You must have noticed that the electricity bill has shot up over the recent months by approximately 20% and the signs are that it will continue to rise. The electricity bill has now come up as a priority in a household’s expenses, sometimes even surpassing the rent of a unit. For this reason we must all consider what to do in order to minimize the cost of this expense. One hopes of course that the electricity hike is a short term measure in order to cover the electricity station explosion and/or at least when “our” gas find reaches the island (expected within 2-4 years) the electricity cost will be reduced considerably. Whatever the situation of the future is, the electricity bill is high especially during these difficult times, especially with the euro going down, making a most financially difficult situation even worse. Sacrifices are needed should one wants to go down the economy route and limit the living expenses. On this point we provide for your consideration a summary of measures that we came up with (but we are sure that there are ideas around by others which we should all share).

Air conditioning:

• If you use A/C for heating it is a disaster. If no option use it sparingly with an automated system to reach an X level of heat/cool only. Try to use plug in heaters (cost only €135) which are quite economical and very slim. They come on a trolley and you can move them around - e.g. from the living room to the bedroom when bed time comes etc.

• If cooling is what you need, try to use ceiling fans either on their own or in addition to the A/C since it circulates the air better and reduces the cooling time.

Swimming pool:
During winter use the pool circulation pumps 4 hours per day. Two hours in the evening and two in the morning. In summer this could increase to 6 hours. Alternatively have your pool covered and use the pumps 1 hour per day (2-3 hours in the summer). In addition you save water and chemicals from evaporation as well as cleaning and filter costs.

Garden lights:
Lovely to look at at night but it is costly. Either shut them down or limits the lights at intervals. Use economy bulbs since they tend to reduce the consumption cost by approximately 20%.

House Lights:
No need to have the house fully lit. Open the lights where they are needed. It might give you a depressing atmosphere, but there you are.

Fridges:
If you can do without the second/third fridge do it. Use the economy button in the fridge so that the compressor does not work continuously.

Alert:
Be on the alert always and bear the electricity bill always in your mind, as we used to have during the period of the water shortage/cuts for water.

Heat Emission:
Lovely to look at through the glazed verandah, windows etc. But even if you have double glazing the heat emission is there. Between closing the external shutters and shut the curtains, the second option is better.

Service:
Make sure that you service your A.C./heating equipment. Filters need regular cleaning (say 5-6 times a year – you can do it yourself) in order to perform efficiently, as well as boilers (once a year).

Dish & Cloth Washers:
Use them when they have reached the full loading capacity and during night hours when electricity is less costly.

Hot water boiler:
No need to have it on all the time. Put it 30 minutes prior to having a shower or use the speedy tap water heater which produces hot water when the tap is operational.

These and other measures is what we have implemented in order to ascertain a cost saving. We have done the exercise on a two bedroom house with a pool at Pissouri. As an indication the electricity bill which has increased recently from €150/p.m. to €180/p.m. we have managed to reduce it to €130 p.m.

Try it dear readers and it will be an interesting exercise. Yes, the house will be a little darker during night hours especially, but then if you add a couple of candles, you might get into the mood and fall in love again in this romantic atmosphere!!

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