In the Philippines, electricity is mostly used for lighting purposes. Some 74 percent of surveyed households reported the same in a survey conducted in 2015. Apart from lighting, electricity is also used for recreation: with 78.7 percent of interviewed Filipinos representing households use electricity to listen to the radio, watch television, and use computers and other electronic gadgets. The other uses of electricity in Filipino homes are for cooling, ironing, refrigeration, cooking and food preparation, water heating, laundry, and pumping water.
But electricity is very expensive in the country, ranging from P8 per kWh to P11.00! Electricity prices in the Philippines are among the highest in Southeast Asia. Power rates are higher compared to global standards, at roughly $0.20 per kWh. This is primarily because of the economy’s heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels like oil and coal, and also because of uncompetitive market structures.
Observe Energy Efficiency
There is much to be done to bring down electricity prices in the Philippines, and among the most decisive is a radical shift in electricity ownership and regulatory policies. For ordinary Filipinos, however, the immediate solution is to practice energy efficiency. Households should learn more and practice energy efficiency to save money.
Homes with solar PV systems maximize the power generated by their panels by cooking food using electric stoves in the daytime, and gas stoves at night. Using appliances that use solar-generated electric power in the daytime is efficient because it’s free, safe, and renewable.
If we can’t have a solar PV system immediately installed in our homes, here are a few tips that can help us become more energy efficient.
Fight the Phantom Power
Even children should be taught energy efficiency by managing their desktop computers, laptops, and tablets. Electronic devices, as well as chargers each, use small amounts of electricity that contribute to the total household consumption. Many gadgets drain energy even when they are not turned on. This is called “phantom power”, and in many cases, this accounts for up to 10 percent of a household’s energy consumption. Make it a habit to unplug all electronics after they have been charged.
Turn off Computer Screen Savers and Unplug Appliances
Most computer users take screen savers, but the fact is, screen savers can use up to twice as much electricity. Stop using them by disabling their function and Instead, activate "sleep" mode. Better, when not using the computer, unplug it completely.
After using them, we should also make sure to unplug vacuums, microwave ovens, toasters, power tools, and other appliances. Appliances that charge should also be unplugged once they have been fully charged.
We should also remind our children now focused on online learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic to unplug cell phone and tablet chargers once these devices have finished charging. Almost 50 percent of the electricity they draw from power outlets is lost as heat. Unplugging them is not only energy-efficient, but it is also safer: some gadgets with batteries, unfortunately, explode when they overheat.
Plants and Trees to Improve Cooling
Trees and outdoor plants can help make a house cooler during the summer months by providing shade. A healthy tree can cool down a building as much as a big air conditioner. This is according to a report by the University of Vermont Extension. House plants or indoor plants, in the meantime, can also cool down a house because they add humidity to rooms.
Through the process of transpiration, plants release moisture into the air when water evaporates from their leaves. This can cool a room and bring down the temperature by up to 10 degrees.
Use Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and replace incandescent lightbulbs
Compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs can save three-quarters of the electricity that their incandescent equivalents use. Yes, CFLs are more expensive, but the electricity to power the bulbs is more expensive. A mid-level CFL (bulb) costs P150-150, but this can last up to 10,000 hours. They use 14-27 watts to generate as much light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb.
Install Solar Panels
Installing solar PV systems go a long way towards implementing energy efficiency in the household. They bring down electricity costs by generating energy independently from the electric company or cooperative. Residential solar power benefits have many benefits. The first is cost-efficiency. You can bring down your bill because you get power from the sun and not the power grid! There are also economic incentives when you apply for net metering. Finally, solar-powered households can sell electricity to the national grid. This is the excess electricity generated by the solar PV system.
Replace the Desktop Computer with a Laptop
When your desktop computer has reached the end of its lifecycle, replace it with a laptop. Laptops are more energy efficient because they use up to 80% less electricity and run on less power. Laptop computers peak at a maximum energy draw of only 60 watts. In comparison, desktop computer systems peak around 175 watts.