How to Save Money on Energy and Electricity
Ever wanted to save energy and make money doing so? Now is your chance! Follow these easy to find tips on Saving Electricity and Energy and maximise your yearly savings! Remember, follow the ideas below and you could be saving over $1000-$2000 AUD a year!
Cooling
- Don’t leave your air conditioner on the highest setting. The recommended room temperature for summer is 24°C – 27°C. Every 1°C cooler will increase your energy costs by around 10 to 15%.
- Cool occupied rooms and seal off those rooms not in use.
- Turn off your air conditioner for 15 minutes each hour. Or cool your house in the morning and turn the air conditioner off for an hour or so in the afternoon.
- Keep curtains and windows closed during the day to block out the heat, then open them at night to let in cooler air.
Hot water
- Switch off your electric hot water unit if you’re going away for a week or more.
- Set the temperature of your hot water between 60°C and 65°C.
- Or, if you have small children, set your bathroom hot water temperature to 50°C – 55°C to decrease the risk of scalding.
- Installing a solar-boosted hot water unit can save you up to 90% of your hot water costs on a sunny day.
- Installing a AAA-rated water efficient shower rose can result in significant savings on both your energy and water bills.
- Fix that drip! A hot water tap dripping at the rate of 1 drip per second can waste up to $25 worth of hot water in a year.
- Make sure the pipes from your hot water service are insulated to prevent heat loss.
Read more Saving Guide
Relate: www.saveenergy.vic.gov.au
Total eclipse begins to shroud sun over Asia
CNN) — Darkness began to fall across parts of China and India on Wednesday morning at the start of a total solar eclipse that will be visible to parts of the world’s most populous countries.
Wednesday’s event will be the longest of the 21st century, with astronomers predicting it will last more than six minutes.
People in a band running through parts of the Pacific Ocean, China and India will be able to get the full view of the eclipse.
The Chinese city of Shanghai is being touted as one of the best spots to watch the eclipse, with tourists coming from across the globe to view the phenomenon, during which the sun’s corona — the sun’s outer atmosphere — becomes visible.
“ You can’t find words to adequately describe it,” Charles Fulco, a middle-school astronomy teacher from New York, told CNN. “ You become addicted. You need to see the next one. You count the days and years until you do. Nothing else compares to it.”
Read more http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/21/solar.eclipse/index.html Watch as eclipse-watchers head to China »
Singapore: garden city
One day, I was watching a TV program, it was about the garden. It is viewed that city and people can be understood via gardening. This made me realize the key role of gardening and landscaping in shaping a better living environment that is visually stimulating, physically nourishing and emotionally uplifting. These contribute to a Healthy, Happy & Enviable people.
History
The luxuriant greenery that Singapore enjoys today is no accident of nature. Neither did our Garden City happen overnight. It took some 40 years of strong political will and the sweat and toil of many to sustain the effort.
Singapore’s development into a Garden City started four decades ago with the establishment of the greening programme. The driving force behind this was the former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who identified a green Singapore as a key competitive factor in attracting foreign investments to the country. It was the then Prime Minister Lee who launched the Tree Planting Campaign in 1963. Some 40 years on, the Government is just as committed to the programme.
Source: Singapore Government. 2009. National Parks. Retrieved June 26, 2009 from http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=66
Stay Smart Online: secure your computer
Your computer is important for your day to day activities—surfing the web, checking emails, banking and maybe even shopping.
However if you don’t protect your computer properly, you are putting yourself and possibly your family and friends at risk. So make sure it is protected from harmful emails and viruses, and from unauthorised people accessing your internet connection and personal information.
By following the steps below you can:
- develop safe online habits and plan an effective approach to online security
- protect your computer from malicious software such as viruses or spyware
- prevent any unauthorised person from using your computer
- make sure no one can secretly use your internet connection, and
- recover important information if your computer is stolen.
Basic steps to secure your computer
- Step 1: Set and protect your passwords
- Step 2: Use and update anti-virus software
- Step 3: Use and update anti-spyware software
- Step 4: Install and use a firewall
- Step 5: Smart settings for your internet browser
- Step 6: Reduce unwanted emails—managing spam
- Step 7: Controlling your internet connection
More advanced security options
- Step 8: Back-up your online data
- Step 9: Smart sharing of files
- Step 10: Smart wireless internet connection
- Step 11: Smart online telephoning (VoIP)
Source: Stay Smart Online, http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/secure-computer
Innovation ACT – commericalisation & business planning
Wanting to be your own boss and getting a business off the ground, but not sure about its process (at least you may be involved in a business in some ways in some how in the future). Here we are! a great opportunity not to be missed.
Currently, there are seminars, conducted by ANU, cover all aspects of commericalisation and business planning. Seminars will be provided on the following topics:
- Introduction to Innovation
– Intellectual Property
– Product Definition
– Market Sizing and Validation
– Taxation and Company Structures
– Financials and Resources
– Environmental and Social Sustainability
– Business plan writing and presentation
Links for details http://www.anu.edu.au/InnovationACT/index.html
Cannot join, no worry! you can learn via materials in Seminar section of the above website.
Free Online Classes
The world of education is changing, big time. Information technology has revolutionized how we find and share information. Only 10 years ago we had to consult libraries and academics for answers to questions that are now directed to Google.
While the business world is forced to change, education is lagging behind. Perhaps it’s hoping to maintain a position of authority. Maybe it’s afraid of change. Regardless, it’s become clear the future of education is open.
Information wants to be free, and these progressive institutions have taken the first step by making their class free for anyone to use online:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- New York University
- Vanderbilt University
- Stanford University
- Yale University
- University of Notre Dame
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Tufts University
- University of Washington
- University of California at Berkeley
- Johns Hopkins University
- Berklee College of Music
- Gresham College
- Open University
- Utah Valley State College
- Utah State University
For students interested in online schools, popular education options include business schools, medical billing, medical assistant training, criminal justice, and health care.
Source: http://aceonlineschools.com/free-online-classes/
How Do You Find & Pursue Your Passion?
Instead of thinking about the passion, expalins Komisar, free yourself to think of a portfolio of passions. Marry this portfolio with the opportunities in front of you, he says. Think of it as a quest towards which you are moving in the right direction, he adds.
By Randy Komisar
See this link for video http://academicearth.org/lectures/how-do-you-find-your-passion-and-pursue-it
Related:
Dunn and Komisar give advice to graduating students from Stanford University to never stop learning as well as spend a considerable amount of time to figure out the things one is truly passionate about.
See this link for video http://academicearth.org/lectures/career-advice-dunn-komisar
The Right Brain vs Left Brain test
do you want to know that your brain tends to be right or left?
if so, take this test by selecting the answer which best describes you at this present time. Sample questions as the following; the rest see this link
http://www.intelliscript.net/test_area/questionnaire/questionnaire.cgi?q=right_brain_left_brain_2
1. I wear a watch Yes No
2. I keep a journal Yes No
3. I believe there is a right and wrong way to do everything Yes No អានបន្ត …
