How To Be More Energy Efficient

According to the latest Singapore Household Consumption Survey, air-conditioners are the highest energy-consuming appliance in the home -- they take up more than one-third of your household energy consumption. 

To put things in perspective, one air-conditioner can power approximately 11 fans. Just setting the timer to turn off the air conditioner half and hour than usual saves you $30 a year; every degree higher your air-conditioner is set at saves you $15 a year; and using a fan can save you S$460 a year in electricity bills. 

Tip no. 1

KNOW YOUR ENERGY LEVELS

You can estimate much energy by doing a Home Energy Audit via the myENV app. While it only presents the energy consumption in the amount to be paid, it's a good enough estimate. (Would anyone have a better app to recommend?) What I especially like about the myENV app, however, is that it also offers tips and alternatives on how to save energy.  

Tip no. 2

HOME AUTOMATION CAN HELP

I'm guilty of sometimes forgetting to switch the lights off when I go to bed. Apple’s Homekit (a home automation platform) can help schedule a time to switch the smart lights off. We've got friends who program the Homekit so their lights turn on when they are approaching home, and off when they leave -- two less things on the list of things to do. 

For those who keep the light on at night to prevent falls and injuries, you can install a wireless motion sensor. 

Bonus tip

Water heaters are the second biggest consumer of energy in a typical Singaporean household -- they take up more than one-fifth of your household energy consumption. That's as good an excuse as any to take more cold showers.