticides have also been held responsible for parkinson’s disease, infertility, brain damage, and cancer. So why take in toxicated food which will not only harm you but also the offspring. Choose natural, non-toxic, and equally effective methods of cleaning and corralling pests. Choose from organically grown food that will help you to cut down the pesticides intakes from your diet.
Continue reading ‘Save Earth - Go Green’

How to Increase Fuel Mileage of cars

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on July 28, 2008
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Eco DrivingThe fuel mileage of your car primarily depends on your driving habits. Drive conservatively and you’ll surely notice a difference. There are few minor points that every one generally tends to ignore and a few that most people are generally not aware of, but these can make incredible differences in increasing the fuel mileage of your car over a longer period of time.

Whenever you are looking out for a new car, always check the fuel consumption rating. Style does matter, but after all it’s going to be the fuel mileage that would matter the most for in future. Also keep in mind that manual transmissions tend to deliver better fuel mileage, usually accounting for about one seventh of the total power loss through the drive train while automatic transmissions suck up about one fifth, in terms of parasitic loss. But another important fact to remember is that a manual transmission will create a clutch maintenance cost. An automatic transmission adds an extra cost to the vehicle, and must have routine maintenance that a manual transmission does not require.

Gas Saving TipsAnother important fact is that putting just the right pressure on the accelerator can prevent the regenerative drag without sucking considerable amount of engine power, which could otherwise decrease the fuel mileage.

Be cautious of fuel injector cleaners available in parts stores as a fuel additive which may anecdotally damage the injectors of an older car. Moreover if your car has a roof rack, remove it if possible while not in use. If the entire unit can’t be removed, take the cross bars off to reduce frontal area and drag.

Keep away carbon deposits from building in the engine by pushing the engine to higher speeds about once a week, Interstate on-ramps and overtaking vehicles are good times to do this. It would cause small increase in fuel consumption momentarily but would surely give you a better mileage for the next few days, not to mention the fun of speeding up and enjoying the feeling of being the ruler of the road!

Consistently driving on really higher speeds also decreases the fuel mileage consistently, but having said that, also remember that driving too slowly on the highway may be dangerous. It is usually illegal to drive lesser than 15 mph below the posted speed limit without having the emergency flashers activated.Fuel Saving Tips

There are countless newer ways coming up everyday which are supposed to increase your fuel mileage, but watch out for them carefully as sometimes they might give you bigger troubles. Firstly be careful when using oil additives, some can void a warranty, so make sure to consult your vehicles’ manufacturer. Also beware of ‘chipping’ and other seemingly minor, yet significant car modifications, which give you unknown troubles in future.

These will certainly void the warranty, although the wrong ones might save fuel but surely can be capable of damaging expensive engine components adding to your trouble. Avoid the quack remedies and testimonials about these so called amazing savings on your car, it has been observed lately that every magnet and wonder widget that was debunked in the late 1970’s is back again to tempt the newer generation.

Evidently there are lot many safer options to increase the fuel mileage of your car, try to adopt the best possible ways that suit you and enjoy better mileage!

Saving More Electricity

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on July 28, 2008
in Energy Saving, Green Living and Save Electricity
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The living green concept emphasizes on saving all the natural resources to secure better future, especially electricity.
Although idea of saving electricity is not new, there are countless ways of saving electricity that go beyond simply purchasing energy efficient appliances like refrigerators, washer and dryers. Every one is aware of the common methods but let us consider some more ways that would help in saving electricity and hence living green.Saving Electricity
The basics starts with using a good local light near the task, it is more effective and more efficient than a large central light. Moreover try to use fluorescent tubes, as they use about a quarter of electricity, as used by ordinary globes and they even last about eight times longer. They can be switched on and off as often as you need without affecting the operating cost as well. These common suggestions are highly effective in saving electricity and living green.
When the discussion of saving electricity comes to cooking, it’s recommended to use oven heat for plate warming. Use utensils with flat bottoms and well fitting lids. Also make sure that they cover hotplates.
It is a fact that pressure cookers can help in saving up to 25% of electricity. Also try to use small appliances like griller and crack pot for cooking appropriate food. In timber framed or brick homes the walls should also be well insulated. Always try to block any chimneys not being used because a lot of heat might be lost there. Having the ceiling insulated with at least 50mm of fibrous or foam insulation is also highly helpful in eventually saving considerable amounts of electricity over a long time.
Coming to usage of air conditioners, unless you have full home conditioning, try to close the doors of the rooms being heated or cooled. Doors and windows must always be fitted well because draughts can waste a lot of energy. Even small things like closing curtains to stop heat escaping would help you in saving electricity.
You may consider setting the fan at high speed for a room conditioner to work most efficiently. Also make sure that air conditioner filters and condenser coils are kept clean, otherwise this could result is lot of wastage of electricity. Many people take electricity services for granted leaving the lights on in rooms that are not being used is a good example, which must be avoided at all costs for saving electricity and living green.
The best way of saving electricity is using renewable sources of energy such as solar electricity instead of the conventional ones. Many solar powered devices are available for use in your home. You can get solar powered water heaters, as well as interior and exterior lighting for your home. You can also many devices which are solar powered such as cell phone chargers.
There are countless choices, but probably the most significant aspect of saving electricity is the necessity to change the attitude toward energy consumption.
Help the world in saving electricity, living green and saving the future!

Fuel Saving Devices

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on July 28, 2008
in Energy Saving, Save Fuel, Save Gas and Saving Tips
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With the ever increasing fuel prices, people have been looking for ways to increase the efficiency, in order to improve the fuel economy of the automobiles.

Although many technologies have had a beneficial effect on vehicles’ fuel economies, most of the claims of these fuel saving devices have clearly been misleading. For instance the 200 mpg carburettor, a so called fuel saving gadget was sold with claims that were hard to justify. The common Fuel saving devices include additives and vapour transfer devices.MPG Fuel Saving Devices

Materials which are added to the fuel include tin, magnesium and platinum compounds. The claimed purpose of these devices is generally to improve the energy density of the fuel by virtue of the materials added which should not be confused with fuel system and valve cleaning additives that merely remove contaminants from the fuel system and the deposits on intake valves. Magnets attached to fuel lines have been claimed to improve fuel economy by aligning fuel molecules.

There are plenty of fuel saving devices, which claim to improve fuel efficient, by changing the way that liquid fuel converts to fuel vapour. These include swirlers to increase turbulence in the intake manifold and heaters.

While examining fuel such saving devices, an important fact that must be kept in mind is that most of these claim major increases in combustion efficiency, something that sounds fascinating, but considering the average gasoline engine, you would realize that efficiency rarely exceeds beyond 35% mark.

Although some might do the job by hook or by crook, but the weak point of the engine is not converting the fuel into heat, rather the heat into mechanical energy, which is a good reason behind failure of many of these fuel saving devices. Moreover if you consider the modern engines there is hardly any chance of improving combustion efficiency as more than what can possibly be legitimately achieved is done by reducing parasitic losses of accessories.

One reason that ineffective fuel saving gadgets have had some success in the marketplace is that it is surprisingly difficult to measure the fuel economy of a vehicle.
This is because of the high level of variance in the fuel economy of a vehicle under normal driving conditions. Consequently, it is extremely difficult to measure small changes to fuel economy.

Moreover the large degree of fuel economy variance promoting psychological factors of selective perception amongst the consumers misleads them to believe in the effectiveness of the device. For this reason, regulatory bodies have developed standardised drive cycles that are useful for statistically significant comparisons of fuel economy.Fuel Saving Devices

In a detailed study, the concept of fuel line magnets, which supposedly aligns the fuel molecules so they burn better, was tested and they determined it made no difference in the rate of fuel consumption. They also tested the idea of adding a little acetone to gasoline to increase fuel efficiency by making the gasoline burn more completely. However, the result was that although there was no apparent damage the fuel system, the efficiency of the fuel rather decreased.

One of the good ways of saving fuel that you might consider could be reducing friction, as it is undoubtedly a powerful tool in reducing fuel consumption. Hardened silica tyres have lower rolling resistance than standard rubber tyres. Going for Hydrogen Cars & Electric Cars is an Eco friendly option.

Even it has been discovered that few people use devices to monitor their fuel economy. So choice is yours, the best way would be to believe in yourself rather than any one else.

Energy Saving Products

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on July 28, 2008
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The ever increasing growth of new technology in recent times has created enormous demands on our energy supply.
It would be shocking to know that as per statistical records a massive £2.7 billion worth of electricity is currently being spent for powering consumer electronic and computer products alone in the UK in a year, which is about 23% of the average household electricity bill.

Although there are a few simple things that you can do while choosing the electronic equipments to save money and energy in your house.
Here are some simple guidelines to keep your gadgets energy efficient and keep the electricity bill optimum.

First thing that you must always do is  to do a short research before you purchase anything. There’s no need to compromise on the functionality to be more energy efficient. Many of the latest sophisticated consumer electronics goods carry the energy saving recommendation logo. You can easily find it on a wide range of energy saving products from kitchen appliances including washing machines and fridges, heating and lighting to televisions and set top boxes.Energy Saving Products

You may also consider the option of looking out for integrated appliances as fewer products mean more energy saving. So buying an integrated digital television, which combines a TV with a digital receiver, is good for both your budget as well as the environment.

Whenever you go to the store make sure to inquire all the details regarding energy consumption, as the running costs and efficiency of a product are important considerations. Sales staff should have a good working knowledge of the features and benefits of each product so take their help in this regard and make a good choice.

Before purchasing also make sure to find out in formations such as the amount of energy the product uses when on standby, whether the product has any special energy efficient features such as automatic standby which powers appliances down if they are not used for a certain amount of time, or screen blanking which allows you to listen to digital radio on your TV at lower energy consumption enabling high savings.

Another astonishing fact is that every year set-top boxes in the UK use around £110 million worth of electricity. Energy saving recommended TV has a built-in set top box, so one of these could save you around £5 each year compared to a TV with a separate set-top box and will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions as well.

Moreover the latest generation of computer games consoles consume up to an astonishing 180W of electricity, not to mention the latest addition to the series; the Xbox 360 and the play station 3! They consume energy equivalent to leaving three 60W bulbs burning which is as good as potentially adding £160 per year to the electricity bill. So make sure to switch off your games console at the wall when not in use to save money and energy.

Energy consumption from standby TV and other appliances contribute around 8% of total, in the UK, not to mention the new large flat screen TVs that can cost nearly three times as much to run as traditional TVs.

So save money save energy, save the world and most importantly save yourself from sky rocketing energy bills!

Green Cars

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on July 27, 2008
in Green Living and Green Products
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The green cars are those cars that don’t cause lot of damage to the environment, which is basically accomplished by having a low dust to dust energy cost.

The categories of green cars include vehicles that run with the help of renewable or so called the green energy sources rather than the conventional fossil fuels. Another alternative is to use alternative fuel composition in conventional fossil fuel-based vehicles, making them go partly on renewable energy sources. They provide a way of sustainable transport.

Good examples of such green cars with reduced petroleum consumption include electric cars and fuel cell-powered hydrogen cars.

The most significant enhancement in these green cars is done by using alternative propulsion. These cars have an efficient engine that reduces the vehicle’s consumption of petroleum incase of a petroleum-electric hybrid model, or, preferably, that uses renewable energy sources throughout its working life by making use of biofuels rather than petroleum products.

These hybrid green cars may be partly fossil fueled and partly electric or hydrogen-powered. They are more expensive to buy but they compensate for the initial cost over a longer period of timing by giving better fuel economy. Due to this reason, battery powered vehicles are gaining widespread popularity. They provide a 55% to 99.9% improvement in carbon di-oxide emissions compared to a normal internal combustion engine depending upon the source of electricity.

The green cars have better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle but are hampered by range from a charging unit. The electric car batteries are their main cost. But a part of the total energy cost can be cut by choosing lighter and smaller car that use less energy to produce. But during the operational phase, car with comparable production energy costs can obtain large reductions in energy costs through several measures.

There is a great matter of concern worldwide as the vehicle emissions are contributing to the increasing concentration of gases that are leading to climate change. Road transport is the third largest source of UK green-house gases and accounts for over 20% of total emissions. These green cars have been a good solution to take control over this situation.

The other approaches to achieve the same goal include personal rapid transit, a public transportation concept that offers automated on-demand non-stop transportation, on a network of specially-built guide-ways.

Although there have been even many controversies upon the efficiency of these green cars as well, as a result of a study of marketing research suggested that the extra energy cost of manufacturing, shipping, their disposal, and the short lives of some of these green cars, outweighs any energy savings made by their under usage of petroleum during their useful lifespan. But yet their popularity doesn’t seem to drop down.

Solar car races are held on a regular basis in order to promote these fascinating green cars that can travel long distances at highway speeds by using merely the electricity generated instantaneously from the sun!

The popularity of these green cars is increasing day by day, so try to grab one to discover the real excitement.

All About Bio-Diesel

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on July 27, 2008
in Alternative Fuels and Bio-Diesel
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Biodiesel is a safe alternative fuel derived from the renewable resources and has the potential to replace the conventional fuels, consequently considered as the fuel of the future. Biodiesel does not contain petroleum, but can be mixed with other petroleum based fuels to produce a biodiesel blend that can be used in a variety of vehicles, although the pure biodiesel fuel, though, can only be used in diesel engines.

Biodiesel is completely biodegradable and non-toxic, making it so safe that even your over cooked barbeques can be proven more toxic!

Unlike vegetable oil Biodiesel provides a good alternative as a fuel, as the Biodiesel can be used in its original form in diesel engines. Vegetable oil fuels must be modified and used only in combustion- ignition engines. This makes biodiesel one of the easiest alternative fuels to use. In fact, it is a great option for use on farms in farm equipment.
Biodiesel fuel is made through a process called trans-esterification. This process involves removing the glycerin from the vegetable oil or fat. During the process byproducts are left behind, including methyl esters and glycerin.

Biodiesel is totally free from toxic substances like sulphur, phosphorus, lead, arsenic and other aromatics that can be found in traditional fuels.
The unique qualities of biodiesel make it different other alternative fuels. It has passed all the health effects testing requirements as well, which means it meets the standards of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.

Biodiesel is legally registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as a fuel that can be legally sold and distributed, unlike the other alternative fuels that cannot be legally sold as motor fuel because they do not meet the EPA’s fuel specifications.

The best thing about biodiesel fuel is it eco friendly and is not at all harmful to the environment like traditional fuels. Biodiesel is made from renewable resources which mean it is safe for the environment. It does not produce the high emissions like traditional fuels. Biodiesel does not cause harmful effects to the environment which may produce long lasting ill effects for the generations to come.

Even economically, Biodiesel is also good because unlike traditional fuels, the resources to make biodiesel come form within the country rather than from gulf nations or other places. It is made with products grown domestically without getting involved in politics with other countries. By using Biodiesel the country can become less dependent upon foreign countries for fuel supplies.

Biodiesel is an innovative fuel that is rapidly becoming easily available to the general public. It can be found around the country at particular places or it can be bought directly from producers. It costs a little more than traditional fuels at the current time because the demand is not as great. Those who make Biodiesel using waste oil feedstock make biodiesel for 50 cents to US$1 per US gallon, and about a pound per two gallons in the UK. However, as demand grows and every one realizes its benefits as a great biodegradable, renewable fuel source, the price will surely drop down.

What’s more, you can even make Biodiesel at home safely using a biodiesel kit and cut down your expenses greatly!

Be sure to Check out this Fantastic eBook…


Electricity Saving Tips

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on July 27, 2008
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Energy StarThere are wide varieties of ways of saving electricity and some of these are discussed here. One of the important tips would include starting usage of the different energy efficient home appliances available, for saving electricity.
Although using energy efficient appliances is helpful in saving electricity, the amount of electricity that most household appliance such as microwave, coffee maker or computer only represents about 2% of the total electricity that we consume.
So it is of great interest to focus on the larger items and look for alternatives for their function for saving considerably large amount of electricity. For instance, instead of buying a washer and dryer for yourself, try to consider the option to set up a clothesline air dry your clothes instead, for saving lot of electricity.
Saving a good amount of electricity is possible even while taking bath. Sounds funny? Well it’s actually not, but rather a bitter truth. So a quick tip in this regard is to install a storage heater of 125 liters or more to prevent peak tariff, which is about half the normal rate. Use the showers, as normally you will use less water for shower than in case of a regular bath. These two small modifications would greatly cut short your electricity bill in longer run and also help in saving lot of electricity which is beneficial to all.
You could also consider filling your electric kettle or jug from the cold tap. Running off a lot of cold water from the hot pipes can be wasteful and expensive. These minute details must be paid attention to, for saving electricity even if it’s just a small amount.
While selecting a fridge, select the one that uses waste heat for defrosting as its saves electricity and also these fridges are usually cheaper to operate as well. Also try to buy the size you need, don’t fancy buying huge ones unnecessarily as extra capacity uses extra power. Do make sure that the door seals well. If a piece of paper can slide easily between the cabinet and the door, then the seal is not good enough.
While using washing machines, consider the option of manually adjusting the water level to economically wash a partial load. Otherwise it is better to wait until you have a full load, although don’t overload your machine. You must also remember not to under load the dryer, as you will always get most economical operation with the correct load. Switch off when the clothes are dry enough, over drying makes them feel harsh and waste electricity as well. Prefer the Tumble dryers, as they are more effective than the cabinet dryers.

Good lighting means avoiding glare and gloom by using the right amount of light in the right way. So use light translucent shades, as the opaque or darker shades require bigger lamps. Increase the usage of fluorescent lights and avoid the conventional bulbs which waste a whole lot of energy.
So there are a whole lot of ways of saving electricity, so consider your options wisely to help the cause.