As Malta braces for a heatwave, with highs of 40°C+ over the next few days, psychologist Nicholas Briffa has shared the following simple but effective energy-saving tips.

1 Set your air conditioner to 26°C or 27°C and use a fan to circulate the cool air. The added airflow will help you feel comfortable without having to lower the AC to 20°C or 21°C.

2. At night, keep the fan on and switch the AC to Sleep Mode or Dry/Dehumidify Mode to increase comfort. However, Dry Mode shouldn’t be seen as a substitute for cooling when the room is still very hot.

3. Only cool the rooms you are using, close your doors and don’t leave ACs running in empty rooms.

4. Use timers and set your ACs to automatically turn off once the room has cooled down enough.

5. Keep your doors and windows closed when the AC is on.

6. Close your shutters, blinds and curtains in the hottest hours to reduce the load on the AC.

7. Open your windows early in the morning or late at night, when the air outside is cooler than the air inside. Close them again when outdoor temperatures start rising.

8. Regularly clean your AC filters, as dirty AC filters reduce air circulation, render the AC less efficient and increase electricity consumption.

9. Avoid using multiple appliances that consume a lot of electricity at the same time. Where possible, use the washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer, electrical ovens, geysers and electric car chargers during off-peak hours.

10. Don’t keep your geyser on all day, and only heat up the amount of water that your family actually needs.

11. Avoid using a tumble dryer when the sun can dry your clothes naturally.

12. Switch off lights, TVs, computers and other appliances that aren’t being used, as electrical appliances also emit heat.

13. Keep your fridge and freezer closed as much as possible, particularly during power cuts, avoid setting them colder than necessary, and check that the door seals are closing properly.

14. If you have a pool, use a timer for the filtration pump, and avoid using it during peak hours when possible.

15. Leave a small plate of water outside in the shade for birds, stray cats, lizards, geckos and hedgehogs.

Dr Briffa stressed that energy saving should never come at the cost of endangering your health, adding that babies, elderly people, pregnant women, people with disabilities and people with medical conditions might require cool air more than others.

However, he appealed for these actions to be viewed as acts of collective social responsibility.

“Social responsibility doesn’t mean asking families to suffer in the heat – it means avoiding waste,” he said.

“While a small change from a single household can seem insignificant, it can make a difference if thousands of households make these changes together.”

“In these hot days, let’s not only think about our own comfort but about others too.”