Electricity Energy Savings Tips

ELECTRICITY ENERGY TIPS FROM MERALCO

General Appliances

• Keep your appliances well maintained. They operate more efficiently and use less energy when in good working order.

• When shopping for appliances, you can think of two price tags. The first one covers the purchase price. Think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. You'll be paying on that second price tag every month with your utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on the appliance. Refrigerators last an average of 20 years; room air conditioners and dishwashers, about 10 years each; clothes washers, about 14 years.

• Unplug all electronic equipment when not in use. Make sure you unplug a transformer or voltage regulator when not in use so it does not heat up and consume more electricity.

Lighting

Lighting energy costs can account for about 20% to 30% of your electrical bill so it would be good to practice ways on how to save on it.

• Use natural light whenever possible. It is the best source of light and will help you save kilowatt hours. Strategically arrange your household in such a way that you can use natural light. Place reading tables near windows and put skylights in other working areas.

• Use lamps that provide direct lighting over desks, beds, and other work areas. Using them saves energy instead of the higher wattage lighting used to illuminate the whole room.

• Use low wattage light bulbs in areas that do not need strong lighting such as hallways, foyers and doorways.

• Turn off lights when not needed.

• Clean lighting fixtures regularly. Dirt lessens illumination by as much as 50%. One can work more effectively under good lighting which lessens the hours of operation of the lamps. In contrast, poor lighting will make someone work longer thus increasing electrical consumption. Regular cleaning of lamps will help provide proper lighting in your workplace.

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Although CFLs cost higher than incandescent bulbs, they use up only 25% of the energy being used up by incandescent bulbs. A 16-watt CFL produces the same light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb at a quarter of the energy cost. CFLs also last eight times longer thank incandescent bulbs.

Washing Machines

Washing machine makes laundry work a lot easier compared to manually washing clothes. It saves us a lot of time, which we can spend doing other work. Although a washing machine comes with additional costs because it uses electricity, there are many ways to get the most out of this appliance while still being energy efficient.

• Maximize the operation of your washing machine. Fill water level appropriate for the size of the load. If your washing machine doesn’t have different water level selections for different loads, observe washing in full loads. This is more energy efficient than washing two small loads. However, do not overload your unit. Overloading makes your machine work harder and inefficiently.

• Use proper amount of detergent. Too many suds may require extra rinsing which makes your machine use more energy.

• Do not over-wash clothes. Different types of clothes require different wash cycles. Delicate clothes do not take as long as dirty work clothes.

• Presoak soiled garments to avoid using additional wash cycles.

• When using your spinner, make sure that water is drained from the cylinder and clothes are squeezed to effectively spin-dry clothes.

• Properly place your clothes inside the spinner to avoid unnecessary vibrations which would prevent the spinner from functioning efficiently.

Clothes Dryer

A clothes dryer is usually the second or third largest electricity-consuming appliance in your home. With its heating nature similar to water heaters and flat iron, the cost of operating a dryer is very significant. Knowing how to operate the machine efficiently will significantly help bring down your electric bill.

• Sort clothes when drying. The dryer operates most efficiently when drying clothes of the same thickness. Dry heavy clothes such as cotton towels, jeans, or jackets separately from light clothing such as underwear and summer clothes. Light-weight clothes take less drying time than a mixture of items.

• Make sure that clothes are effectively squeezed before putting them inside the dryer.

• Run only on full loads, as small loads are less economical. However, don’t overload the machine. Air needs to be able to circulate around the clothes to properly dry them.

• Don’t over-dry clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it. If it has a timer, consider shortening the drying time.

• Dry two or more loads in a row and make use of the hot air that’s already in the dryer from the first load.

• Locate your dryer in a warm and dry space. A clothes dryer in a cold or damp basement will have to work harder to get your clothes dry.

• Clean the fluff out of the filter before every load to allow better air circulation. Regularly clean the lint from vent hoods and lint kits.

• Regularly inspect the outside dryer vent. If it doesn’t close tightly, replace it. You’ll keep outside air from leaking in, reducing heating and/or cooling bills.

• Hang clothes to dry on sunny days to lessen use of dryer.


Clothes Iron

Ironing typically takes several hours to accomplish and uses up as much energy as ten 100-watt light bulbs. Aside from the appliance’s wattage rating, the number of hours it is being used also affects electricity cost. There are simple ways on how you can shorten ironing time, hence, electricity consumption.

• Iron large batches of clothing at one time to avoid wasting energy and reheating the iron several times.

• Dampen clothes moderately. Excessively moistened clothes take longer to iron.

• Do not overheat the iron. Set the temperature appropriately for the type of clothes to avoid scorching and wasting energy.

• Iron first those fabrics that require lower temperature to reduce warm up time, and then work up to those requiring higher heat.

• Switch the iron off in the last few minutes of ironing. The remaining heat will be enough to press lighter materials.

• Lessen your ironing hours by not ironing everything. By removing clothing promptly from the dryer/clothesline and folding them carefully, many items will require no ironing, or just a quick press. It is also unnecessary to iron towels, drip-dry shirts, etc.

Rice Cooker

Kitchen appliances, like rice cooker, stove, oven and refrigerator, account for approximately 26% of an average household’s electricity use. But this does not necessarily mean that you have to deprive yourself of the convenience these appliances provide. Having the right cooking habits and practicing simple energy conservation techniques can help reduce the electricity used to operate your kitchen appliances.

• Rice cookers have a keep warm function which is for maintaining the appropriate amount of heat needed to keep the rice warm after it is cooked. You may prevent the unnecessary operation of the keep warm function by properly scheduling the cooking of rice in accordance to the eating time.

• After using your rice cooker and every time it is not in use, unplug the power cord.

• Observe proper cleaning of the rice cooker. Make sure that the inner pot and hot plate are free from any form of impurities such as burnt grains of rice or hardened food. The surface of the plate should be well cleaned and smooth to allow complete contact with the inner pot to ensure efficient and even heating.

• Choose the appropriate size of rice cooker according to your household needs. An oversized rice cooker would consume more energy than a properly sized rice cooker.

Oven/Microwave


• Use glass pans. Glass retains heat, so you can set the oven to a lower temperature.

• Cook several dishes that require about the same temperature in the oven simultaneously. This will shorten your oven’s operating time.
• Keep preheating to a minimum.

• Refrain from looking inside a working oven too often and instead use the oven light to check on the food. Twenty percent (20%) of the heat can be lost each time you open the oven door.

• Turn the oven off before cooking is complete (up to 15 minutes, depending on the dish). The heat in the oven will continue to cook the dish until finished.

• If you need to self-clean the oven, plan to do it after cooking a meal while the oven is already hot, requiring less energy to raise the temperature.

• If available, use microwave or toaster ovens for cooking or warming leftovers. They can save up to 30% of the energy required to cook or reheat food in a regular oven.

• A microwave oven is an energy efficient alternative to a conventional oven. It cooks food faster because the energy heats only the food and not the oven compartment.

Stove

• Plan ahead. Prepare all ingredients before cooking to avoid frequent switching of the electric stove.

• Thaw frozen food thoroughly before cooking.

• Use flat-bottomed pots and pans as they allow faster heat transfer. They consume up to 50% less energy.

• Match pots and pans with stove element. Avoid using a big burner for a small pan to lessen heat transfer loss. This can save up to 25% of the electricity you use while cooking.

• Use the least amount of water and the smallest size of pan possible. Otherwise, you’re wasting energy to heat up excess water or excess metal.

• Cover pots and pans with lids while cooking to prevent heat from escaping.

• Turn off the electric stove during the last minutes of cooking. The remaining heat will be enough to keep the food simmering.

Dishwasher

• Run the dishwasher when full. It requires the same amount of energy for a full load as it does for a half load.

• Use the no heat drying option.

• Don’t wash dishes twice. Although it depends upon the age of your dishwasher, most dishwashers can get your dishes clean even without rinsing them first by hand.

Refrigerator

• When shopping for a new refrigerator, choose energy efficient refrigerators. Check the yellow label attached to the refrigerator. Units that have a higher Energy Efficiency Factor are more energy efficient and cost less to operate. New refrigerator models use 30% less electricity than those built 10 years ago (before 1999).

EEF Energy Guide

• Choose the refrigerator size appropriate for your household’s needs. An 8- to 10-cubic foot ref generally holds a food capacity for two people, while an extra cubic foot should be added for each additional person in the household. If the ref is too big and you don’t keep it filled, it wastes energy and costs more to operate; if too small, you waste energy by keeping the door open while constantly rearranging and making the contents fit.

• Place refrigerators at least 4 inches away from the wall so as not to overwork the motor and to allow efficient heat release from the condenser coils.

• Don’t position your refrigerator in direct sunlight or near heat-producing appliances like the stove.

• Avoid putting in too many items in the refrigerator. Overcrowding obstructs the air circulation inside your refrigerator and reduces cooling capabilities.

• On the other hand, it is better to keep the freezer full. The more air you displace with food and beverage, the less cold air you lose when you open the freezer door.

• Allow hot food to cool to room temperature before putting them in the refrigerator. Otherwise, the refrigerator works even harder to bring the temperature down.
• Cover liquids, wrap food, and wipe off moisture from containers before putting them in the refrigerator. Uncovered food release moisture and moisture makes the compressor work harder. It may also cause excessive build up of ice in your freezer.

• Defrost regularly. When there is already ¼ inch frost build up, defrost your refrigerator. Too much frost makes your unit operate inefficiently.

• To optimize the temperature setting of your refrigerator, store the most perishable items in the coldest part of your refrigerator which is usually the back or top shelf.

• Open the refrigerator doors only when necessary.

• Don’t store paper bags or any material behind the refrigerator. They can cut airflow, making the unit work harder.

• Clean the condenser coils at least twice a year using a vacuum cleaner or broom. The coils at the back of the unit remove heat.

• Check door gaskets. Make sure refrigerator doors are sealed tightly to prevent cold air from escaping. Place a sheet of paper between the door. If you could pull it easily, it is a sign that it is not airtight and makes cold air leak.

Electric Fan

• Choose the right type of fan to cool down a particular place. Desk fans are the most effective fans for small rooms. Stand fans, on the other hand, are best for medium-sized rooms. They offer great flexibility in providing the cool breeze you want because of their adjustable height levels. For large or spacious rooms, consider using ceiling fans. Ceiling fans have larger blades compared with other types of fans. The longer the blades, the more air they can push around. Ceiling fans are very efficient in stirring the cooler air along the floor to provide the necessary cooling in a room.

• Get the right size of ceiling fan for your room. The sizes of a ceiling fan commonly range from 34” to 56” in diameter. Generally, a 36” fan is suitable for rooms that measure up to 9’x12’. A 48” fan is practical for rooms up to 12’x15’, and a 56” fan suits rooms larger than 12’x15’. A long and narrow room may require two fans for effective air circulation. Undersized fans are not effective to use because these would not provide you the cooling requirements and comfort that you need.

• Properly set your fan speed according to your cooling needs. The speed level setting of a fan is directly proportional to its energy consumption. The faster your fan blades rotate the more energy your electric fan consumes.

• Use the oscillating feature of your desk fan to efficiently provide the cooling effect you need. Lock the oscillator when fan is needed in one direction only.

• Turn off your electric fans when no one is using it.

• Perform regular maintenance to keep your electric fan running more efficiently. Maintenance activities can save up to 30% of fan energy.

• Clean your electric fans regularly, to keep them running efficiently. Remove the dust accumulated at the fan blades, motor housings, and grills as it reduces the air current generated by the fan. Cobwebs, dust and other forms of impurities piling up at the motor’s cover prevent air to naturally provide the cooling needed by the motor or heat produced by the motor to be released. This causes additional heating of the motor’s windings, which leads to more consumption of energy.

Airconditioner

• When buying a new air conditioner, look for the Energy Guide (yellow label) attached to the unit and check the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). As a general rule for units with the same cooling capacity, a higher EER means a more efficient unit and a lower operating cost.

EER Energy Guide

• Choosing the right size of air conditioning unit for your room size can help you save on electricity. Oversized air conditioners are not energy efficient. With the right unit size, your air conditioner will operate properly for peak efficiency and would require low maintenance only. Follow the steps below and know the right size of air conditioner for your room.

1. Determine the floor area (in square meters) of the room or space you want to install an air conditioner in. For example, the floor area of a room with a length of 5 meters and a width of 4 meters is 20 square meters.

2. Use the formula below to estimate the required cooling capacity.
Cooling capacity = size of the room (m2) x 500 kJ/hr – m2
Substitute the computed floor area as the size of the room and then multiply this value by the constant 500kJ/hr – m2. The resulting value is the estimated cooling capacity of the air conditioner that you need to install.

3. Look for a unit with matching cooling capacity as shown on the Energy Guide. If the matching cooling capacity is not available, choose the one with the next higher value.

4. Get the highest Energy Efficiency Ration (EER) rating that your budget can afford. Remember that the higher the EER, the more savings you get from operating the unit.

• Install the aircon in a cool area. A unit operating in the shade uses 10 percent less electricity than the same unit operating in direct sunlight. Plant trees or construct coverings to provide shade for your aircon but be sure not to block the airflow.

• Check the insulation of your room. Spaces from the windows, doors and the airconditioner installation point may cause cold air to leak or heat to enter the room, making the unit work harder to provide the needed cooling.

• Don’t place lamps, television and other items, which can be a source of heat near your unit. The thermostat senses the heat given off by these items, causing your unit to run longer than necessary.

• Support your aircon’s cooling performance by draping windows with curtains, blinds and other similar accessories to block the sun’s rays. Consider also using an interior fan in conjunction with your airconditioner to help spread cool air more effectively without greatly increasing electricity consumption.

• Make sure that the thermostat is functioning correctly. Set your thermostat at the highest comfortable temperature as possible. A comfortable room temperature setting is about 24 degrees Celsius. Setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when turning your unit on will not help cool your room any faster. Rather, it could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.

• Set the fan speed on high, except on very humid days. When humidity is high, set the fan speed on low for more comfort. The low speed on humid days will cool your room better and will help remove moisture from the air because of slower air movement through the cooling equipment.

• Check the filter once a month by holding it up against the light. If you can’t see through it, it’s time to clean or replace the filter.

• Straighten any bent fins. Straightening the fins increases the efficiency of the air flow through the coils and adds to the overall cooling effect produced by the air conditioner.

• Regularly clean the condenser for your unit to efficiently expel the heat load of your airconditioned room.

Television

Normally, television operation takes long hours, which contributes to high electricity consumption and translates to a high electric bill. However, there are many ways on how you can manage your TV set’s electricity consumption and cut on electricity costs.

• Avoid running several sets at the same time because this multiplies your entertainment costs. It would be wise to agree on what program to watch and use one TV set only.

• Switch off your TV set when no one is watching. If you are using a transformer, unplug it because it consumes electricity.

• Don’t use the standby mode because this uses 10% to as much as 60% of the electricity that would be used by your TV set if it were switched on.

• Too much television viewing and playing of video games of kids can be substituted by educational board games and teaching them light sports to lessen television electricity consumption.

• Replace old TV tube sets with solid-state TV sets because these types use significantly less energy.

• Choose the appropriate television size suitable for your entertainment needs, taking into consideration units with lower wattage ratings. Bigger television sets would most likely have higher wattage ratings, thus, consume more energy. The screen size of your TV should be based on your viewing distance from the unit.

Computer

• When your computer or monitor is not in use, turn it off to reduce energy consumption. The monitor uses as much as 60% of the power used by your computer. The other 40% is used to keep the hard drive spinning and to power the electronics. Less energy is consumed when computers or monitors are turned on and off as often as required than when left on over time.

• If your computer makes use of a transformer or kept at standby mode, unplug it because these situations still consume electricity.

• Invest in energy-efficient computers and printers which save up to 90% electricity than standard models.

• Choose the right monitor size for your needs. Bigger monitors consume more electricity than smaller ones. For example, a 17-inch monitor consumes 35% more electricity than a 14-inch monitor.

• Replace your old computer monitor with a LCD monitor since it consumes less energy.

• Study and use your computer’s power saving features. The sleep mode automatically converts the computer to a low-energy mode when not in use, cutting energy usage to less than half. The energy saving mode turns the monitor and hard disk off after a few minutes of being idle.

HOME SAFETY

In preventing electrical accidents, a little care and vigilance goes a long way to help you avoid a good deal of damage. Here are a few reminders to keep in mind at home.

General Safety

• When not in use, unplug all small appliances.

• Use the correct size of fuse. Over or under-sized fuses could start a fire.

• Never replace a busted fuse with other materials. Wires and other conductors used in place of the fuses may not be able to isolate the electric circuit in case of a short circuit.

• Avoid octopus connections. Overloading might occur if multiple cords are connected to outlets designed only for one or two plugs.

• Secure loose electrical cords. Family members might trip over wires that are hanging loose along pathways.

• If light switches or outlets feel warm when turned on or in use, turn them off. Call a qualified electrician to immediately check the wiring.

• If plugs seem to fit loosely in a wall outlet, check the plugs or the outlet. A loose or poor electrical connection between plug and the outlet may cause overheating.

• Pull the plug, not the wire. Pulling the wire itself might make the insulation and wires snap or twist.

• Use outlet covers and outlet plates to help prevent electrocution. These can help prevent electric shock and possible electrocution.

• Never try to repair electrical products yourself unless you are a qualified electrician.

Living Room Safety

• Keep TV sets away from windows. Rain that enters the TV housing may damage the set and cause electric shock. Don't put vases or drinking glasses on top of TV sets as water may spill into the TV set.

• Keep small metal objects away from TV sets. Paper clips, nails and other small metal objects are conductors of electricity. They will cause electric shock.
• If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker or causes an electric shock, unplug it and have it replaced immediately.

• Don't run electrical cords under rugs, carpets or furniture. Walking on cords can break wiring and possibly cause a fire.

• Check all entertainment and computer equipment. Make sure all equipment and electrical appliances are in good condition and working properly. Look for cracks in or damage to wiring, plugs and connectors.

Bedroom Safety

• Use light bulbs of specified wattage for your lamp or lighting fixture. A bulb of improper wattage or rating or of the wrong type may lead to overloading and cause fire.

• Make sure light bulbs are screwed in securely. Loose bulbs may overheat.

• Don't place any electrical appliances near water, like in your sink or bathtub. Appliances that are used near water should be unplugged when not in use.

• Keep combustible materials away from lamps and other sources of heat. Clothing, curtains, newspapers, etc. can burn or catch fire easily.

Kitchen Safety

• Unplug the toaster or toaster oven before removing any stuck food.

• Use the proper type of plug for the outlet. If your appliances have three prong plugs and your kitchen has only two-conductor outlets, do not cut off the ground prong (the third/bottom prong) from the plugs; instead, convert your outlet into a 3-wire outlet especially for appliances with motors like refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and the like. Consult a qualified electrician.

• Never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn't fit. This could lead to fire or shock. Plugs should fit securely in outlets.

• Circuit breakers and fuses should be of the correct size for the circuits. If you do not know the correct size, have an electrician identify and label the size to be used.

When working with electricity, safety should be top-of-mind. This involves, planning, training and preparation. Here are some safety rules for the workplace, as well as some first aid procedures.


Simple Safety Rules

Emergency Procedure: ELECTRIC SHOCK
Emergency Procedure:
BURN

Simple Safety Rules

When planning and performing work on electrical systems and equipment, keep these principles in mind:

1. Plan every job.

2. Think about what could go wrong.

3. Use the right tools for the job.

4. Use procedures, drawings and other documents as tools to do the job.

5. Isolate the equipment from energy sources.

6. Identify the electrical shod and arc flash, as well as other hazards that may be present.

7. Minimize the hazard by guarding or establishing approach limitations.

8. Test every circuit and every conductor, every time before you touch.

9. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) as a last line of defense in case something goes wrong.

10. Be sure you are properly trained and qualified for the job.

The National Electrical Safety Foundation (NESF)-Workplace Safety Reminders

Simple Safety Rules

1. Do not guess about whether a circuit is live (energized) or not. Consider every equipment/line energized until proven otherwise.

2. Use proper instrument for testing circuits.

3. Never touch any wire of a circuit unless you are certain that it is de-energized.

4. Always use personal protective equipment (PPE) when dealing with electricity. These PPEs include rubber gloves, rubber mats, rubber blankets, fuse tongs, insulated tools and the like.

5. Lock open main switches and place tags before working on power circuits so that no one else may close them while you are working. Before closing a switch, make certain other workmen are clear of circuits.

6. Never work alone on any electrical equipment/circuits with more than 50 volts. The buddy system of working on electrical lines, installations is the best and safest way.

7. Use warning or safety signs and rope off or barricade dangerous areas.

8. In installing temporary electrical wiring or equipment, make every job safe for everyone.

9. Always observe strictly the applicable rules of the Philippine Electrical Code, National Electrical Safety Code and other applicable electrical standards.

10. Allow only qualified and properly trained men to work on electrical equipment.

11. Always arrange for proper maintenance of equipment, loads and wires with careful follow-up to see to it that insulation is in proper condition. Loose conductors can cause serious electrical accidents.

12. Never bridge a fuse with wire or other metal.

13. Don't test power lines with lamps to determine whether they are energized. A 110-volt test lamp place across a 220-volt line will blow-up. Use reliable circuit or voltage testers for testing or identifying circuits.

14. Always have periodic electrical inspections made by men qualified by experience and training to do such work.

15. The frames or cases of all electrical equipment or structures should be substantially grounded. The ground wire should be of low resistance and large enough to resist mechanical breakage and to carry off the heaviest current flow that might result from any insulation breakdown or other accidents.

16. Always protect electrical cords and cables from physical damage.