My electric bill has shot up from P6,000 in March to P8,606 in April. Blame the increasing heat/global warming that makes the summer unbearable without the air-conditioner running 24 hrs a day.
I’m not happy forking out a good chunk of my salary to Meralco, and we’ve taken measures to reduce our consumption such as using compact flourescent versus incandecent bulbs, etc. But I feel like I need to do more. I’d been hopping around the internet, looking for other tips to conserve electricity without getting my kids sick and suffocating in heat and humidity. Here’s a summary of what I have come acrossed with.
Unplug
Unplug seldom-used appliances, like an extra refrigerator in the basement or garage that contains just a few items.
Unplug chargers when you’re not charging. Every house is full of little plastic power supplies to charge cell phones, PDA’s, digital cameras, cordless tools and other personal gadgets. Keep them unplugged until you need them.
Use power strips to switch off televisions, home theater equipment, and stereos when you’re not using them. Even when you think these products are off, together, their “standby” consumption can be equivalent to that of a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously.
Set Computers to Sleep and Hibernate
Enable the “sleep mode” feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity. In Windows, the power management settings are found on your control panel. Mac users, look for energy saving settings under system preferences in the apple menu.
Configure your computer to “hibernate” automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The “hibernate mode” turns the computer off in a way that doesn’t require you to reload everything when you switch it back on. Allowing your computer to hibernate saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer from scratch.
Take Control of Lighting
Use sunlight wisely. During the heating season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. Close shades and blinds during the summer or when the air conditioner is in use or will be in use later in the day.
Use Less Wattage. Don’t use a high-wattage bulb when a smaller one will do.
Don’t Over-light. Instead of turning on all the lights in a room, only use the ones that are in the area where you’ll be.
Turn Lights Off When You Leave The Room.
Place Lamps In Corners. The light will reflect off two wall surfaces instead of one.
Keep Those Fixtures Clean. Dirty bulbs don’t give as much light.
Switch To Fluorescents. Change your incandescent light bulbs to Fluorescents. Fluorescent bulbs are available to fit most fixtures, and they provide more light while using less energy.
Paint Walls Light Colors. Light-colored walls give rooms a brighter appearance.
Work by daylight if possible.
Use Appliances Efficiently
Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the power-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly. You can check this by making sure that a dollar bill closed in between the door gaskets is difficult to pull out. If it slides easily between the gaskets, replace them. Keep The Refrigerator Full But Don’t Overfill. Air needs room to circulate around food. If you have an extra refrigerator that you’re not using, unplug it. Also, a full freezer is a more efficient freezer.
In your clothes washer, set the appropriate water level for the size of the load; wash in cold water when practical, and always rinse in cold.
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