3 WAYS TO LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL

With the rising cost of living, it always pays to employ all ways to lower your monthly electric bill. Sometimes, you turn off lights when not needed, use smaller-screen televisions, or use the electric iron less often, and yet you still find your electric bill going up.

Below are some more reasons why your bill might be rising. It will be very prudent to keep a constant watch on these energy–drainers, because they may be the culprits bleeding you dry.

Put your computer to sleep when not in use. It is not really realistic to turn off your computer on to make a tweet, then to turn it off for a few minutes, then on again for a Facebook update. But keeping it on for long periods of non-use really takes a toll on your power bill. To save on consumption, if you have a desktop, turn off the monitor when the computer is not being used for more than 20 minutes. Newer, more sleek laptops and desktops are now equipped with a “sleep” button – literally putting your power on sleep, but keeping all programs ready for the next time you reactivate it. Some laptops may also be adjusted so that it automatically turns off (even without pushing any buttons) if you mindlessly leave it open and unused for long periods of time. Laptops also use considerably lower amounts of electricity as compared to the more traditional desktops.

Replace your old air-conditioner. If you think you’re saving money by hanging on to that aircon unit your mum handed down to you, then you are driven by false economy. Sure, it’s costly to buy a new one, but keeping your rickety 80’s-90’s era unit will end up eating at your household budget – in repairs, cleaning, and power consumption. And no matter how well maintained it is, it is still old and outdated, and very soon, it will die a natural death. So much for savings. Air-conditioning is one of the main reasons for power consumption, thus any unit older than 10 years consumes 30% more than its newer energy-efficient versions. When seeking a replacement, choose one with a high seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). Also, it would be good to buy a unit specifically apt for the area that needs to be cooled. If you buy a high horsepower unit, you waste so much more electricity, plus people in that area will feel so unusually cold, you’ll be forced to put it on fan, and therefore wasting even more electricity.

Keep your refrigerator well-maintained. A good working ref does not have to be on high all the time to keep all its contents cold. The recommended temperature range should be between 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you notice that it takes a much higher temp to keep your food fresh, then check if the gaskets (those rubber things in between the fridge door and the fridge body) are closing properly. If not, have them replaced. Also, it’s no longer wise to use a refrigerator  that needs to be defrosted. If you have one, though, make sure you defrost them at least 3 times a month. Those thick chunks of ice hinder the effectiveness of the ref’s functions, thus necessitating you to put the temp on high.