Electricity bills have the tendency to become the most expensive utility bill many people pay in Ghana. This is why it was not so surprising when the President decided to subsidize 50% of electricity bills in the wake of COVID 19. Not surprisingly, this decision was met with applause and joy. 

The electricity subsidy is a short term measure that will not last forever and as such people need to continue practicing simple ways and tips to save electricity at home and reduce future bills. Below are some great recommendations to learn from: 

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Only Wash on Full Load

If you’re privileged to have a washing machine, then you should know it consumes a lot of power. It even consumes more when used at a half load. You will be surprised to know that you save about 25% to 50% of the energy of two small/half loads when you wash at a full load.

In case you have your favourite clothing or a small load in your laundry basket, and you’re itching to clean, simply hand wash as it is more energy efficient and you get to exercise your arms as well. Hand washing also presents the opportunity for detailed attention to cumbersome washing guides for some sophisticated fabrics.

Follow the steps below for energy efficient full load wash:

• Step 1: Soak your seriously stained clothing to avoid several rounds.
• Step 2: Use warm water (removes heavy soils faster) if it’s okay to use in your washing machine.
• Step 3: Some washing machines have energy saving features; if yours does, use it! 

LED Bulbs Save You a Ton!

If you haven’t changed the bulbs in your home to LED Bulbs, now is the time. They normally last longer than your traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, produce less heat, and offer intriguing characteristics that can drastically save you money on your electricity bill. 

The numbers are amazing as you can read below:

• LED bulbs are roughly 80% more energy efficient than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.
• Surprisingly, 95% of an LED bulb’s energy is converted into light while just 5% is lost to heat. This is the opposite to incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.
• They last roughly six months longer than traditional bulbs

Service Your Air conditioner

We live in a tropical region, so it gets hot almost all year long. Those who are fortunate enough to have air conditioners in their homes usually have to keep them running for long periods. This results in higher electricity bills which take deep cuts in the pockets of the owners. However, servicing your air conditioner will maintain it over a long period, and keep it working more efficiently which in turn reduces the amount of electricity used to power the air conditioner.

You can maintain your air conditioner by changing your air filter once per month, keeping the coils clean, checking the fins, inspecting the condensate drain, or scheduling a professional maintenance appointment to take care of all these if you cannot do it personally. You can watch the video below for how to clean your air conditioner at home.

                                                                                                                            Video by RoyTecTips on YouTube

Unplug Devices and Turn Off Electrical Sockets When Not in Use

Did you know chargers, TVs, toasters and others still draw electricity when not in use or when on standby? This wastes energy amounting to high electricity bills which could have been easily avoided. Simply make sure to turn off devices when not in use, and for devices that stay on stand-by when turned off, either unplug them or switch off the electrical sockets.

Adopt Solar Power

Solar power usage can arguably be said to be the most efficient form of energy, especially in our parts of the world where we enjoy constant sun almost all year round. You can argue that for the average Ghanaian solar panels are quite expensive, indeed, but it is also the best alternative to the national electricity grid. 

Making the initial investment for solar panels can tremendously set you up for years without any electricity bill, except for very low maintenance cost. You would also be “generating energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reducing some types of air pollution” (United States Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.).

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The government’s utility relief will surely end but with these simple ways to save electricity at home, you are assured to reduce your monthly electricity bill that causes you headache.