Wednesday, May 11, 2011

How to Save on Electricity Bill


Don't use electricity. Use candle. Hahaha. Ok. Let's start with appliances:

Airconditioning

Install an aircon that is suited for the space that requires cooling. Talk to your local appliance technician to know the right specifications for you.
Always keep the filters clean, making this a twice a month habit is usually enough.
Set the thermostat to the right temperature setting, 27° Celsius works for me. Putting the thermostat at a colder setting will not cool your home any faster.
Don’t place potential sources of heat such as lamps, computers and televisions near the airconditioning unit. This will cause the airconditioner to run longer.
If your unit has a timer, set it to turn off automatically two to three hours before your wake up time. This will not only save you electricity but will help you to get up on time and not run late.
Whenever possible, turn the AC off and simply open the windows and use an electric fan to circulate the air in your room and reduce the heat.
Wear loose and comfortable clothes at home so you won’t feel the need to turn on the AC all the time.

Refrigerator

Use a refrigerator that is properly sized for your needs.
Frost free type refs consume more electricity than the conventional type, if you had a choice, use the latter one.
In line with using conventional ref types, remember to defrost when the ice becomes more than 1/4 inch thick.
Give your unit room to breathe, place it at least 4 inches away from the wall so as not to overwork the motor.
Refrain from placing hot or warm food inside.
Thaw frozen food in the fridge, this will help in the cooling, really.
Refrain from frequent opening of the door. Organize your ref and keep an inventory stuck on the door so you won’t waste so much time searching what’s inside

Lighting Fixtures

Turn off the lights when not in use. Make a conscious effort to check around the house, you’ll be surprised to discover that there are some lights that are running needlessly. Make it a rule at home to turn off all the lights when leaving a room.
Use natural light at daytime if possible.
Use CFL’s or compact fluorescent lamps. These uses 75% less energy than traditional bulbs, they last longer and they come with a warranty of at least one year in most local appliance stores. Yes, you can have it replaced if it dies within that period. They may cost more but it’s really worth it. Trust me on this one.
Use lower wattage lights for areas where illumination is not critical.
Using a dimmer helps reduce wattage and thus, helps you to save more electricity.
Clean bulbs regularly to optimize the light.
Place floor lamps and hanging lamps in corners. The reflection off the walls will give you more light.


TV
Electric Fan
Flat Iron
DVD
Computer


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