Close curtains or blinds over windows during the hottest part of the day, especially for west-facing windows, to keep the house cool.
Run the air-conditioner about an hour before bed and switch to a fan after that. Save about $430 a year**.
Turn off the air-conditioner half an hour earlier using a timer. Save about $35 a year**.
Check the air-conditioner air filter once a month and clean or replace it as necessary so that it runs efficiently. Dirty air filters impede airflow.
Service your air-conditioning units regularly. Besides the air filters, the condition of other components of an air-conditioning unit (such as the refrigerant, pipes and motors) also affects its efficiency.
Make a Smart Purchase
Choose the correct size for your air-conditioning unit. Oversized or undersized air-conditioning units can operate inefficiently. To find out the correct size for your air-conditioning unit, check with your air-conditioner retailer.
Install a multi-split air-conditioning unit if you usually require air-conditioning in more than one room, it is more energy efficient.
Refrigerator
Adjust the thermostat in the refrigerator to the recommended setting. Overcooling your refrigerator wastes electricity.
Allow hot food to cool before putting it in the fridge.
Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
Do not overload the refrigerator to ensure the cold air can circulate freely. Too many items block air circulation and reduce cooling capabilities.
Do not leave refrigerator door open longer than necessary. Decide what you want before opening the refrigerator door.
Make sure the door shuts tightly. Test by closing the door over a piece of paper so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper out easily, the hinge may need adjustment or the seal may need replacing.
Place the refrigerator away heat sources such as direct sunlight, cookers and the oven.
Allow some space around the fridge (e.g. 5 centimetres or as recommended by the manufacturer) to allow heat to escape from the compressor and condensing coil.
Make a Smart Purchase
Buy the smallest model refrigerator that meets your needs as generally, larger models use more energy to operate. Consider the need for additional features such as automatic icemakers and through-the-door dispensers, as they increase energy use.
Lighting
Make the most of the natural light available. Use light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy.
Use lighter colours in areas where you want to be bright, as lighter colours reflect light.
Use light dimmers whenever possible.
Switch the lights off when you leave the room.
Keep the room's light low when watching television. This saves electricity and also cuts annoying glare from your TV screen.
Dust or clean lamps and fixtures regularly. Dust on lamps and reflectors mean less light and less energy efficiency.
Computer/Home Electronics
Switch off the computer completely when not in use for long periods (e.g. more than 30 minutes). Leaving a desktop (300W) on every day for 8 hours (e.g. overnight) will cost about $15 a month**.
Enable your computer's energy-saving features, such as switching to hibernation mode after a certain amount of time.
Switch off the TV set when no one is watching.
Make a Smart Purchase
Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade as they use significantly less energy than desktop computers.
Water Heater
If you have an instantaneous water heater, switch it on before you shower and turn it off after use..
If you have a storage water heater, switch it on about 20 minutes before taking a bath, and switch it off after use. Leaving it on for too much time wastes energy.
Make a Smart Purchase
Choose an instantaneous water heater instead of a storage water heater as it is more energy efficient. If you are buying a storage water heater, a capacity of 23-27 litres is suitable for a family of 4-6 persons.
Washing Machine
Wash with a full load.
Wash clothes in cold water. It is not really necessary to use the water heater function in our washing machines as our water is warm enough for the wash to be effective.
Fabric conditioner reduces creases which means less ironing time.
Air-dry your clothes rather than use a clothes dryer.
Ironing
Start with items which need lower temperatures and avoid heating and re-heating the iron.
Turn off iron and use residual heat for delicate items.
Cooking
Boil water only when needed or consider using a thermo-flask to keep hot water. Electric air-pots which keep water hot constantly can cost you about $15 a month** in electricity
Do not boil more water than you need.
Cover your pots while cooking. Covered food cooks faster.
Match the size of the pot with the size of the burner as the energy is lost when the heating element is larger than the pot you are using.
Turn electric hotplates off before the food is fully cooked, as the remaining heat can complete the cooking.
Avoid opening the oven door while cooking.
Pressure cookers consume less energy and cook much faster. By cooking food at a higher temperature and pressure, a pressure cooker can save up to two-thirds in cooking time and energy use can be cut by 50-75% compared to conventional methods.
**Based on electricity tariff of $0.1803 per unit (kWh)
Cheers,
Kah Guan
