Unplug all appliances when not in use.
This is probably the most well-known energy saving tip that your parents, even your teachers, have been telling you ever since you were a kid. Switching off your electrical appliances doesn’t always mean that they’re not drawing power due to what we call standby power or vampire power. To make sure, just keep your appliances unplugged when not in use. The same applies to laptops and desktop computers. If you’re not going to use them for hours, just shut it down instead of putting it to sleep to conserve battery. It might be cumbersome for some but it should benefit you in the long run.
Use natural light and energy efficient light bulbs.
Open those curtains. One way to save on electricity is to not use light bulbs during the day. If the sun is up just draw those curtains to let more natural light in. You might need to move some furniture like your desk and work areas near the window if you want better illumination.
For light bulbs, you might want to replace incandescent bulbs with more efficient light bulbs like Compact Fluorescents (CFLs), or better yet, with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). LEDs are more expensive though but they consume less power and lasts longer. In addition, try to place your bulbs in locations where it can illuminate multiple spaces at the same time. You can also be more efficient by using smaller bulbs in smaller rooms. Lastly, like what is advised in number one, turn off the lights when not in use and clean them every now and then.
Use energy efficient air-conditioners/refrigerators.
Air-conditioning units consumes a lot of power that often it makes us think twice of using it more frequently. But if an AC is a must then you might want to consider getting Inverter-equipped models. For comparison, non-Inverter ACs use a fixed speed and fixed amount of power, meaning it starts and stops every time it needs to maintain the desired room temperature. Think of it as a car that can only run on 0 and 60 Kph speeds which is not really efficient.
Inverter AC systems, on the other hand, take advantage of varying compressor speeds to do its job. If the room needs a lot of cooling it will operate at a high-speed to quickly lower the temperature. When the ideal temperature is achieved it will then operate at a lower speed to save power. On the downside, Inverter ACs are more expensive compared to non-Inverter types. But if you have the budget and want to save money on your electricity bill in the long run, then go for Inverter ACs.
Improve ventilation.
Aside from utilizing natural light, you can save electricity by improving your house’s ventilation by opening your windows and curtains and allow air to flow freely. This will in turn keep your house cool during the summer. Exhaust fans can also be utilized, although it also consumes electricity, the consumption is lesser compared to an air-conditioner.
Clean and maintain your appliances.
Cooling appliances like the air-conditioners, electric fans, and refrigerators need to be regularly cleaned and kept in good condition if you don’t want them to consume more power than normal. ACs and fans need to be cleaned more often as they accumulate dust which in turn hinders their efficiency to keep things cool. If you’re a desktop PC user, the same concept applies. Refrigerators, on the other hand, need to be defrosted regularly as too much frost affects their efficiency. Also check if the refrigerator’s door gasket is still in good working condition to make sure that no air is leaking out.
