Did you know that you don’t have to make drastic changes to switch to a more optimized way of living? We’ll give you four small changes that will make a huge impact on the way you live, and will greatly reduce your monthly electric bill! Read more to find out.
Change your day-to-day habits and behaviors
Simple changes can effectively reduce energy consumption and optimize your home. Do you leave your lights on even when you leave the house? Do you keep electronics charged overnight? Do you always have appliances running even when not in use? Do you leave the air conditioner on even when no one’s in the room? If you’ve answered “Yes” to at least one of the questions, then it’s time to take a look at your day-to-day habits and see how you can change them.
Aside from turning off lights and appliances to conserve electricity, you can also see which household tasks you can perform manually. Maybe some clothes can be hand-washed, and you can also dry them outside instead of putting them in the dryer. If you have a dishwasher, maybe you can try washing dishes by hand.
These small adjustments will eventually lead to big savings. Heating (such as when using a clothes dryer) and cooling (such as when using an air conditioner) make up almost half of an average home’s electricity bills, so simple adjustments in the intensity and frequency of use will lead to the biggest savings.
Check for air leaks
Often called “weatherizing the home,” sealing air leaks is a simple, yet efficient way to reduce air conditioning expenses. The usual causes of air leaks are vents, windows, and doors. Check and make sure that there are no openings or cracks in between walls and vents. Fix broken windows and door frames. You may also check for air leaks in wall openings, on the floor, and the ceiling. Leaks in the walls and ceilings may be due to electrical wiring, plumbing, or ducting.
The natural flow of heat is to go from warmer to cooler areas. Therefore, warm air will always rise and go to cooler areas. If your house has two floors or more, make sure that the upper floors are sufficiently insulated.
Replace your light bulbs
The old incandescent light bulbs consume a huge amount of electricity, and therefore have to be replaced more often. There are energy-efficient alternatives, such as light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs), compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and halogen incandescent bulbs. These bulbs use as much as 25-80% less electricity. You will also save on replacement costs as they last anywhere from 3-25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Some people are reluctant to buy energy-efficient light bulbs because they are more expensive off the shelf. However, both the efficient energy use and longer lifetimes mean more savings in the long run.
Buy only energy-efficient appliances
Home appliances make up around 13% of a household’s monthly electric bill. When shopping for an appliance, pay attention to these two things: 1) The initial purchase price; and 2) The yearly operating cost. This is because energy-efficient appliances sometimes have higher initial prices, but the operating costs are usually 9-25% lower than other models. For example, if you look at the refrigerator prices in the Philippines, you may notice that the energy-efficient ones may seem to be priced higher than other models. However, these energy-efficient models will allow you to save more as the months go by. This also applies when you try to check the freezer prices in the Philippines.
Furthermore, if you have appliances that have been in your home for more than 10 years, it’s time to look for energy-efficient alternatives.
As an additional tip, you can also start using smart power strips. Appliances and electronics still consume electricity when they are plugged in, even while they are turned off. This becomes a source of energy waste known as “Phantom loads.” As much as 75% of the electricity consumed by appliances is due to them being switched off but plugged in 24/7. Therefore, using advanced power strips, or smart power strips, take care of these phantom loads by shutting off the power going to multiple electronics when they are plugged in but not in use. There are smart power strips that have timer functions, and can automatically switch off at an assigned time, or during long periods of inactivity. Therefore, you can sleep soundly knowing that your bill won’t go higher as the night progresses.
If you need to find the right refrigerator for your home, then you can go to this page to find more information. A lot of homeowners ask themselves various questions, just like whether or not to get a 2-door refrigerator, where to find the best refrigerators and freezers, and most of all, where to find top-of-the-line fridges that will not only suit their initial budget but will also provide maximum benefits and savings for the long term.
The answer is Condura. Our line of refrigerators is the best choice for your home because we always treat our customers like family. Our focus on the Filipino value of malasakit and our passion for excellence fuel us to develop products that cater to the unique needs of Filipinos. We know Filipinos best, and to us, the Filipino always comes first. We call our technological innovations “Filipinnovations,” because we are proud to showcase the products engineered by Filipinos, specifically for the Filipino consumer.
Ready to optimize your home? We’re here to help you.
