Saving on energy costs
YOUR electricity bill may soon cramp your style but don't fret, it is easier than you think to reduce your energy costs.
The bonus point is that by saving energy, we can also help save the environment excessive use of energy is damaging much of our Mother Nature and depleting her natural sources.
As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tuin Razak said earlier this week, now is our chance to start doing our bit for the environment by reducing our energy consumption. Even if your current monthly electricity usage is low, there is no reason not to save energy.
There is no place like home to start cutting down on our energy consumption. What many may not realise is that there are many energy gobblers in the home, with the air-conditioner the biggest culprit, followed by the water heater and other appliances like the washing machine, tumble dryer and refrigerator.
We should start with them if we want to reduce power usage at home.
When the time comes, buy energy-efficient appliances and devices. There are now so many in the market that you will be spoilt for choice. Although they will initially cost a little more, the savings in electricity will cover that many times over.
Lighting
* It is perhaps the easiest to save electricity here. Simply replace all your light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFL) and you would save 70% from your daily energy usage.
* CFL may be more expensive than ordinary bulbs but they are worth the investment as they last over 10 times longer and use up to four times less energy.
* Turn off the lights every time you leave a room.
* During the day, use as much natural lighting as you can by drawing open the blinds or curtains.
* You can even install a skylight to get more light in!
* To save on electricity use for outside security lighting at night, install a motion sensor to automatically shut off the lights after a set period.
Ironing
* Iron only the clothes you really need to iron. Don't bother ironing underwear or handkerchiefs.
* Try to buy clothes made from “iron-free” or “wrinkle-free” materials.
* Hang your clothes quickly after washing; don't let them sit in the dryer.
* Do all of your ironing in one session.
* Switch off the iron if you need to go somewhere in the middle of your ironing.
Air conditioner
* Set the air-conditioner at the highest temperatures that you are comfortable with to preserve as much power as you can.
* Get a timer and set it to turn off about the time when you leave for the day and to turn back on when you get home.
* Ensure all doors and windows are closed when the AC is on.
* Do not block the air vent and condensor.
* Install shades, awning and drapes to keep your room and house cool.
* Better still, use ceiling fans instead of airconditioning to keep cool.
Fridge and Freezer
* Put your fridge somewhere away from direct sunlight, the cooker and oven.
* Vacuum clean the condenser coils at the back or underneath your fridge/ freezer regularly because accumulated dust reduces their efficiency by up to 25%, adding the cost to your electricity bill.
* Defrost your fridge and freezer regularly. An iced-up freezer will make the freezer work harder, therefore using more energy than needed.
* Don't put warm or hot food into the fridge. It will use more energy to cool the food down.
* Keep liquids covered when putting them in the fridge. Evaporation of uncovered liquids will make the fridge use more electricity.
* Defrost frozen food in the fridge; this helps to cool it.
Washer and dryer
* Only use the machine when there is a full load.
* Set the water temperature low before you start washing. The washing machine uses the biggest chunk of energy between 85% and 90% - just to heat up the water for the washes.
* Hang your clothes out to dry rather than use the tumble dryer when the weather is favourable.
Other electrical devices
* Do not leave your electrical devices on standby when not using them. This is actually a waste of energy. Appliances left on standby use up to 85% of the energy they would use if fully switched on.
* Always unplug and switch off the main power when not using your electrical devices.
Cooker and microwave
* When cooking, always use the correct size pan or pot so no extra energy is used to heat the excess.
* Cook many items at the same time when your electric cooker or oven is hot.
* To reheat food or to cook small portions, use a microwave. Although a microwave uses a lot of power, it does so over a very short time and so saves energy overall.
Sources: Fomca; The Renewable Energy website; Electricity Guide, UK; Greenpeace; and www.e2singapore.gov.sg/ energy-saving-tips.html
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/5/nation/8841834&sec=nation