WAYS TO MAKE YOU PAY LESS FOR ELECTRICITY

In the wake of overwhelming complaints from consumers against the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) and the pending increase in electricity bills, the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) says it will be offering energy conservation tips to consumers on its website www.consumeraffairsjamaica.gov.jm and through other means over the coming weeks.

Below are some of the tips offered. Others will be published next week.

Be an energy smart consumer in the kitchen

Conserve

• Try not to use your oven for baking just one item.
• Try to boil enough water for the required need.
• Try to use a size pot that matches the burner on which it is placed.

Appliances

When you do have to shop for a new appliance, look for appliances that are energy efficient. Compare energy usage of various brands in order to determine which will place a higher demand on your pocket when in use.

When you’re shopping for appliances, you can think of two price tags. The first one covers the purchase price – think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. You’ll be paying that second tag every month with your utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on the appliance.

Refrigerator/Freezer Energy Tips

• Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. An appropriate temperature can be achieved by placing the dial with temperature settings from one to eight, at the median mark, i.e. setting number four for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator; and for those with dual dials, a similar setting for the freezer section.
• To check refrigerator temperature, place an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the centre of the refrigerator. Read it after 24 hours. To check the freezer temperature, place a thermometer between frozen packages. Read it after 24 hours.
• Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers; frost build-up increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running. Don’t allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch.
• Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment or the seal may need replacing.
• Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
• Move your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum its condenser coils once a year unless you have a no-clean condenser model. Your refrigerator will run for shorter periods with clean coils.

Other Energy-Saving Kitchen Tips

• Be sure to place the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water even though it never reaches the faucet.
• If you need to purchase a gas oven or range, look for one with an automatic, electric ignition system. An electric ignition saves gas – because a pilot light is not burning continuously.
• In gas appliances. Look for blue flames; yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. Consult your manufacturer or your local utility company.
• Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better, and you will save energy.
• Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water; it’s faster and it uses les energy.
• Match the size of the pan to the heating element.
• If you cook with electricity, turn the stovetop burners off several minutes before the allotted cooking time. The heating element will stay hot long enough to finish the cooking without using more electricity. The same principle applies to oven cooking.
• Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a full-sized oven.
• Use pressure cookers and microwave ovens whenever it is convenient to do so. They can save energy by significantly reducing cooking time.