Cemig undertakes various actions aimed at raising awareness of energy use with the objective of fighting against wastage and spreading information about energy efficiency. Take a look at some of the information that can help with the rational use of energy.
Energy tips
Avoiding electric energy wastage doesn’t mean giving up comfort. It’s possible to take advantage of all the benefits that energy offers, in the right amount, without wasting it.
When consumers utilize energy rationally, they preserve natural resources. Simple attitudes can result, for example, in a drastic reduction in energy bills.
The energy consumed by home appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners is measured, every year, by a government research center. The champions of energy savings, in their respective categories, win the Procel Energy Savings Seal. When making a purchase, give preference to these products.
Peak Hours
A lack of energy can affect your comfort and your safety. That’s why it’s necessary to take care with a few things.
Between 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. (peak hours), Cemig’s transmission lines and distribution networks are even more overloaded. This happens because, during this time, lights and devices such as televisions, showerheads, electric irons, microwave ovens, washing machines and air conditioners are turned on at the same time.
During peak hours, try not to turn on devices that use a lot of energy, such as shower heads. If you need to use many different devices, turn them on (one at a time) for less time.
General safety tips
Using electric energy safely without wasting it may improve your quality of life, preserve the environment and reduce your energy bill. Take a look at these tips:
• When making electrical repairs in your home, turn off the circuit breakers or master breaker.
• Don’t plug many different devices into the same socket, using outlet multipliers. This can cause wires to overheat, wasting energy and causing short-circuits.
• Never touch the inside of a television or monitor, even if it’s turned off.
• Never use devices with wet hands or with your feet in wet or damp places.
• Never insert knives, forks or any other metal object into electrical devices while they are turned on.
• If there are children in your home, never let them touch or play with electrical device while they are turned on or touch wires and outlets.
• When changing a light bulb, don’t touch the metal part.
• Badly insulated wires in your home’s wiring can start fires, in addition to wasting electricity.
• When a fuse blows, try to identify the cause. After solving the problem, replace the fuse with one of equal capacity or reset the circuit breaker.
Current drain
Poor wire joints, uncovered ends of wires and worn insulation cause current drain, shocks and cause the energy bill to go up.
To prevent current drain, conduct a periodical revision of the electrical wiring in your home:
• Disconnect all appliances from outlets and turn off all the lights.
• Keep all the circuit breakers and fuses in the panel turned on.
• Check whether the meter disk is rotating. If it is, this is a sign that there is a current drain or a problem with the meter.
• In order to locate the problem, turn of the main circuit breaker. If the disk doesn’t stop turning, this means that the energy drain is coming from the electrical installation. Calla qualified electrician or contact Cemig.
Protection for the electrical system in your home
The fuses are what protect the electrical system in your home.
Quick-lag circuit breakers, which may replace fuses, also protect your electrical installation, with the added advantage that they don’t burn out or blow when they are overloaded or there is a short circuit, as they shut off automatically.
After solving the problem, you simply need to reset them.
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Savings in Industry
Savings at Home