What should a person do first to reduce their electric bill? As more and more Bahamians want to go green, I find more people are looking for the answer to the question “What changes should I make first?” This can get difficult when someone with a tight budget is asking. Let’s face it – those who need to make green changes the most are also the ones who can least afford today’s rising power bills.
The question makes sense, especially with all the buzz about adding solar panels to your home or helping the environment while saving money. So what does it all mean? How do people who want to start do so?
In truth, not everyone can place five or six kilowatts of solar power on their roof in The Bahamas. The orientation of some roofs is not suitable, and many people rent. If you live in a home or apartment where solar panels are not a practical solution, I have good news for you – sometimes the best first steps are the smallest! So, let’s start with the low hanging GREEN fruit and go for the easy green changes that you can make simply:
Start switching electrical items off at the power board or unplugging them altogether when not in use. This reduces “phantom power drain.” Just like phantoms cannot be seen, plugged-in appliances invisibly drain power even when they are off. In fact, the phantom drain can pull as much power every year as the device uses when it is actually activated! Culprits are phone chargers, clothes washers, tumble dryers, DVD players and computers. Consider that an average microwave is used for less than 10 minutes per day but the phantom’s standby power lasts for 23 hours and 50 minutes each day. Solution = Unplug or use power boards. This alone can save an average household up to $336 a year. For businesses this figure can be multiplied, depending upon the number of electrical items drawing standby power.
Change out incandescent light bulbs and CFL bulbs to Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). This can cut the lighting portion of your electric bill by 70 to 90 percent. Prices for these products have become quite affordable and can carry great warranties. Plus, these can be easily switched out if you move regularly. Think about it! Savings have been shown to be dramatic in some households.
Fit a skylight. This solution is great for businesses as a few modern tubular skylights can easily cut your lighting bill in half. At home, kitchens, laundries, studies and all dark areas benefit from natural light brought in by skylights. Solar versions are another great alternative! Well-lit buildings not only save energy and money, but also appear larger, more inviting and are great home improvement options.
Add a solar attic vent. Properly ventilated roofs make an entire home feel cooler and more comfortable. This also means your air-condition has to work less, saving you money! Solar units also can extract hundreds more cubic yards of air per hour than older units, and they run for free from the sun.
When we consider going green, no one needs to feel excluded. There are excellent first steps available to every Bahamian, even if you are just renting! The old adage has never been more true: “The journey of 1,000 miles begins with the FIRST STEP.” Talk to a green solutions specialist to get you on the road to saving money while helping our environment today!
Joshua Key is operations manager for SuperGreen Solutions Bahamas, located on Wulf Road next to FYP. SuperGreen Solutions leads the market as one of the premier advisors, suppliers and installers of domestic and commercial energy efficient solutions, making it truly a ‘one stop energy efficient solution shop’.
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