The number of appliances in our homes that are 'always on' is increasing day by day. With this, we are also becoming habituated to leading a luxurious life. Many of us can hardly think of our life without air-conditions, refrigerators and washing machines. All these home appliances consume high power. Moreover, we oftentimes forget to turn the lights off when we leave our room. However, it is necessary to help save electricity and lower your utility bills. As a homeowner, turning the lights off when you are not using them can help save money by reducing your electricity bills, extend the life of your light bulbs, and buy bulbs less often.
Analysing Bangladesh's recent load-shedding situation, caused by a fuel crisis, we can say that turning your appliances off is essential when you go out of your home even for a few minutes. Doing so can make your home more energy-efficient. While choosing home appliance options, you should always consider high-quality and cost-effective options. Being a responsible citizen, every small contribution can count and help the nation to withstand in these difficult times.
We must raise awareness among our surrounding people so that the usage of power can be curtailed. And we can do so by staying away from illuminating shops and shopping malls, digital displays and decorative lights as they consume huge power. We no longer need billboards or digital displays that are kept on for the entire night. The same can be said for some street lights. A number of them could be switched off before the dawn. The lights in the high-rise buildings where the entire staircase is illuminated may be switched off at one point. The authorities concerned should encourage everyone to use solar panels more. These are some of the measures which we can collectively and willingly implement and for sure they will save at least 5-7 per cent of power demand.
Arpit Parikh,
Senior Banker, Dhaka,
arpitvparikh@yahoo.com