HOME ECONOMIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 10

HOME ECONOMIES

IMPORTANT IN AGGREGATE

The General Manager of the City Electricity Department, Mr. M. Cable, has pointed out that economies, in themselves small but in the aggregate considerable, can be effected by householders with a little thought and care.

In recent years, said Mr. Cable, economies had not been asked for nor desired of Wellington householders, but the Electricity Department, in common with other supply authorities, was now asked to ask all consumers to economise. That could be done by switching off/lights in rooms not in use and also hall, porch, and garden lights, which though convenient were not so necessary that they could not be done without.

Radiators and hot ' water systems built up a very heavy demand and should be used more sparingly. Radiators should certainly not be left on in rooms and offices not in use.

Each unit of electricity—looo watts (a standard radiator) for an hour—unnecessarily used meant that either 1_ pounds of coal'or one pound of oil fuel was consumed at the Evans Bay power station, or a corresponding draw had to be made upon water storage of the hydro-electric system, said Mr. Cable. If each consumer would save only a couple of units a week the total would be substantial.