High Electricity Bill this Summer? How to Save Electricity at Home

In this almost unbearable summer heat, electric fans and ice-cold drinks just don't cut it anymore. To cope with high temperatures, Filipinos are left with no choice but to turn on the air conditioner at home.

However, leaving the AC on all day can significantly spike your household’s electricity bill. So how to save electricity at home in the Philippines?

From tips on aircon consumption to roof insulation, here's how to conserve electricity at home.

How to Save Electricity at Home in the Philippines

⚡ Unplug Gadgets and Appliances When Not in Use

Your plugged gadgets and appliances, even when not in use, still consume electricity. They run on standby mode, meaning they consume a small amount of electricity as reserve energy for the next use. 

According to Meralco, you can save up to ₱250.80 a month by simply unplugging unused devices.^[1] It's one of—if not the—easiest tips to save electricity!

⚡ Organize and Clean Your Appliances

Looking for energy-saving tips for electric fans and other home appliances?

Space out your appliances from one another. This will prevent them from accumulating heat in one area and creating a potential fire hazard. Keep your refrigerator at least four inches away from the wall and your computer towers at least two inches away. 

Make sure to clean your appliances as well. Did you know that fans run slower the dirtier they are? If you don't clean them, the coils behind your refrigerator also won't run as efficiently. Dust and dirt can also damage air conditioning units.  

Generally, appliances consume more energy when they're caked with dirt—which can cause overheating and cost you an extra 10% annually on your electric bill!

💳 Save More with a Credit Card

To save more money, consider using a credit card to pay your utility bills. With the following cards, you can get rebates, earn cash back, and enjoy other perks: 

Credit Card	Bills Payment Perks
HSBC Red Mastercard	4x reward points on online subscriptions Pay multiple utility bills automatically with HSBC AutoCharge
Security Bank Complete Cashback Mastercard	3% rebate on bills payment Pay for utilities that require a bank deposit via SimplyPay Settle your monthly bills automatically with Security Bank Bills Assist Program
BPI Amore Cashback Card	1% cash back on bills payments Charge your utility bills automatically via AutoCharge
AUB Easy Mastercard	Choose when to pay your credit card bill Choose how much to pay with a fixed payment amount Instantly charge your utility bills through All-Ur-Bills

⚡ Use a Power Strip

Got multiple appliances in one area at home? One way to save electricity at home is to plug all these devices into one smart power strip.

Since power strips can detect when devices are not in use, they ensure these electronics aren’t consuming energy even when on standby mode. Just make sure you don’t overload your power strip to prevent electricity hazards.

⚡ Work Smarter Hours

How to lessen electricity consumption? Cut down the hours you’re on the computer. Instead of surfing the web in between tasks, organize your to-do list and maximize your workday productivity.

If you can complete your work in seven hours instead of eight, you can get off your computer a bit earlier and save an hour of energy consumption. 

⚡ Invest in Smarter Devices

For instance, instead of getting a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor for your home office, go for a flat-panel liquid crystal (LCD) monitor. The latter consumes about 43 watts less than a CRT monitor.

Alternatively, you can opt for a laptop instead of a PC as laptops use considerably less energy than desktop computers.

⚡ Turn On Your Computer’s Energy-Saving Features

Whether you're working, gaming, or streaming your favorite show, computers consume a lot of energy. If you're serious about saving electricity at home, you can just turn on your device's built-in energy-saving options.

⚡ Take Advantage of Natural Lighting

One way to reduce energy consumption at home is to get closer to nature—by relying on sunlight as your main light source.

Aside from reducing your energy consumption, natural light can boost your mood and productivity. Open your curtains or blinds even if the window doesn’t get hit by direct sunlight. If you’re working or studying, move to a spot with the strongest natural light, so you won’t need to turn on the lights or use a desk lamp.

Just reposition your workspace so the sun doesn’t glare on your screen.

⚡ Change Your Light Bulbs

Wondering how to save on your home electricity bill? Consider switching from incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs.

LED bulbs can save energy by up to 85% compared to incandescent bulbs, and up to 20% compared to compact fluorescent lamps.^[2] Replace bulbs in the most-used light fixtures in your home to reduce energy consumption.

⚡ Use the Right Air Conditioner

If you rely on an air conditioner to keep your house cool, you may end up paying as much as ₱8.86 per hour or around ₱2,392 a month, if the appliance is used for nine hours a day.^[3] 

So how to save electricity while using an aircon in the Philippines? Avoid large air conditioning units, for one.

Larger AC units will cool your home faster, but they also consume more power. Sure, a smaller one will take longer to cool a room, but at least it won’t burn your wallet every month. For added savings, check out units equipped with an inverter that cools a room quickly and operates at lower speeds.

What's the ideal AC temperature to save electricity in the Philippines? According to Meralco, you can save as much as ₱991 a month when you switch to mid setting (25°C) vs high (18°C) for eight hours a night on a 1.0 window-type aircon.^[4]

⚡ Check for Air Gaps

Air conditioner costs may further balloon if your house has air gaps or areas where the air can escape, such as an open window. To save electricity at home, check for air gaps and make sure your home is well-insulated.

If your home office is the only place that needs air conditioning, make sure to close the door so the cool air won’t escape.

⚡ Save Energy in the Kitchen

Love cooking? If you want to know how to save energy at home, use the correct cookware on your stovetops. For instance, copper-bottom and cast-iron pots and pans heat up and retain warmth more efficiently than stainless steel ones. Keep the cover on so you can cook your meal faster.

Next, make the switch from a gas range to an induction cooker. The former releases more heat than an induction cooker, which means more hard work and power consumption for your cooling appliances.^[5] 

Additionally, defrost frozen food in the refrigerator ahead of time instead of using the microwave. Defrosting via microwave can take up to 10 minutes!

Lastly, we know how good it feels to bask in the refrigerator's cool air. Unfortunately, frequently opening your fridge consumes more energy since it would need to cool down the warm air from outside. To promote better air circulation, keep your fridge well-stocked as well.

⚡ Change Your Wall Paint to a Lighter Color

Another electricity-saving tip is to paint your walls with lighter colors. Dark colors can absorb the sun’s radiance, which can then be transferred to your home.

On the other hand, light-colored paint reflects the heat away from your abode, reducing heat absorption.^[6]

⚡ Insulate Your Ceiling or Roof

The temperature during hot days in the Philippines can reach up to 42°C. Your electricity consumption may become higher than usual as it takes more energy to keep your house cool, especially if your roof isn’t properly insulated.

Consider hiring a professional to fix your insulation to reduce your home’s heat retention. Otherwise, you may end up trapping the heat instead. 

Related reading:

• 40 Money-Saving Tips for Everyone: The Ultimate Financial Hacks List
• Save Money on Grocery Shopping With These Tips
• 6 Helpful Tips to Save on Monthly Subscription Apps

Final Thoughts

Before you turn up your AC unit to its maximum cooling capacity, remind yourself that you’ll be paying for it big time when next month’s bill arrives. You can make a few tweaks to minimize the increase without sacrificing your productivity and comfort.

If you want to know how to save electricity at home in the Philippines, follow the tips above.

Sources:

• ^[1] Simple, practical ways to save energy (and on your electricity bill) (Rappler, 2023)
• ^[2] LED Lighting (US Department of Energy)
• ^[3] Meralco Aircon Rate as of June 2022
• ^[4] Tips for the Bedroom (Meralco)
• ^[5]  White Walls, Green Impact: Understanding the Connection Between Wall Color and Energy Reduction (PCI Mag, 2022)
• ^[6] Induction Vs. Gas Cooktops: What’s The Difference? (Forbes, 2023)