Have you heard of the weather forecast for tomorrow? On March 4, Sunday, Singapore is going to experience its highest temperature ever recorded this year at 32 degrees Celsius noon time. After the longest recorded cold spell just on the third week of January, we say “Hi!” to summer once more.
For most of us, that would mean more perspiration when we’re outside an air-conditioned establishment, higher cravings for cold beverages, and heightened desire to go to the beach.
Since summer heat is not really a good friend to all of us, our dependence on air conditioners is so obvious that the usage of this cooling appliance accounts for 40% of Singaporean households’ electrical bills. You might ask, is there a way to reduce your electric bills especially when summer starts? Our answer, “There is!” In fact, in this article, we’re sharing with you seven tips on how to decrease those figures. Here they are.
Observe and Track your Usage
You must start with something. The best way to start your journey in reducing electrical consumption is by keeping a record of your usage based on your bill. This way, you can see the effectiveness of the strategies you use in saving electricity.
Set House Rules and a Reward System for Kids
If you have children at home, you can’t expect them to understand all these environmental or money issues. But they will lend an ear if you set house rules about turning the TV off or unplugging devices and telling them that they will receive a reward if they follow these rules.
Invest on Energy-Efficient Appliances
As mentioned earlier, air conditioners account for almost half of home electricity bill. Therefore, it is advisable to use energy-efficient air conditioners that are highly recommended by the National Environment Agency in order to help the government in its battle against excessive electrical usage nationwide. You can seek advice from aircon installation Singapore contractors as to the brand and make of air conditioners that are energy efficient. You can also hire them to install the unit for you.
Turn Off Appliances when Not in Use
Why do we have the habit of not unplugging devices after charging? It seems like this is one of the negative effects of a fast-paced lifestyle. However, your devices or appliances left plugged even when not in use still eat up 25% of the electricity it uses up when turned on. Try changing this bad habit and you will notice a big change in your bills.
Improve Indoor Air Quality at Home
Instead of turning your air conditioner thermostat to its lowest to keep your home cooler, why don’t you try some DIY projects to improve indoor air quality? That includes cleaning up regularly and placing succulent plants inside your home. Try using humidifiers too and installing exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen to improve overall air quality. This way, you won’t need to require your AC to work too hard to cool your home down.
Improve Natural Airflow
Natural ventilation at home means not relying on any appliance to circulate fresh air indoors. This can be done by installing bigger windows parallel to each other, one placed higher than the other. This way, airflow can be manipulated to allow fresh outdoor air to come in and hot air to come out of the house. You can also install blocking curtains that you will open at night and close in the morning so it can lock in and retain cold night air inside.
Pay Attention to Energy News
The biggest challenge in following these steps towards energy conservation is how you can sustain the habit. One way that can help is by being aware of the consequences when you use excess electricity. Our last piece of advice: Listen to environmental- and energy-related news that will encourage you to take part in the world effort to conserve electricity.