IS YOUR POWER BILL DRIVING YOU CRAZY? HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DRIVE DOWN YOUR POWER COSTS

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.