A Trip to Meralco Power Lab plus Energy Saving tips this Summer
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Although Summer is indeed the most liveliest season of all because most of our travels can be done during the summer season, it is also the season where our electric bill skyrockets because of the heat.
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I may not be a parent or a wife but as just like the rest, I also budget my money so that I can properly use it for different purposes. I am also guilty of consuming that much of electricity during this peak of summer because, one thing I have asthma and I can be allergic to dust and too much heat which is why I often use the vacuum, aircon and electric fan most of the time and at the same time, I always drink cold water with ice to cool off the heat and stay hydrated. So, with these practices, how can we save energy and at the same manage to take note of our electric bill and which appliances do we need to moderately use so that our bill will not shock us once we get a hold of it.
Together with some of the media, I was invited to visit Meralco Power Lab - a two level multi purpose facility that aims to provide customers with power related info like testing and validating, comparison of electricity related technologies and practices and how we Filipinos can save more energy. This is where I learned that cooling appliances consume the most of electricity namely aircon, electric fan and refrigerator.
Here are some of the tips I learned when it comes to handling the appliances that consume more energy:
REFRIGERATOR - There are different kinds if ref that has different features to support the needs and lifestyle (single door, top/bottom freezer, two door and french door). Use an inverted ref to save more.
- Choose the right size of ref that is perfect for the number of people in your home and the size of your home as well.
- Always check for air leaks, make sure the door is sealed when you close it so that the cool temperature will not go wasted.
- Avoid putting warm food inside the ref, let if cool down first.
- Avoid overloading your ref, it can block air vents thus the cooling process will slow down.
AIRCON - Air conditioners is the biggest culprit in electricity consumption. It uses a compressor to change the temperature of the entire room. Use an inverter to save more.
- Get the right size of aircon that is perfectly fit for the size of your room.
- Check for air leaks because this can make it longer to cool down the temperature of the room.
- Always close the door and window when using the aircon.
- Make sure to clean the aircon always so that it will not be filled with dust thus making the air ventilation slow down as well as the cooling process.
- You may use electric fan to make the cooling process faster, just make sure the aircon is positioned straight to the electric fan.
- Use the timer so that when it the temperature gets really cold, it will turn off automatically even whehn you're sleeping.
LED Lights / Motion Sensor Lights - Using LED lights and Motion sensor lights can be a big help in decreasing your electric bill.
DC Fan - Use a DC fan, a DC, or direct current fan, uses a power source that is connected to a transformer. The transformer then converts the energy to direct current, or a one-way current. As a result, the quantity of power utilised is ultimately decreased.
Induction Cooker - Induction Cooker is very popular nowadays because it is very user friendly and at the same time it can lower down your expenses compare to buying gasul that we used to, it is even safer especially for those who are always on the go.
Solar Panel - Using solar panel has been a big hit lately and has helped a lot of people save energy especially at far flung places where electricity is scarce. If you want to save more, you solar panels that can be attached at your roof.
Use the Meralco Appliance Calculator as well. The Appliance Calculator (App Cal) is your smart tool to track how much energy your appliances consume every hour, day, week, and month. Get near-accurate estimates based on how often you use your appliances. Backed with all the information on your consumption tested by Meralco Power Lab, you can now conveniently adjust your usage according to your budget.
There are also notable practices that I need to take note of like unplugging appliances when not in use particularly water dispenser. Using energy saving devices doesn't really work so might as well, save energy with the real practices that work well with our appliances.
During the tour, we were also introduced with Meralco's Green Mobility Program which is the company’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while promoting the country’s transition to electrified transport. These electric vehicles (EVs) ramps up efforts to adopt sustainable modes of transportation and soon, more electric vehicles will be available as the electric charging stations are now being added continuously across the metro.
Through its subsidiary eSakay, Inc., Meralco also offers end-to-end EV and charging infrastructure solutions to institutional customers and to the riding public. There are charging stations in the Meralco compound to support all the EV of the company.
Check out the highlights of the Meralco
Power Tech Lab tour
For more updates and energy saving tips, follow Meralco's Official Facebook and Instagram page and visit their website at www.meralco.com.ph/brightideas.
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