The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has put together tips to save your electricity consumption. This is in light of the recent increase in electricity billing.
Here are the nine most common ways to conserve energy and save electricity in your home or place of business.
1. Adjust your day-to-day behaviors
To save electricity consumption in your home, you do not necessarily need to go out and purchase energy-efficient products. Energy conservation can be as simple as turning off lights and electrical appliances when not in use: don’t leave your electronics or light bulbs on all day long.
2. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs
Traditional light bulbs waste 95% of the energy they use giving off heat, with only 5% going toward the light. Switch them out or use them sparingly. Leaving them on for long periods is highly wasteful. Halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) use anywhere from 25-80 percent less electricity and last 3 to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs.
3. Reduce the use of water heaters
Water heating is a major contributor to your total energy consumption. Other than purchasing an energy-efficient water heater, there are two methods of reducing your water heating expenses, you can simply use less hot water or turn down the thermostat on your water heater.
4. Purchase energy-efficient appliances
Appliances account for a large amount of energy consumed in households, offices, and industries. With this in mind, it is important to be intentional about purchases made to ensure that energy-efficient appliances are installed.
5. Set refrigerator temperature to the manufacturer’s recommendation
This is important to avoid excessive cooling and wasting energy
6. Unplug battery chargers when not in use
Many devices including battery chargers draw power continuously even when not in use.
7. Plug home electronics into power strips
Use power strips such as adaptors and extension boards to reduce energy consumption. Turn the power strips off when equipment is not in use. You’ll stop these devices from using energy when idle with one convenient switch.
8. Bring in sunlight
During daylight hours, switch off artificial lights and use windows and skylights to brighten your home.
9. Service your air conditioner
Easy maintenance, such as routinely replacing or cleaning air filters can lower your cooling system’s energy consumption.
