SLC32-W1 || Real Life Problem Solving Challenge: Save Electricity At Home

Hi friends,
I would like to take part in this week's SC-S32/W1-Real Life Problem Solving Challenge: Save Electricity At Home contest https://steemit.com/steem-for-pakistan/@ahsansharif/slc32-w1-real-life-problem-solving-challenge-save-electricity-at-home-mpjbj9b0 organised by @ahsansharif

source

01 What are two electrical appliances in your home that use a lot of electricity? Explain with original pictures.

Before the installation of solar water heating system, our house had a water heater that required a lot of power to run. Now, since we have a solar water heater, the need for power has been reduced significantly. Nonetheless, we still have our current fridge and washing machine, which use up a huge amount of power. The reason behind this is that our fridge runs for twenty-four hours a day while our washing machine runs for at least four hours a day, since it is automatic, it consumes heavy power.

02 What two methods do you use to reduce electricity consumption? Show at least one practical method with a selfie.

Solar water heater

In order to ensure that there are no electricity shortages at home, there have been two major changes made by me. First of all, there is a solar water heater installed. Not only does it fulfill our hot water needs, but it covers 100% of electricity requirements related to the water heater; that is to say, the whole supply of energy required for operation of this system comes entirely from solar energy. Operating independently, it supplies hot water constantly. The water heated under the influence of solar energy during the day accumulates in the insulated tank. Hot water will be available 24/7 via our plumbing system. Being heated up to 80 degrees centigrade, this temperature is quite enough for us.

Solar Panel

The second approach includes solar panels, whereby I have fitted two solar panels on my terrace. The solar panels charge the battery, which is activated automatically to supply power whenever there is a disruption in the electrical current. As a result, our house does not undergo a power failure because the inverter runs from the battery supply of electricity all times. Power failures tend to happen mostly in summer, usually due to heavy load and malfunctioning of the transformers. However, thanks to the system, we can always get sufficient power supply from the battery due to the solar panels.

03 Have the two methods you use to reduce electricity consumption resulted in a reduction in your electricity bill or not? Explain

Certainly, I have benefited greatly from both of the aforementioned solar options. For example, the solar water heater does not only meet our daily requirements of hot water but has helped cut down our electricity bills to a great extent as well. Actually, as it is known, water heaters are those devices that use the highest amount of electricity in any household, thus, installing this solar water heater has certainly reduced this expense for us significantly. In other words, it would be true to say that it has brought our electricity bills down by around 25%.

Moreover, about the solar panels: if one possesses an inverter, a lot of power is needed for its charging process, thus, causing high electricity expenses. Actually, usually, when a household spends around 1,000 rupees monthly on its electricity bill, having an inverter causes this expenditure to reach 1,500 rupees—which means an increment by approximately 35%. However, I could assure you that with the help of the installation of the solar panels, this increment has been considerably reduced.

04 What is the easiest habit for you to save electricity?

Here are a few simple ways to make this a part of your daily routine:

• The easiest, simplest and most effective habit for saving electricity is to switch off fans, lights, and other electronic devices whenever you leave a room or are not using them.

• Switching Off Unused Appliances: Televisions, microwave ovens, and charger plugs have some power consumption (phantom load) even if they are idle. For this reason, it is recommended to turn them off and switch their plug point off as well.

• Energy-Saving Bulbs: Use new LED bulbs instead of old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, which consume much more energy.

• Natural Lighting: During the daytime, avoid using electric lights; instead, open your window curtains to utilize natural daylight.

• AC Usage: Setting your air conditioner to 23°C or 24°C can result in substantial electricity savings.

05 What advice would you give to others to save electricity so that they can reduce their electricity bill and save money?

• If everyone hand-washes their own small clothes, such as undergarments and handkerchiefs, before bathing and sets them out to dry, it will reduce the use of the washing machine.

• If we own an electric vehicle, it is advisable to use it sparingly; apart from necessary and essential trips, it is better to walk.

• Every house should install solar water heaters and solar panels to generate their own electricity; this will not only fulfill their energy requirements but also reduce their electricity bills.

• Furthermore, when purchasing electrical appliances, pay attention to the star rating displayed on them; purchasing 5-star rated appliances will help reduce your electricity bill.

I want to invite my friends

@pathanapsana

@alexanderpeace

@dequeen
to take part in this contest.