Cut that electric bill

MANILA, Philippines - There is a crisis and the wise and prudent action is to do our part to help.

Automatic Centre, the appliance authority, puts out a call for positive change from simple actions like using energy efficiently, and making wise decisions when buying appliances and furniture.

The experts at Automatic Centre share these practical tips on how to save on electric consumption.

Air Conditioners

• Taking off at least two hours from aircon usage helps save as much as P1,000 a month or P12,000 a year.

• Cleaning the aircon filter once a month can cut energy consumption by five to 15 percent and save up to P600.

• Turning off the aircon at dawn and using electric fan instead can help save 35 percent or approximately P1,400 a month.

• Consider where you install the unit. If you are mounting an air conditioner near the corner of a room, look for a unit that can send the airflow in the right direction. Do not position heat-producing appliances such as television or lamp near the thermostat because the heat they produce “fools” the thermostat and causes the unit to run longer than necessary.

• Close curtains over large glass areas to prevent up to 16 percent of heat transfer through glass.

• Always look for the EER (energy efficient ratio) tag. The higher the EER, the more energy-efficient the aircon is.

Electric Fan

• It is best to use electric fans in mild summer days because it utilizes about 80 percent less energy than aircons.

• Don’t let the bathroom fan run for 10 or 15 minutes. Lighting a match can almost instantly vanish bathroom odor.

• Lock the oscillator when fan is needed in one direction only, thus, air is blown directly where needed.

• Clean fan blades and motor regularly.