Tips for coping with power shortage, saving on bills
Monday, 27 April 2009
Shah Zulfiqar Haider
"CUT your coat according to your cloth", ought to be a good way out for the consumers in Bangladesh, facing a perennial energy shortage. The Holy Quran also strictly prohibits wastage. Besides, when the rest of the world has opted for energy efficiency, why should not Bangladesh?
Bangladesh faces peak-hour shortages, every evening, mainly affecting residential and other consumers between 6pm and 11pm. The off-peak-hour shortage, on the other hand, affects industrial, commercial and other consumers. The power shortage, therefore, can be divided into peak-hour and non-peak hour supply problem affecting virtually all categories of consumers.
In Bangladesh the cost of generation and supply of electricity to consumers is around Tk 5.50 per KWHr. But the consumers pay around Tk. 3.50 per KWHr. So, the power utility loses Tk. 2.0 per unit. The utilities are, therefore, thinking to further enhance the tariff.
As the consumers' income is not increasing, they need to stop electricity wastage to save on the bills by at least 25 per cent. It would also give longer life to the electrical equipment they use. It would also help cut down load shedding to benefit the entire country.
A 100 watt bulb, used for 10 hours, consumes one kilowatt hour or one unit of electricity (100 watt x 10 hours= 1000 watt hours=1.0 Kilowatt hour)= 1.0 unit of electricity consumed. For domestic consumers, 1.0 unit in the second slab costs Tk 3.62 including VAT. For the commercial consumer, one unit costs Tk 6.10 including VAT
INSTANT ELECTRICITY SAVING TIPS: Some measures, if adopted properly, will save at least 25 per cent of one's power bill. The normal incandescent lamps, which consume 90 per cent electricity for heating and 10 per cent for illumination, should be avoided. For more than four hours of lighting a day, fluorescent or compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) or energy saving lamps, would save more than 60 per cent electricity cost. Again they come with at least one year's warranty. But always quality CFLs should be bought for less heat emission and the consequent less green house effect.
In Australia, England and a number of other countries normal bulbs are being replaced by CFL. Regular cleaning of the bulbs will give more light. The slim tube lights give more light and saves electricity. Tube lights with electronic ballasts save more energy. Table lamps, instead of room lighting, should be used for reading. For night lighting, energy-conserving four-watt green, blue-green bulbs, with back light technology, would consume a negligible 0.03 watts.
Wiring, specially grounding regularly should be checked regularly for safety and economy. Often electricity flows to earth due to leakage, leading to more electricity misuse. Fans and regulators should be regularly serviced or maintained. Computers should be on standby mode or put off, when not in use. Ironing in bulk is more economic than doing it peace meal. Refrigerators and deep freezes should be kept at well ventilated places. Multiple door refrigerators consume less of electricity. Nothing hot should be kept in a refrigerator.
For cooking, microwave ovens consume less of electricity than normal ovens. Washing machines or dish washer used with full load of clothes or crockery is more economic. Drying clothes in the sun makes it more sensible. Unnecessary opening of electric oven and refrigerator doors should be avoided. Air conditioners and geysers consume maximum electricity. An air conditioner consumes electricity worth at least Tk. 2000 per month. Air conditioners need checking, cleaning and replacement of filters every month. Dirty filter blocks air flow through the cooling system. In summers, use of fans, as much possible is more advisable. Fans and air conditioners used together will cool the room with less energy consumed. The heating system requires regular checking and cleaning of its furnace filter to ensure its longer life. The temperature of water heaters or geysers should be kept as low as possible. It should be used with thermostat and timer control. Geyser and its piping should be leak proof.
The lights, TV, computer, fans, air conditioner etc., should be switched off when not in use or when leaving the room. Daytime lighting should be avoided. Sunlight should be used as much possible. Light colour paints on walls economises electricity consumption. The gas cooker should be put off when not in use. Domestic helps should be motivated not to keep the gas cooker always 'on'. It can cause fatal accidents. Quality and energy efficient household electric equipment saves energy, while the cheap or less costly ones consume more electricity.
The writer, general manager, Mymensingh PBS-2, can be reached at szhaider123@hotmail.com
"CUT your coat according to your cloth", ought to be a good way out for the consumers in Bangladesh, facing a perennial energy shortage. The Holy Quran also strictly prohibits wastage. Besides, when the rest of the world has opted for energy efficiency, why should not Bangladesh?
Bangladesh faces peak-hour shortages, every evening, mainly affecting residential and other consumers between 6pm and 11pm. The off-peak-hour shortage, on the other hand, affects industrial, commercial and other consumers. The power shortage, therefore, can be divided into peak-hour and non-peak hour supply problem affecting virtually all categories of consumers.
In Bangladesh the cost of generation and supply of electricity to consumers is around Tk 5.50 per KWHr. But the consumers pay around Tk. 3.50 per KWHr. So, the power utility loses Tk. 2.0 per unit. The utilities are, therefore, thinking to further enhance the tariff.
As the consumers' income is not increasing, they need to stop electricity wastage to save on the bills by at least 25 per cent. It would also give longer life to the electrical equipment they use. It would also help cut down load shedding to benefit the entire country.
A 100 watt bulb, used for 10 hours, consumes one kilowatt hour or one unit of electricity (100 watt x 10 hours= 1000 watt hours=1.0 Kilowatt hour)= 1.0 unit of electricity consumed. For domestic consumers, 1.0 unit in the second slab costs Tk 3.62 including VAT. For the commercial consumer, one unit costs Tk 6.10 including VAT
| Sl | Item | Consumption watt (W) | Hours Use For 1 Unit | Remarks |
| 1 | 100 watt normal light | 100 | 10 | |
| 2 | 32/33 Watt Energy Saving Lamps (CFL-equivalent to 100 watt normal bulb) | 32/33 | 30 | 66% Electricity saved |
| 3 | 60 watt normal bulb | 60 | 16.67 | |
| 4 | 22 watt CFL (equivalent to 60 watt normal bulb) | 22 | 45 | 60% Electricity saved |
| 5 | 4 feet Tube light with normal ballast | 48-50 | 21 | |
| 6 | 4 feet Tube light with Electronic ballast | 34 | 29 | 29% electricity saved |
| 7 | TV | 100 | 10 | |
| 8 | Refrigerator | 100 | 10 | |
| 9 | Computer | 100 | 10 | |
| 10 | Computer in Standby mode | 10 | 100 | Consumes 1/10th of full use state |
| 11 | Exhaust Fans | 40 | 25 | |
| 12 | Fan | 75 | 14 | |
| 13 | Air conditioner | 2000 | 0.5 | |
| 14 | Washing machine | 500 | 2 | |
| 15 | Geyser | 2000 | 0.5 | |
| 16 | Mixer Grinder | 500 | 2 | |
| 17 | Electric Iron | 1000 | 1 | |
| 18 | 1 Horse Power pump | 750 | 1.33 |
INSTANT ELECTRICITY SAVING TIPS: Some measures, if adopted properly, will save at least 25 per cent of one's power bill. The normal incandescent lamps, which consume 90 per cent electricity for heating and 10 per cent for illumination, should be avoided. For more than four hours of lighting a day, fluorescent or compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) or energy saving lamps, would save more than 60 per cent electricity cost. Again they come with at least one year's warranty. But always quality CFLs should be bought for less heat emission and the consequent less green house effect.
In Australia, England and a number of other countries normal bulbs are being replaced by CFL. Regular cleaning of the bulbs will give more light. The slim tube lights give more light and saves electricity. Tube lights with electronic ballasts save more energy. Table lamps, instead of room lighting, should be used for reading. For night lighting, energy-conserving four-watt green, blue-green bulbs, with back light technology, would consume a negligible 0.03 watts.
Wiring, specially grounding regularly should be checked regularly for safety and economy. Often electricity flows to earth due to leakage, leading to more electricity misuse. Fans and regulators should be regularly serviced or maintained. Computers should be on standby mode or put off, when not in use. Ironing in bulk is more economic than doing it peace meal. Refrigerators and deep freezes should be kept at well ventilated places. Multiple door refrigerators consume less of electricity. Nothing hot should be kept in a refrigerator.
For cooking, microwave ovens consume less of electricity than normal ovens. Washing machines or dish washer used with full load of clothes or crockery is more economic. Drying clothes in the sun makes it more sensible. Unnecessary opening of electric oven and refrigerator doors should be avoided. Air conditioners and geysers consume maximum electricity. An air conditioner consumes electricity worth at least Tk. 2000 per month. Air conditioners need checking, cleaning and replacement of filters every month. Dirty filter blocks air flow through the cooling system. In summers, use of fans, as much possible is more advisable. Fans and air conditioners used together will cool the room with less energy consumed. The heating system requires regular checking and cleaning of its furnace filter to ensure its longer life. The temperature of water heaters or geysers should be kept as low as possible. It should be used with thermostat and timer control. Geyser and its piping should be leak proof.
The lights, TV, computer, fans, air conditioner etc., should be switched off when not in use or when leaving the room. Daytime lighting should be avoided. Sunlight should be used as much possible. Light colour paints on walls economises electricity consumption. The gas cooker should be put off when not in use. Domestic helps should be motivated not to keep the gas cooker always 'on'. It can cause fatal accidents. Quality and energy efficient household electric equipment saves energy, while the cheap or less costly ones consume more electricity.
The writer, general manager, Mymensingh PBS-2, can be reached at szhaider123@hotmail.com