How Do I... Choose Energy Efficient Electrical Appliances?
With the higher cost of electricity in Singapore, it makes sense to invest in efficient appliances
Did you know that air-conditioners, water heaters and refrigerators account for about 75 per cent of the total electricity consumption in a household? The biggest guzzler is the air-conditioner (36 per cent of electricity consumption), followed by water heaters (21 per cent) and then fridges (18 per cent). You can help bring down your electricity usage by choosing energy efficient electrical appliances.
Choose the right appliances
“While some of them may carry a slightly higher price tag, the investment is worth it, as you can recover the cost from the savings in your electricity bill over time,” explains Chua Leng Leng at Bosch Home Appliances.
“For instance, a 4-tick refrigerator can save you about $90 a year in utility costs compared to a 1-tick model.”
“While some of them may carry a slightly higher price tag, the investment is worth it, as you can recover the cost from the savings in your electricity bill over time,” explains Chua Leng Leng at Bosch Home Appliances.
“For instance, a 4-tick refrigerator can save you about $90 a year in utility costs compared to a 1-tick model.”
According to Chua, a ‘4-tick’ or ‘1-tick’ is an international scale that customers can use to identify if an electrical appliance is energy efficient. The more ticks, the more efficient the appliance. The tick system is a little different for each kind of appliance – refrigerators go up to 4; lamps only up to 3 ticks – but the basic premise is the same.
“When shopping for appliances, do compare the ratings to get a better sense of how a particular model fares in energy efficiency compared to other similar devices,” says Chua.
“When shopping for appliances, do compare the ratings to get a better sense of how a particular model fares in energy efficiency compared to other similar devices,” says Chua.
Use your appliances the right way
Once you’ve selected the appliance, you need to use it the right way, says Chua.
Once you’ve selected the appliance, you need to use it the right way, says Chua.
“One of the main culprits for high energy consumption is the washing machine. Instead of running small loads of laundry every other day, save them up to run larger, fuller loads. Contrary to popular belief, most washing machines use the same amount of electricity and water to run partial or full loads,” she explains.
Stick to cold water washes unless the garments have to be washed in warm/hot water.
Stick to cold water washes unless the garments have to be washed in warm/hot water.
“The amount of laundry detergent can also make or break your utility bills, so only use the recommended amount. Overdosing on detergent will incur unnecessary rinse cycles, which means using more electricity and water to rinse your clothes.”
Chua recommends reducing the duration of your air-con use by opening doors and windows for ventilation.
“For homeowners with open-concept kitchens, investing in a ventilation hood can reduce the reliance on air-conditioning and ensure optimal air quality at home by getting rid of airborne grease, smoke, odours and heat,” she explains.
Choose the right cooker hood
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Choose the right cooker hood
TELL US
Do you have tips to share with other Houzzers? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.