Switch off and unplug electrical appliance when not used. All electric appliances such as DVD player, VCR player, television and radios draw small amount of electricity when they are in switched off. Standby mode consumes about 20% of the energy it does when the appliance is switched on.

Consider replacing your older model electrical appliance, especially if older than 10-15 years . Older models can often use over 3 times the energy of newer models.

Paint rooms in light colours . It aids reflection of the available light.

When you're shopping for appliances, consider two price tags . The first one covers the purchase price?think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. You'll be paying on that second price tag every month with your utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years.

Regularly clean all electrical appliances . Over time, dirt builds up and reduces the output of the appliance or force to work harder to maintain its output which consumes more energy.

Refer to energy rating labels when purchasing electrical goods . The products are labeled from 1 to 5, label 5 being most energy efficient. This label is produced by energy commission under the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology, and Water (currently refrigerator only); however it is not mandatory for manufacturers to label it. Please refer to our guide book for other available labels internationally.

Do not waste water . Wasting water wastes electricity because the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it's been used!

Place wood or cupboards against walls especially those facing direct sunlight heating . This is because wood can absorb heat, therefore reducing the heat coming into the room.

Switch to tube fluorescent and energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) for indoor lighting . These lights cost a little bit higher than incandescent (standard) bulbs, however they only use one fourth of the energy and last to 10 times longer.

Use natural daylight to light the room . Open curtains in the morning, rather than turning on the light.

Use desk lamps where most light is needed . So less lighting is required in the rest of the room.

Use laptops or flat screen computers. A laptop computer uses up to 30% less energy than bigger desktop models.

Keep the refrigerator stocked at least two thirds full or freezer at least three quarters full and cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator . Uncovered foods and empty refrigerator takes more energy to cool.

Do not open the deep freezer or refrigerator door too often. Think ahead and plan what you need to take out. Opening the fridge door too often causes cold air to escape out causing more energy needed to maintain the fridge temperature.

Make sure you defrost your fridge and freezer on a regular basis or whenever necessary . An iced up freezer will make the freezer work harder, therefore wasting more energy than needed. Many new models come with defrost; it is advisable that the consumer read the functions carefully.

ou should never put warm or hot food into the fridge . This will make the fridge work extra hard to try and keep it cold; always allow food to cool down first. Do not place refrigerators near heat such as direct sun exposure or stove and leave some space around the fridge. Do not place the fridge leaning against the wall.

Iron large batches of clothing at one time . This is to avoid wasting energy reheating the iron.

If you are a heavy user of washing machines, consider purchasing front-loading washing machines . This is because it is 15% more energy efficient and use 40% less water compared to top loading washers. However, they cost much more than top loading machines.

Load your washer fully each time . If you do an extra wash you'll be using more power.

Only boil the amount of water you need in a kettle . Excess water heating is just a waste of electricity.

Switch off the fans when you are not in the room. Fan only removes heat away from your body, not cool the room. Therefore leaving it switched on does not lower the temperature of the room.

Use natural energy such as solar for heating. It is a bit expensive to install but it is a renewable resource and there is no electricity bill for it. It is much cheaper to install solar panels for heating compared to electricity producing solar panels. In some cases, for heavy users, it is advisable that solar heating is installed as in 10 years they can save in few thousands of Ringgit.

Set the air- conditioner at the temperature of 24 to 26 ºC with a relative humidity (RH) of about 60% and 70%. Changing air temperature from 20 to 24 ºC can save energy up to 33%. Windows and doors must also be shut to avoid cold air from escaping. Dress appropriately according to the climate. This could reduce the need for lower temperature of air-conditioning. Wearing blazers or coats and few cloths overcovering makes Malaysians lower the air conditioners setting.