Staying at home again? Check if your electrical appliances are water and energy-saving.

With the recent spike of COVID-19 cases, majority of Malaysians have returned to work-from-home or study-from-home practice as a preventive measure to (once again!) curb the spread of the virus. With more people wanting to reduce unnecessary contacts, the home has become not only as a place to be with our loved ones, but also as an extended workplace and classroom for those who are working and studying from home or only heading to office and school on a rotation basis. 

There are many advantages to working / studying from home such as reduced commuting time and more quality moments with family. However, one of the downsides to staying at home for longer periods of time everyday will be encountering higher water and electricity bills due to increased water and energy consumption - especially when home appliances are switched on most of the time in a day. According to Tenaga Nasional Berhad, electrical appliances with cooling systems such as refrigerators, air conditioners and water purifiers are some of the culprits to higher electricity bills, while water usage has also increased to carry out daily routines such as cleaning and cooking as people are using them more in their self-imposed lockdown. 

In view of the current situation and considering that we may need to work or study from home till the cases have been reduced, it is time to check our home appliances that cause the most water and energy consumption and take some simple actions that will help us minimise our spending on water and electricity bills every month, at the same time uplifting our home environment for the better!  

1. Check your home appliances with cooling functions and consider switching to energy-saving ones!

Older appliances require more energy to run than newer ones, especially appliances with cooling systems such as air conditioner and refrigerator that use the most power. Naturally, this contributes to higher electricity bills. You may consider replacing your old cooling appliances with Energy Star-certified appliances, which are appliances certified by the Energy Commission to manufacturers of electrical appliances who comply with the standards of the energy performance test. Replacing old appliances may be costly at first, but it will benefit you in the long run thanks to the reduction in electric consumption and carbon footprint from the electricity generation as well. If you are already using Energy Star-certified appliances (or prefer to use older appliances), it is recommended to clean the appliances regularly to reduce energy consumption and prolong product lifespan as dirty filters in an air conditioner and an overpacked refrigerator will block the airflow and put more strain on the appliances to maintain the temperature. 

2. Examine the efficiency of old water filters and consider installing a point-of-entry water filter for your home

When it comes to water filters for homes, many would relate it to countertop or under-sink water filters that help to filter impurities for cleaner drinking water. Apart from countertop and under-sink water filters, an energy-saving point-of-entry (POE) water filter - installed at the main pipeline that supplies water to your home - would be a great option to consider! If you already have a water filter installed in your home, it is encouraged to conduct regular checking with your service provider to ensure it is functioning well and also be aware when it is time to replace an old water filter with an advanced energy-saving model. According to Mr. Koo Zao Cheong, Regional Business Development Manager of Waterco Malaysia (a leading one-stop solutions provider for safe and healthy water environment company), installing a POE water filter will bring numerous benefits to homes and is one of the best solutions to water wastage and high energy consumption. 

"Dirt, dust, sand and other contaminants from unfiltered water will form sediment build-up that can damage appliances like washing machines, water heaters and dishwashers. When water is not filtered properly before flowing into these appliances, the sediment will increase the energy consumption for the appliances as more power is needed for the appliances to function optimally. With a POE water filter, it can prevent sediment build-up thus prolonging the lifespan and preserving the energy efficiency of home appliances,” explained Mr. Koo.

3. Don’t forget your bathroom and kitchen fixtures! 

You may have noticed the constant drip from your bathroom and kitchen’s faucets. By simply fixing the leaks, you can actually save gallons of water a day! In addition to fixing dripping faucets, it is useful to check if your faucets and showerheads are equipped with water-conserving fixtures. Compared to older fixtures, newer bathroom fixtures like toilets, showerheads and faucets with low-flow features are designed to be more water-efficient than older models and can save hundreds of gallons a month. Consider installing low-flow shower heads and adding aerators to faucets if your fixtures are older models to ensure good water pressure and reduce water wastage.

4. Replacing old light bulbs with LED light bulbs

With us constantly being home, no doubt there will be times where we will switch on the lights for comfort especially during work or virtual classes. The light bulbs you use can be a major contributor to your electricity bill. One of the oldest energy-saving hacks is replacing incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs as LED lighting uses 25-80% less electricity compared to the former. If you are still using incandescent bulbs, consider switching to LED bulbs for energy saving and longer lifespan.

Whether you prefer to fix your old appliances or replace them with more advanced products with energy-efficient features, checking and examining your home appliances regularly is important to manage water and electricity usage while prolonging appliances’ lifespan. Not only will this be beneficial for our homes and quality of living, it will bring positive impacts towards our environment down the road. 

This content is provided by SLPR Worldwide Group.

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