After experiencing several power outages this year, many Mindanaoans have become more conscious of energy conservation. The demand for energy has significantly increased in Mindanao in recent years and some local officials even project a power shortage within the next five years if this demand is not met by new infrastructure.
By conserving energy, we are doing our part in making sure that our power supply is optimized, which means future power outages are less likely to happen. But to save energy in a truly effective and meaningful way, the first step is to identify which of our house appliances are consuming the most energy.
The key is to reduce the electric consumption of our most frequently used appliances without disrupting much of our daily lives. Here are the appliances that use the most energy along with tips on how to make them more energy-efficient:
1. Air Conditioner
As our climate gets warmer, air conditioners are becoming more of a necessity in Filipino homes. The heat is becoming increasingly unbearable with each year and this has resulted in more frequent air conditioner usage. Unfortunately, this is one of the common appliances that consume the most energy.
Window-type air conditioners consume around 900-1,440 watts per hour. If you use a 1.5 horsepower unit for eight hours, that translates to P65 per day, at an electricity rate of P10 per kilowatt hour (kWh). Stretched to a full month, and that adds up to almost P2,000.
Energy Saving Tips For Air Conditioners
- Use inverter units. Non-inverter units consume as much as 1,800 watts per hour. You can cut down half of that consumption by using an inverter unit instead.
- Make sure the room is sealed. Your air conditioner will keep working hard if it struggles to maintain its target temperature because warmer air keeps getting in.
- Use the timer function. When the air is cool enough, maybe it’s time for your unit to take a break. Using the timer function will automatically turn your unit off a few hours after reaching its target temperature.
2. Washing Machine
It may not seem like it but doing the laundry consumes a lot of electricity. A fully automatic washing machine with an eight-kilogram load capacity can consume as much as 2,600 watts. If we make an estimate based again on a P10 per kWh rate, then doing laundry for 2 hours at a time, twice a week can cost you around P465 per month.
Energy Saving Tips For Washing Machines
- Limit your laundry days. Letting your hamper pile up might not be such a bad idea. By scheduling your laundry time once a week instead of twice a week or more, you can reduce your electricity consumption significantly.
- Optimize your washing machine’s load capacity. Using only half or a fraction of your unit’s load capacity at a time is not the most efficient use of your washing machine. Lesser loads translate to more cost and energy savings.
- Proper maintenance. Make sure your unit is always cleaned and properly maintained so that it can continue to function efficiently.
3. Desktop Computers
If you’re working from home, then desktop computers could be one of your most used appliances. At around 23 watts, a standard PC can consume even more electricity than an LED TV.
Energy Saving Tips For Desktop Computers
- Reduce connected devices. Desktop computers consume more energy with more devices connected to them. You can save on electricity just by simply removing connected devices when they are no longer in use.
- Use sleep or energy-saving mode. Give your computer a break every once and a while. Like you, it deserves a little time off, too.
4. Refrigerator
Refrigerators are always on and they consume a lot of electricity, accounting for 13% of an average household’s electric consumption. Refrigerators can consume as much as 200 watts – that’s over P50 a day at a P10 per kWh, which equals to about P1,600 per month.
Energy Saving Tips For Refrigerators
- Never leave the door open. Like air conditioners, refrigerators require more energy when they have trouble maintaining a cool temperature.
- Go with inverter units. Many of the newer refrigerators these days are inverter units, which can reduce your power consumption by almost half.
- Place it in a cool, well-ventilated spot. Keep your refrigerator away from any source of heat (sunlight, ovens, etc.). Make sure it has space for the compressor to release heat so that your unit can be more energy efficient.
Now that you know which appliances consume the most electricity in your home, saving energy and reducing your electric bills can be so much easier!
