Recently, we in Malaysia have been hit with a hike in the electricity rates. It doesn’t quite affect all consumers and on a personal note, I’m not really affected by it because my electricity consumption comes within the unaffected rate. However, this is something not quite unexpected with the dwindling reserves of fossil fuel and rising oil prices, and I’d really like to keep my electricity consumption low. Lower electricity costs = more savings = more $ for shopping! 😉 So economics and complaining aside, here are 5 energy-saving things I practice that you might already also practice. Or it might help you save some electricity (and money for shopping!) too 🙂
1. Remove plugs of unused electrical items from the socket
My Mom taught me this one after she came across an article that said that electricity is still being consumed by appliances that remain plugged into the socket, even though you aren’t using it and its switched off. It was described as a “vampire appliance”. The kitchen might be your first place to look. Is your toaster or oven or microwave plugged in all the time? How often do you use them? Removing the plug after use might help you save quite a bit. It helped us – we were testing with various equipment in the house and the one that helped the electricity bill drop the most was the electric oven.
2. Switch off unneeded lights in the home
I have practiced this one for a long time. If you leave a room or area in the house and don’t intend to return within 10 minutes, switch off the lights. This includes the kitchen, bathroom, living room, storeroom etc. My kitchen is near my living room, so if I need something from the kitchen, I don’t switch on the lights unless I am looking for something specific. The ambient light from the living room is usually sufficient for me to see what I want – usually a glass of water or a fruit from the fridge… which has its own light anyway. In the day, where possible, I use natural light.
3. Don’t leave appliances on standby. Switch them off and Unplug them
Hands up how many of you leave your computers, laptops and TVs plugged in and on standby mode when not in use? Don’t. Standby mode draws on electricity too. See point 1 above. If you aren’t going to be using them, switch them off and then unplug it. It might take a little longer for your computer to boot up, but really, unless its a life and death matter, why the rush? 😛 In my household, most switches are kept off for most electrical appliances (and unplugged). Doesn’t take 2 seconds to switch it on whenever I want to use it.
4. Use Energy Saving Bulbs
An oldie but a goodie. Where possible, use energy saving bulbs in your lights. These days, even fluorescent tubes come in an eco-friendly energy saving option and because so many people are buying them, energy saving bulbs are also now more affordable than they were before. Even if they are more expensive than regular lightbulbs, they have a longer lifespan and can ultimately help you save money.
5. Use the air-conditioner only when needed
The air-conditioner is probably my biggest vice. With the hot weather here, its probably no wonder this is so. However you can save some electricity even if you use the air-conditioner by not keeping the temperature too low and only switching it on when needed. It takes more energy to cool a room to 18°C than to 25°C which in a smallish room, is quite a comfortable temperature to be at. I’ve read that the ideal temperature for a good night’s sleep is between 24-25°C which isn’t too hot nor too cold. I only use my air-conditioner in my bedroom when I sleep and on a low fan setting at 25°C. Its comfortable enough for me. In my living room, I use the ceiling fan which consumes less electricity unless I have guests over when the air-conditioner may be put to work. Where I live, the night breezes are very cool so I sometimes don’t even need the fan 🙂
Do you practice any of the same tips I do? Or perhaps you have a tip to share? Please do! I’m sure all of you have a tip or two to save electricity. The more electricity we save, the more money we save too! 😀 Oh and its also better for the environment 😉
Paris B
being in the lighting industry…tho it is good to turn off ur lights if ur not returning to the area within 10 mins…its to be noted that ur lights tend to ‘die’ faster if u keep turning them on and off…and also that when u turn them on..the power required to start the lamps tends to be higher.. so it might be good to avoid turning on the lights if ur just making a quick trip into the room again…
Thanks for the tip Andrea! I didn’t think about it that way.
I didn’t know about no 1. The reason is that we have switches for the plugs. So I usually just turn the switch off.
Yup so did I but apparently its not enough.
I use energy saving lights, its more expensive but it helps save electricity and the environment at the same time!
I also buy “extensions” with switch on each “socket”? not sure if that’s the right term but when I do hair and makeup, I bring that along with me so I can switch ON only the “end” that I need! I think it helps ? 😀
I use energy saving lights where possible too and its usually a one time cost because those bulbs can and do last a long long time! Good call on the extension cords too.
switched to an inverter refrigerator awhile back. boy! did that purchase help my household electricity bill!
I’ll be doing that if/when I move house! And Inverter air cond’s too 😀
I always make sure that lights are switched off before I leave a room, that’s a strict rule at home.Dad is also particular about using energy saving bulbs…but wasn’t aware that plugged in appliances consume electricity even when switched off!!! That’s a shocker!…Nice post Paris, thanks for reminding us to be more responsible. Small efforts like these go a long way!:))
Thanks Violet 🙂 I also didn’t realize that about the plugs because I always thought that once its off, that’s it but apparently, it does make a difference if you unplug and when you don’t.
We also have switches for the plugs in our home. Helps keep the sockets from becoming loose with constant unplugging and re-plugging.
I plug and unplug appliances that I don’t use very much like kitchen appliances but other equipment are kept plugged in (and switched off) when not in use because some plugs are just too hard to get to (behind the couch etc 😛 )
oops…i am guilty of having the appliances plugged in all the time. and and…also the air con. it’s really hot these days, but i usually have timer on. enough to keep me cool before i sleep off
And you just got a new HUGE tv! 😛 As for air-cond, I have to agree with you. I can’t sleep without the aircond but I keep it at a high-ish temperature – enough that I don’t melt but not so cold I have to wear a winter coat LOL!
thanks for these great tips PB!
Hope it helps Issa 🙂 Electricity prices are a worldwide problem now
We have just had solar panels installed at home so are keeping track of the amount of power used versus generated…it’s scary how much we use! I do most of these things but I think I need to cut down on the overlight lights that are on…
Get reading lamps 🙂 I can’t install solar panels as I live in an apartment so I just have to do what I can 🙂 Great to know the sun is helping you though!
Install lights with dimmers – allows for lower lights and a bigger range of brightness, so it’ll be more flexible usage. Maximise lighting by installing mirrors, painting walls a lighter colour, and reducing clutter on wall space. Ornaments, bookshelves, tapestries all serve to diffuse light and one will need more lighting to light up a room that way.
Install the air-con far away from windows, and if you cool air mostly, only install it on the ceiling. Cold hair sinks so this makes sense. If it’s near the window, cold air is of a higher pressure so it will constantly shift towards freshly warmed air from sunlight shining in or from heat entering from window gaps. Pull the blinds when air-conditioning, or get double glazed glass (better insulating).
Be mobile – take the laptop with you into the kitchen if one light is enough for your uses there.
A ceiling fan consumes more electricity than a standing floor fan. The largest consumer of electricity in a household is generally the water heater, refrigerator, oven, washing machine, air-conditioner/radiator/space heater and lights. The best way to conserve usage is by living in a space well-designed to insulate heat and save lights. Alternatively, use less hot water, use a freezer instead of a refrigerator (buy fresh!), wash below 40 deg C etc.
Thanks for all those tips Jasmine! Its very useful 😀
Hmmm since the electricity tarrif’s has increased like so many times, even with the same amount electricity you used you still have to pay more. Since then my dad got this device called the E2Saver which guarantees over 3 months at least a 20% savings in your bills. It really did work after the second month and they have ways to help you save your bills depending on usage and amount you are paying. We used to pay for RM350 and bills was increased up to RM480 with the same usage. My dad got 1 of the E2Saver and we ended up paying around RM350-370 which is a big save! Of coz you can use more than one and save more 🙂
Oh I saw some of these gadgets a couple of weekends ago at a DIY store. It cost something like RM350 but my parents and I thought it sounded like a scam 😛 For me, my electricity bill has never really risen drastically despite the rates hikes thus far. It could be because I have consciously cut back on using electricity for everything, e.g. I use a gas cooker, not induction cooker and I don’t consciously keep electrical appliances on or used often 😉 But its interesting to know that that energy saver gadget works 🙂