Electrifying Energy Efficiency
Did you know that around 85% of Malaysia’s electricity consumption stems from non-renewable sources? In fact, coal-fired plants alone account for a whopping 45.4% of our electricity generation (as estimated by The Economist Intelligence Unit in 2018). So how can we decrease our dependence on non-renewable energy?
Here’s where we can do our part in saving energy. Take a closer look at your daily habits. Start off with some small steps and encourage your family members to follow suit.
Better ways to brighten up
- While we do not want a gloomy home, overlighted rooms are also not a good look. Make use of natural light where possible.
- Use dimmer switches for your house – they are cheap and easy to install, and let you have more control over power usage.
- Change your bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and light-emitting diodes (LEDS) for longer lasting usage.
Cooling down your home
- Shut curtains and close doors when it is hot outside. Blinds can also create an extra layer of insulation to reduce unwanted heat.
- Indoor plants keep a house cooler by adding humidity and consuming hot air for their natural processes. Plants like aloe veras, baby rubber plants and ferns can add beauty and value to your living space.
- A layer of insulation under the roof can also reduce indoor temperatures by 3C to 5C, and it doesn’t need maintenance if correctly installed.
Electronic usage
- The term vampire energy or vampire power refers to power points that “suck” electricity all the time, which adds up in your monthly bill. Just turning off the switch is not enough. Instead, try unplugging your appliances when not in use.
- Charge your devices during the off-peak period which is between 10 pm to 8 am daily, and weekends are considered off-peak throughout.
- Don’t use standby mode for tablets and laptops when not in use. The devices remain fully powered and, thus, energy consumption will remain unchanged.
