Green Tip #1 – Reduce energy used for air-conditioners at home
November 14, 2007 by Eugene
Filed under Energy and Transportation, Features, Tips
What can I do to go green? How do I start? To answer those questions, we are introducing a series of green tips to help you go green and start making changes today. Take action. Do what you can. Try it.
Green Tip #1 – Reduce energy used for air-conditioners at home
The air-conditioner can be found in 72% of the households in Singapore (2003 figures according to the Singapore 2007, Statistical Highlights), and a typical 4-room HDB flat spends the bulk of its energy bills (30%) on air-conditioning. If you want to save energy at home, the best way is to reduce your air-conditioning usage and ensure the energy efficiency of your air-conditioners. You can choose to do one or more of the following:
- If you need to buy an air-conditioner, choose one that is energy-efficient and suitably sized for your home. Check out the models with the Energy Label at the NEA database.
- Set your air-conditioner’s thermostat to a high comfortable temperature (about 25 degree Celsius).
- Clean the air filters regularly and service your air-conditioners annually. For general servicing, check out Coolserve.
- Set the timer to switch off your air-conditioner before dawn or after some hours of usage.
- Stop using your air-conditioner and switch to a fan (standing, box or ceiling type) that can keep you comfortable while using much less energy than your air-conditioner.
- Use your air-conditioner and fan on alternate days. For example, use the air-conditioner on even days and the fan on odd days.
- Switch on your air-conditioner one hour before going to bed. When it’s time to sleep, switch off the air-conditioner and use the fan instead. The fan is able to circulate the cool air and keep you comfortable.
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I’ve been using the fan instead of aircon for the last 2 weeks. It’s been very comfortable thanks to the monsoon. I think it’s just like people don’t use heaters in summer or a/c in winter. singapore does succumb to cooler weather and it’s really unnecessary to sleep in the aircon! of course for people who just travelled home from cold countries having autumn/winter, this is like a furnace. But good tips! especially the last few ones. :) and i guess it’s a good reminder to clean aircon filter. people don’t realize how much that actually can cause extra energy just to lower the temperature on a dirty filter. thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the comments. It is possible to live without the aircon at home even without the monsoon, it’s just a matter of getting used to it. The problem is that people have aircons at home since young and they will find it uncomfortable without them. For me, there’s no aircon at home and I’m used to having a fan.