When it comes to Utility Bills in Bangkok, the big, pricey, and scary variable tends to be Energy Bills. Anyone living in the city soon comes to realize that electricity costs can really skyrocket, especially if consumption is left unchecked. No one likes expensive Utility Bills, so wanting to save is TOTALLY understandable. To help you in your quest, Fresh’s Editorial has prepared easy ways to save on that Energy Bill of yours!

1. Aircon Usage

With average temperatures soaring to 31°C in the summer, Bangkok can get extremely hot and sweaty. In those conditions, it is always tempting to switch that Aircon to the lowest available temperature at full blast.

But DON’T! Aircons are massive contributors to your monthly electricity bills, and all you need for an optimally cooled room is 24-25°C settings as well as a sealed or enclosed space (I.e. closing any Windows, Balcony Doors and Doors etc.).

2. Aircon Cleaning

This may seem foreign to Expats from countries with colder climates. However, Aircons need regular servicing. The filters of the electrical appliance get dirty through prolonged use and it is always recommended to have them serviced every 3-6 months.

The difference between a serviced and non-serviced Aircon unit performance can be huge!

3. Get a Fan or simply go Natural!

Air Con is, without a doubt, the biggest culprit behind spikes in Energy Bills.

On quiet days-off, it is always tempting to run these appliances the whole day. However, the most obvious way to dramatically decrease energy consumption is to simply adopt cooling alternatives and stop using Aircons (When possible).

Buying a fan or simply opening windows or balcony doors are amazing ways to significantly save moey!

4. Washing Machine Usage

Washing Machines, like Air Con Units, can really be electricity guzzlers!
So a few easy tips to save some more money with washing machines:

– Wash with a full load
– Wash using cold/low temperature programs
– Wash using short programs (If possible)

5. Water Heating Unit

Most condos have electrical water heating units to manage the water temperature within the property. These appliances tend to have water temperature settings such as “Low, Medium, High” (Or Simply Temperature Dials). Having very “high settings” is not required especially with Bangkok’s tropical climate. Besides purchasing an energy-efficient water heater, you can either:

• use less hot water
• turn down the thermostat on your water heater
• insulate the water heater as well as the first six feet of hot and cold water pipes

6. Turn-off Electrical Appliances

This is a really obvious tip, always ensure unused electrical appliances are off when not in use. This includes mundane items such as DVD Players, TVs, and even room lights. Unplugging or turning off electrical appliances when not in use could save money up to 10% each month.

7. Get Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

Simply hop by any Bangkok Hypermarket (I.e. Lotus’ or Big C) and get some energy-saving (Maybe even Eco-friendly) light bulbs. They are usually more durable and efficient than the conventionally used cheap light bulbs.

8. Replace Ancient Electrical Appliances

While this may not be the “easiest” tip (Or cheapest tip), it is inevitable that every once in a while you will have to replace your electrical appliances at some point. If a Fridge, Washing Machine, and/or Aircon Unit is outdated, it will naturally underperform and be energy-inefficient.

White goods tend to be the biggest consumers of electricity and if an appliances is really outdated (I.e. over 5 Years old and falling apart), you will save tons more on electricity long-term if you do replace that item.

9. Switch from a stove to a microwave

Reheating food is equally as energy-consuming and taxing as it is necessary. Despite a stove being more effective in maintaining the flavor of food, a microwave is actually more energy-efficient as it uses relatively short bursts of power for a short amount of time as opposed to a stove’s nature of being prone to losing energy.

10. Use natural lighting instead of lightbulbs

Artificial lighting via lightbulbs is exactly what takes up majority of your electrical energy costs, a trade-off from it being convenient and usable practically 24.7. In order to reduce the cost of electrical energy from lightbulbs, however, you can also use natural lighting via sunlight from your window, provided that the daytime is sunny enough.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it! A few lifestyle changes, a few alternatives, some integration of nature, and you should be able to lower the cost of electrical energy fees being a huge blow to your wallets altogether. All-in-all everyone at Fresh hopes that this article will be useful in your monthly energy saving adventure. If you are successful and manage to save a few hundred baht, perhaps think of sharing the love and invite the Fresh’s editorial team for dinner! In the meantime, let us know what you think in the comments below.

Have further questions? Contact us!

Got further questions? Don’t hesitate to speak up, contact us today!

Fresh Property is a property agency specializing in condos, homes and apartments in Central Bangkok.
Browse our collection of rentals and sales properties or get in touch via email at [email protected].