Week 1. What is the best method for reducing your personal computer's energy use if you are leaving the computer for a while?
a. Put the computer in sleep mode
b. Activate the screen saver
c. Close all open programs
d. Give your mouse some time off

Answer:  A. Put the computer in sleep mode.  There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce energy use by monitors; they do not. Instead, change your settings so that your computer automatically switches to sleep mode, or manually turn your monitor off to save more energy.

WINNER: DANY ALFRED

Week 2. How much energy does a CFL bulb use in comparison to a standard bulb?
a. One-tenth
b. One-third
c. Two-thirds
d. The same

Answer:  B. One-third. New CFLs use 1/3 the energy and last as much as 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Only 10 percent of the electricity used by an incandescent bulb is used for light, and the other 90% escapes as heat. CFLs create the same amount of light, but generate a lot less heat – about 70 percent less.

WINNER: DANICA JANKIE

Week 3. Which type of light is the most energy efficient?
a. Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)
b. Incandescet Bulbs
c. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Answer: C. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). LEDs use less power (watts) per unit of light generated (lumens). The LED equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent bulb wouls be rated at 6 to 8 watts. The CFL equivalet would be about 13 to 15 watts.  LEDS last longer too.  The average life span is abour 50,000 hours compared to 8,000 for CFLs and 1,200 hours for incandescent bulbs.  LEDs help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and lower electric bills.

WINNER: CHRISTOPHER ST. PRIX

Week 4. How long does it take for a 60-watt light bulb to consume 60 watts-hours of energy?
a. 1 minute
b. 1 hour
c. 24 hours

Answer: B.  1 hour.  It takes a light bulb one hour to consumes the equivalent number of watt-hours as its rating.  So a 15-watt energy efficient CFL lamp would consume 15 watt-hours of energy in one hour.  And it would give out as much light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb while consuming one-third to one quarter less energy.

WINNER: DAWNE BARNARD of Anse Ferre in Castries.

Week 5. What is an easy way to check if the rubber seals on your refrigerator are working properly?

a. See if your electricity bill has gone up.
b. Place a thin sheet of paper between the door rubber and the body of the fridge and see if the paper stays in position.
c. Check if any light from inside the fridge is escaping between the door rubber and the body of the fridge.

Answer: B. Place a thin sheet of paper between the door rubber and the body of the fridge and see if the paper stays in position. If the paper stays up, the rubber seals are fine. If the paper slides down, then it is time to replace the seals.

WINNER: DELLA POLIUS-MYERS of Monchy, Gros Islet

Week 6. Which of these electrical appliance configurations is the most energy efficient?

a. Using only appliances rated at 240 volts, 60Hz.
b. Using a large transformer to power all your 110 volts appliances.
c. Using separate small transformers to power individual small appliances.

Answer: A. Using only appliances rated at 240 volts, 60Hz. Using transformers in any type of confirguration is less energy efficient than using appliances rated for St. Lucia's electricity standard. Transformers consume additional energy even if the appliance is in stand by mode or off. All transformers should be powered off at the switch when not in use to conserve energy.

WINNER: GRACE ALEXANDER of Cacoa, Babonneau.