Reality check: we are always meant to face price hikes from food and fuel costs to the monthly electricity bill. The cost of basic needs perennially increases over time due to inflation and the volatile supply and demand chain.
In fact, in January this year, the Philippines' annual inflation reached a 14-year high. Unfortunately, fixed incomes won't be enough to cover the rising cost of living so smart and simple tips to save on monthly expenses, including food and energy consumption are much needed. In the Philippines, the monthly electricity bill is infamously high whether in offices or households. Being a tropical country, the heat is something to beat. Most of the electricity consumption goes to the air conditioner or refrigerator use. Prioritizing minimum energy usage is a must in every household. The goal is to reduce energy consumption in order to save money and not break the bank. Here are energy efficient means to keep the Meralco electric bill from taking up the majority of your utility bills. Tips and Hacks to Save Energy Consumption at Home 1. Fix insulation and airflow The best way to consume electricity less is to ensure cold air readily flows in your home. Proper air flow would mean using your air conditioners at a minimum even during warm weather, so make sure to improve the insulation within your home. The material of your ceiling matters as well as the height of your ceiling. The goal is to reduce your home's heat retention to make your household use the air conditioning unit less. 2. Take advantage of natural light Saving electricity comes easy when you maximize the direct sunlight that streams in your home. Natural sunlight doesn't just brighten one's mood, it also lightens up any room efficiently. Open up your curtains or blinds during the daytime when working on tasks so you won't have to turn on the lights. This will surely tame those electric bills. 3. Use LED lights One surefire way to ensure your home's energy efficiency is by opting for LED lights over incandescent bulbs. LED lights last longer than incandescent bulbs. They also produce less heat and are proven to reduce energy usage by up to 50 percent. 4. Use a smart power strip If you have multiple appliances in one area of your home, plug them all into one power strip to save electricity. This device can detect when gadgets or appliances are not in use and ensure these electronics aren't taking up more energy when in standby mode. You can also easily turn off all devices in one go when leaving home. 5. Use energy efficient appliances Manufacturers of home appliances are now more aware of consumers' need to save energy and save money. For instance, inverter equipped appliances can efficiently control its own electricity consumption. Your home's air conditioning unit, washing machine, and refrigerators can help you save energy through inverter technology. Inverter appliances also make the appliances more durable because it works their motors less. Pro-tip: check the energy rating of an appliance before purchase. This would be a good indicator of their energy saving ability. 6. Use the timer to turn off the air conditioning unit Setting the timer of air conditioning units for a two-hour use will assure you of a higher electricity bill next month. All you have to do is to learn how it works and consistently make use of it. Using the timer of your television or even your electric fan to ensure it is not consuming energy all night can do well to reduce your energy bill. 7.Constantly check for air gaps in your home If you rely on your air conditioner 24/7 to beat the warm air, checking for air gaps in all areas of your home is crucial. Make sure cool air from your air conditioner or electric fans is utilized well by sealing off places where the cool can escape. This will ensure more energy is saved. 8. Save energy when you cook Among the best energy saving tips is to consume less electricity at home by using an induction cooker. An induction assures heat is directly transferred directly to your kitchenware without any waste. This saves money on gas bills and is also safer to use since you avoid using fire. If you find it a hassle to use cookware made for induction tops, you may use copper-bottom and cast-iron pots and pans to heat up and retain warmth more efficiently than stainless steel ones. A wise way to defrost frozen food is to take it out of the fridge ahead of time as opposed to utilizing the microwave's defrosting option. 9. Charge gadgets smartly To ensure less energy use, make sure to charge your phones, laptops, tablets, and other gadgets only when their batteries are at 10 to 20%. This will lessen the constant plugging of chargers especially when gadgets still have sufficient energy. A charging device, when plugged in, still consumes energy that adds up and impacts your monthly bills. 10. Regularly monitor your electric meter Be mindful of how much energy you consume monthly. This will give a good gauge of when your household is consuming more energy than it should. Of course, this would mean learning to read an electric meter. Although this will take effort, it will certainly benefit you in the long run. Recording your monthly bill and getting updated about the current power rates are all part of keeping track of staying on top of your electricity bill. Ways to save electricity at home does not only boil down to using air conditioners or electric fans less. Sometimes, the simplest hacks such as maximizing your home's natural lighting or using the right light bulbs will keep your Meralco bills from hurting your wallet.
1 Comment
2/14/2024 05:48:50 pm
This is a great article with some actionable tips on how to reduce your electricity bill in the Philippines. I especially appreciate the emphasis on using air conditioners and refrigerators less, as these are two of the biggest energy consumers in most homes. The tips on improving insulation, using natural light, and using LED lights are also very helpful.
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