saving on utility bills

Lifestyle Parenting, Household Affairs and Cuisine corner
61

Re: saving on utility bills

kanjoos log

62

Re: saving on utility bills

Given the exorbitant cost of electricity here, everyone tries to cut down on usage one way or the other. We try to keep our ACs at 26C unless its not cold enough, keep spare lights off and use energy savers. Pakistan is probably the biggest consumer of energy savers, it's been ages since I actually saw a real bulb here. On top of that there's loadshedding, so that guarantees a saving of 5-6 hours of electricity everyday. Although if you're using a UPS or a generator the cost saving is somewhat neutralised.

We don't really care about water, for the time being water isn't an expensive commodity here. You'll see people using the garden pipe to water down the street in front of their house..lol. Gas is cheap too, for now. It's only used for cooking and about a month or two in winters.

63

Re: saving on utility bills

I got these tips from my company wanted to share it here:

Keeping Your Cool

  • Make sure your AC equipment is in top running order, since cooling puts the greatest stress on your summer energy bills. A professional “tune-up” could save you the cost and misery of a breakdown on the hottest days.
  • A programmable thermostat automatically coordinates temperatures in your home with your daily and weekend patterns. This can reduce your bills by up to10% by raising the temperature while your house is empty. And the device “remembers” to turn the air conditioning down when you won’t be home and back up, so you return to a cool, comfortable house.
  • Using ceiling fans to circulate air will make you feel cooler and can allow you to raise the temperature setting on your AC thermostat by a few degrees. But be sure to turn the fan off when you leave the room, because fans cool people, not rooms.
  • Replacing your 12±year-old central air conditioning system (CAC) with an ENERGY STAR-qualified model could cut your cooling costs by 30%, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). And while these products can have a higher purchase price, the cost difference will be paid back over time through lower energy bills, EPA adds.
  • **Having properly sized CAC systems or window units **will ensure optimum performance. EPA says a system that’s too large will not keep your home comfortable due to frequent “on/off” cycling.
  • Purchase an AC unit with the highest Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) that you can afford – the higher the SEER level, the more energy efficient the equipment. Current federal appliance standards require a SEER rating of at least 13 on CAC systems.
  • Clean or replace CAC system filters monthly – and do the same for window unit filters even more frequently.

Keeping the Heat Outside

  • Plug energy leaks with weather stripping and caulking, and be sure your house is properly insulated, to save up to 20% on energy bills.
  • **Consider investing in energy-efficient windows **to save money and increase indoor comfort.
  • Curtains and shades on the sunny sides of your home will provide additional relief.
  • **Chose energy-efficient lighting, **since inefficient incandescent light bulbs emit 90% of their energy as heat instead of light. So instead of heating your home with bulbs, buy CFLs and LEDs, which are 75% more energy-efficient than traditional incandescents, saving you money and energy.

Clever in the Kitchen

  • **Keep the coils clean on your refrigerator **to reduce energy bills and extend the life of the appliance. Your fridge runs 24/7 and accounts for almost 10% of your total home electricity bill, so checking the coils located behind or underneath the fridge can save you money.
  • Replacing your old fridge from the 1980s with an ENERGY STAR model can save you more than $100 each year. Replacing a 1970s fridge with an ENERGY STAR model can save nearly $200 each year! Use the ENERGY STAR Savings Calculator to find out how much you can save by replacing an old refrigerator.
  • Shift energy-intensive household chores to off-peak hours – nights, mornings and weekends – when there is less strain on the power grid. Plus, operating dishwashers and washing machines at these times with full loads will get you the most for your energy dollars.
  • ENERGY STAR-certified dishwashers and clothes washers will save water and energy. Choose clothes dryers with moisture sensors that reduce drying time.