One of the main costs in every household is utility bills the cost of living going up, inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently happening, most people are looking for ways to save more. Energy is a necessity in every household. According to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) a reduction of just 3% in our peak demand would save the country over 5billion shillings in generation capacity expansion which is equivalent to 1billion shillings in fuel costs per year.
On a more personal note here are some measures will help cut on your power costs:
Refrigerator Hacks
- Give your fridge air but fill your freezer (2/3rds full) appropriately. Full freezers keep food frozen in case of power outage.
- Check the condenser coils for dust and keep them clean for them to work quickly and efficiently. 2-3 times per year would be advisable.
- Use frozen food to your advantage, after taking out frozen food stuff place them in the fridge to thaw. The fridge will absorb the energy and save on more energy.
- Avoid frost build up to reduce the amount of energy the freezer uses.
- Allow hot food to cool naturally without putting it straight Ito the fridge so that the fridge-freezer does not have to do a lot of work.
- Peek, grab and close; the longer the door stays open the more energy needed to reduce the temperature in again.
- Make sure the seals on the door are working properly.
Lighting
- Use LED lighting especially ENERGY STAR rated products that use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.
- Turn off lights when not in use. Electricity is saved when one turns off lights.
- Separate the lighting circuit to ensure the necessary light is switched on instead of all the lights in the house.
- Designing houses that get maximum access to natural light also helps save a lot of energy. Also choose lighter colors for your walls that will have maximum reflectance when kept clean.
- For security lights ensure they have timers to avoid having them switched on during the day. Using motion sensors also ensure the light is on when required.
Laundry and Washing
- Having a laundry schedule and sorting them out will get the job done in a few cycles.
- Lowering temperature of the water used for washing will come in handy while saving energy.
- Using cold water for rinsing will also be effective.
- Line drying laundry instead of using the machine’s drying option.
Cooking
- Use pots and pans with flat bottoms to enhance effective heat transfer and uniform transfer of heat.
- Use lids while cooking.
- Always use pans and pots that match the portions of food being cooked.
- Preheat the oven when necessary and avoid opening the oven door while in use.
- Thaw frozen food first to reduce cooking time.
- Use electric kettle to boil water instead of an electric cooker.
- opt for other cooking energy options such as LPG gas, charcoal, or ethanol cookers for hard boiling and other long cooking processes.
Entertainment
- ENERGY STAR certified televisions save on average 25% more energy efficient
- Switch off entertainment gadgets such as TVs, Radios, Computers while not in use.
General Appliance Hacks
- Cutting out phantom energy. When appliances are not turned off or unplugged when not in use, they drain a lot of power. Using power strips and turn them off when electronics are not in use.
- Buying energy efficient appliances are usually expensive but they will save you a lot of money in the long run. Getting appliances that are licensed by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority is also crucial.
- Proper maintenance and regular cleaning will ensure the appliance work effectively and efficiently while lasting longer.
- Use Kenya Energy Label to choose best, most efficient products.