Unplug it, be kind to your wallet

Our common phone charger even drains energy while plugged in to the wall socket, so unplug it when not in use.

UNPLUG your electrical appliances and start saving money on your utility bills.

Electricity tariffs are going to get higher and we must accept an energy-efficient lifestyle to manage it.

It is good to switch off electrical appliances that we do not use. But even when our electrical appliances are technically turned off, they still tap a bit of electricity.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) pamphlets, given out to Selangor consumers, state that even when your appliances are technically turned off, they continue to drain energy off the wall socket.

This energy drain is known as the “phantom load”.

TNB recommends that consumers unplug their appliances from electricity sockets when not in use.

Even after turning off a computer or keeping it idle or in sleep mode, it still draws power.

Our common phone charger even drains energy while plugged in to the wall socket, so unplug it when not in use.

Studies say phantom load accounts for about 1% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions every year.

With all the electrical appliances plugged in at our homes despite being on standby or idle mode, the phantom load would amount to about 5% of the monthly electric bill.

Electrical plugs draw a little energy but this little draw of electricity can add up over time and drive up our monthly usage and thus our electricity bill.

So unplugging devices can actually help save consumers’ money.

One advice is to eliminate phantom load and use smart power strips with on or off switches that can be turned off when electrical appliances are not in use.

Do get a power strip with a built-in surge protector so that your connected electrical devices will not be left vulnerable to power surges.

We come across a lot of advice on how we can start saving money on our utility bills, but sometimes it can be hard to tell what advice will really make a difference.

Appliances that consume the most energy in our homes are usually the refrigerators or air-conditioners.

According to the pamphlets, one approach to reduce energy consumption is to shift to Five Star energy appliances.

In Malaysia, we have four types of appliances that are certified as Five Star by the Energy Commission of Malaysia, namely the refrigerator, air-conditioner, fan and television.

We might find the prices a little steep but the energy-efficient appliances will save a lot more money in the long run.

Another area is lighting and it also consumes the most electricity as many people turn on their porch lights throughout the night to keep their homes safe.

Switching to solar lights to light up the garden or the porch will potentially reduce your electricity bill.