How Do I… Save Electricity at Home?
Electricity tariffs are up again so how can we keep our power bills down?
The price of electricity has increased for the third consecutive quarter since October 2017. According to utility provider SP Group, this latest hike means consumers will be paying up to 6.9 per cent more or $1.50 for every kilowatt hour (kwh). For the average household living in a four-room HDB flat, that will be an additional $5.61 per month and for a household living in a terrace house, $13.78 more.
Basic tips on electricity use
1. Lights out
Switch to LED and compact fluorescent bulbs.
2. Use task lighting
Instead of using overhead lights when at your desk, just switch a desk lamp or other task lighting.
1. Lights out
Switch to LED and compact fluorescent bulbs.
2. Use task lighting
Instead of using overhead lights when at your desk, just switch a desk lamp or other task lighting.
3. Take shorter showers
If you use an electric water heater, taking shorter showers will reduce your power bill.
If you use an electric water heater, taking shorter showers will reduce your power bill.
4. Unused? Unplug
Did you know that appliances and equipment on standby power can contribute up to 10 per cent of an average household’s electricity use? Unplug your electronics that aren’t being used. Having them plugged into a power board means just one flick of a switch to turn off multiple things.
Did you know that appliances and equipment on standby power can contribute up to 10 per cent of an average household’s electricity use? Unplug your electronics that aren’t being used. Having them plugged into a power board means just one flick of a switch to turn off multiple things.
5. Ditch the desktop computer
Desktop computers use more energy than laptops so invest in new hardware that’s more energy efficient.
6. Get rid of old TVs too
Plasma TVs use up to twice as much electricity as LED and OLED TVs. Adjusting the brightness of your TV according to the room’s light levels will reduce energy consumption.
Desktop computers use more energy than laptops so invest in new hardware that’s more energy efficient.
6. Get rid of old TVs too
Plasma TVs use up to twice as much electricity as LED and OLED TVs. Adjusting the brightness of your TV according to the room’s light levels will reduce energy consumption.
7. Be laundry smart
Use the cold water function whenever possible. Newer washing machines don’t have a ‘half load’ button now because they employ fuzzy logic to detect the load weight and adjust the cycle duration and water use accordingly. Some models even monitor how clean the rinse water runoff to control water use.
Minimise the use of the dryer, if you own one, and just dry laundry the good old fashioned way.
8. Don’t make your refrigerator too cold
The ‘ideal temperatures’ for your fridge and freezer to make them more energy efficient are between 2°C and 3°C for the refrigerator and about -18°C for the freezer.
Use the cold water function whenever possible. Newer washing machines don’t have a ‘half load’ button now because they employ fuzzy logic to detect the load weight and adjust the cycle duration and water use accordingly. Some models even monitor how clean the rinse water runoff to control water use.
Minimise the use of the dryer, if you own one, and just dry laundry the good old fashioned way.
8. Don’t make your refrigerator too cold
The ‘ideal temperatures’ for your fridge and freezer to make them more energy efficient are between 2°C and 3°C for the refrigerator and about -18°C for the freezer.
9. Be dishwasher savvy
Avoid using the hot-dry or heat-dry setting and wait for a full load before turning on the dishwasher. Use it on a eco cycle if available on your model.
TELL US
Do you have energy tips to share? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
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How Well Do You Know Your Electrical System?
Avoid using the hot-dry or heat-dry setting and wait for a full load before turning on the dishwasher. Use it on a eco cycle if available on your model.
TELL US
Do you have energy tips to share? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
MORE
How Well Do You Know Your Electrical System?
“The smallest of habitual changes can go very far towards saving energy in households,” explains Chua Leng Leng of Bosch Home Appliances. “It can be as simple as being mindful enough to power down and unplug appliances.”