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How frugal are your electrical appliances?

BEE rates energy efficiency of electrical appliances. Check if the appliances you buy have its label, writes BIJU GOVIND

Energy-guzzler: Conventional bulbs are not energy efficient compared to compact fluorescent lamps.

Most people buy home appliances without knowing whether these will raise or lower their electricity bills. Many have no idea how energy-efficient are the equipment they buy.

Now, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), functioning under the Union Ministry of Power, has introduced a labelling system for electrical appliances to denote their efficiency.

The bureau has undertaken an intensive campaign to save power.

BEE-labelled appliances save energy and ultimately, save money on electricity bills.

Stars ranging from one to five are awarded for products, such as frost-free refrigerators, fluorescent lamps and air-conditioners. More stars means better efficiency. The stars are highlighted in colour on the labels stuck on the products.

One of the best ways to save energy is turning off lights when not required. Automatic devices installed inside lighting equipment can help to save energy.

Consider fixing infrared or motion sensors, automatic timers, dimmers and solar cells to switch on or off lights.

Dirty tube lights and bulbs reflect less light and can absorb half the light; so, dust your lamps regularly.

Fluorescent tube lights and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) convert electricity to light up to five times more efficiently than ordinary bulbs do, reducing power consumption by 70 per cent.

Ninety percent of the energy consumed by an ordinary bulb is given off as heat. Replace your electricity-guzzling ordinary bulbs with more efficient types. A 15-watt CFL produces the same amount of light that a 60-watt incandescent bulb emits.

Ceiling or table fans, not air-conditioners, should form the first line of defence against the summer heat. Ceiling fans cost about 30 paise an hour to operate, whereas running an air-conditioner sets you back by Rs.10 an hour. One can reduce power consumption by air-conditioners by 40 percent by shading windows and walls. Plant trees and shrubs if you have enough space on the premises of your house, BEE says.

A good air-conditioner will cool and dehumidify a room in about 30 minutes; so, use a timer and leave the unit off for some time.

Keep doors to air-conditioned rooms closed as often as possible. Clean the air-conditioner filter every month. A dirty filter reduces airflow and may damage the unit. Clean filters enable the unit to cool down quickly and use less energy.

Refrigerators are another high power consumption appliances.

Make sure that these are kept away from sources of heat, including direct sunlight, radiators and appliances such as oven and cooking range.

When it is dark, place a lit flashlight inside the refrigerator and close the door.

If light is seen around the door, the seals need to be replaced.

Make sure that the rubber door seals are clean and tight. They should hold a slip of paper snugly. If the paper slips out easily, replace the seals.

Refrigerator motors and compressors generate heat; so, allow enough space for continuous airflow around the refrigerator.

If the heat cannot escape, the refrigerator’s cooling system will work harder and use more energy, say BEE guidelines on tips for saving energy.

Allow hot and warm food to cool and cover them well before putting them in the refrigerator to save energy and reduce condensation.

When dust builds up on a refrigerator’s condenser coils, the motor works harder and uses more electricity. Clean the coils regularly to make sure that air can circulate freely.

Microwaves save energy by reducing cooking time. A microwave oven cuts energy cost by 50 per cent compared with a regular oven, especially for small quantities of food. Microwaves cook food from the outside edge toward the centre of the dish. Hence, if you are cooking more than one item, place larger and thicker items on the outside.

Many homes now have computers. Turn off the system when not in use. A computer that runs 24 hours a day uses more power than an energy-efficient refrigerator do.

Setting computers, monitors, and copiers to sleep-mode when not in use helps cut energy costs by approximately 40 per cent.

Battery chargers, such as those for laptops, cellphones and digital cameras, draw power whenever they are plugged in and are inefficient.

BEE says that screen savers save computer screens, not energy.

Start-ups and shutdowns do not use any extra energy, nor are they hard on your computer components. Logging off computers not only reduces system wear but also saves energy.

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