ENVIROMIND Vol.1: 9 Easy Ways to Lower your Utility Bills in Tropical Country

Malia Sinaga

23 Oct 2022 • 6 min read

Electricity, water and gas usage. The three most common utilities in our house. They are the ones that use the most energy and contribute to our monthly or yearly bills. Seems like every year there is no significant cutback on this bills and yet a lot of people still living with the same amount of salary. Whether it is the geopolitical weather, the devastating effects from climate change or other possible factors that influence our energy balance. We have to do something about our own consumption especially in our home.

But, what can we really do? Here’s what.

1. Change your lamp from bulb to LED

Traditional bulbs are literally light-burning money. It can cost you a few million rupiahs every year if you do not do anything about it. For a turning-on/off switch, LED technology is still the best option. The amount of energy savings achieved by LED are 30% to 90%. LED lamps are saver when touched because it works at a much lower temperature. It is also last a long time, some even last until over 2 decades. This contributes to low maintenance or even maintenance-free and easy to install aspect of it. LED lamps are great for human eyes, they deliver better lighting quality and visibility with higher frequency flicker rate to reduce the risk of headache. The latest form of LED comes in tremendous design flexibility and smart connectivity features like sensors that are compatible with smart home systems. So, if you notice your traditional bulbs stopped working, go buy a new LED bulb instead.

2. Install a lamp that switch on by motion sensor and brighter intelligent sensor

Related to the smart lighting system, you can try investing on a motion sensor or brighter intelligent sensor lamp for switching off places that you tend to forget. With motion sensor lamp, when it detect movement, the light switches on, when the motion stops being detected, the sensor shuts off the light. But, the intelligent sensor will not immediately switch on or switch off the light. They will analyse how big or small the movements and how much light needed according to the brightness around the room and then start adjusting the brightness or dimming the light. Both of these smart lighting system creates savings potentials (energy costs) for your home.

3. The power of the Sun: Install solar tubes and transparent roof for internal areas lighting or solar panels

Installing solar tubes, transparent roof or solar panel in a tropical country like Indonesia, where the seasons are limited to summer and super hot summer is a very beneficial way to reduce the utility bills. Even though we know that the sun does not always shine for 24/7, it is still pretty available all year round. Like any other renewable energy, the upfront price for solar panel or installing solar tubes are quite high. But it will cut costs and CO2 emissions in the long run. Most solar technology companies are also offering a long time warranty. A great solar panel can serve you for 25 years. The absence of extreme climates like winter can reduce the possibility of damages. Therefore, if you have extra cash, you can literally use it to save money. If you want to start small while considering to install the solar technology, you can always open your windows curtain in the middle of the day to let the free lighting light your home.

4. Air Conditioner Hacks

In a tropical country, especially during hot summers, you may spend lots of money try to cool your house down with air conditioner or AC. There are some hacks that you can apply for your house AC and lower your bills. First, use AC with smart inverter. The Smart Inverter technology adjusts its output power as per set temperature. Once set temperature is achieved, smart inverter AC reduces its output power and hence ensures less power consumption. Non-inverter air conditioner shuts off and turns on every time when the temperature reaches the set temperature. Another effective and fun way is by setting timer for your AC in a short period of time to lower the temperature and then change it to an electric fan, this way the fan can uses the already cooled air in the room plus you will unlikely forget to switch off your AC. Lastly, if you only have AC as your home-cooling system, you can adjust the AC temperature to upper range of temperature (26°C) and always close the door and the window, it will make your AC works less hard.

5. Switch traditional water pump to automatic pump

This has helped me so much. Not only it lowers the bills, it also saves water, power and time. The amount of time I’m stressing over empty water supply when I have to wash my hair in the middle of shower is finally over thanks to this small action. The water pressure management uses special sensors and time controllers in pumping the water level to its maximum before the peak hours. It also maintains the water level throughout the day. This will never let your tank overflowing.

6. Collect rain water (simple rain water harvesting) for gardening

“When the sun isn’t shinning, I’m dancing in the rain.” Yes, you can be a happy person when the rainy season comes with a simple container. Collect the rain water into containers and use it for your plants in hot summers to lower your water bills. Remember to always use a lid so it does not attract mosquitos.

7. Keep the car as light as possible

Keep your car clean and always pack what you really need for the day. Not only for comfort or the well-organized feelings that can help brighten up your days. The lighter a vehicle, the less gas it takes to work, since it takes less energy to accelerate a lighter object than a heavier one.

8. Drive at a constant speed

According to Indonesian BPJT (Badan Pengatur Jalan Tol), we should drive on the highway or inner city toll road with the minimum driving speed for 60 km/hour and the maximum driving speed for 80 km/hour. This is actually a very smart way to save your gas. On an average, most cars best performance are at a constant gas mileage around 80 km/hour. This way, you will not waste your gas over wind resistance and friction that you might get with driving beyond the maximum driving speed.

9. Warmer temperatures are great for driving

This is a fun fact about driving in hot climate or tropical regions. The hotter the day, the easier your vehicle fluids for example the motor oil and gas to flow into the machines and components easier. This means that your car will react much faster and does not have to work as hard mechanically.