Hot ‘kuryentipid’ tips

Dinner by candle-light on Valentine’s Day? Ah, wouldn’t that be so romantic? Yes, but only if you’re dining at some fine restaurant and not eating at home, where the power has suddenly been cut off because you can’t pay your electric bill. And the light of your life has blown her fuse and is now raising hell.

In this season of love that tugs at the heartstrings, we must do all we can to stretch our pursestrings as we brace ourselves for higher power rates this month. EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, shares some down-to-earth tips to help homes and offices cut their electricity costs and at the same time cool the planet.

Says Rei Panaligan, EcoWaste coordinator, “The judicious use of electricity is not only good for the purse, but also for the planet. By saving energy, we cut greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels like coal that is propelling climate change.”

Two heads (make that 12 organizations) are better than one. Putting their brilliant ideas together are sustainable lifestyle advocates from Ang Nars, Buklod Tao, Concerned Citizens Against Pollution, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Krusada sa Kalikasan, Miss Earth Foundation, Mother Earth Foundation, Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, Sining Yapak, WomanHealth, and the EcoWaste Coalition’s Secretariat.

The tips are quite doable. They’re as simple as turning off lights, remembering to unplug appliances when not in use, opening the windows, organizing household chores, and choosing not to iron clothes (or maybe scheduling a press day — that is, when you press all your clothes).

“Declutter as much space as possible so that natural light and ventilation can penetrate and circulate freely,” stresses Rene Pineda, president of the Concerned Citizens Against Pollution. If we may add, it’s good feng shui and good for the health.

“The crumpled look is in so you don’t need to iron clothes and linen at home,” goes the smart motherly advice of Baby Reyes, vice president of Mother Earth Foundation.

“Hand wash instead of using the washing machine,” suggests Bro. Martin Francisco, president of the Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society.

And now, this bright idea from health rights advocate Dr. Leah Primitiva Samaco-Paquiz, president of Ang Nars: Why not a weekly “one-hour lights off” nationwide to cut down on power consumption?

Here are more top kuryentipid tips to bring your electric bill down while doing your bit to save Mother Earth.

• Open the curtains and windows and declutter your home or office to let the natural light in. Remember less is more — you use less power, save more money.

• Put skylights wherever possible to maximize the daylight.

• Switch off lights when not needed.

• Wipe lighting fixtures clean to improve illumination.

4.  Don’t leave appliances, computers, and gadgets on standby mode; never ever forget to unplug.

• Open the windows and let the sunshine or sunlight and fresh air in.

• Use fans and airconditioners sparingly, ensuring that blades and filters are kept clean.

• Organize well your chores like cooking, cleaning, washing and ironing clothes, and try to do these less frequently.

• Put leftover food on top of newly-cooked rice to warm it instead of using the stove, toaster or microwave.

• Keep your washing machine loads at maximum; wash manually if possible.

• Use just the right amount of detergent to avoid extra rinsing.

• Hang clothes to dry instead of using the electric dryer.

• Don’t bother ironing house, school, and even office clothes.

• Plan your refrigerator trips to avoid frequent opening and closing of the fridge.

• Set fridge temperature at 5°C, and leave enough room around the top and back to let the heat escape.

• Use the kulambo (mosquito net) instead of electric mosquito repellants.

And these final tipid words: “Spread these kuryentipid tips and persuade your housemates, officemates, and friends to live sustainably,” EcoWaste enjoins the public. –Ching M. Alano (The Philippine Star)