Tips for Holiday Home Decorations
You turn on your car radio and the song goes "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas". As you look around, you see malls and establishments are well-lit. Christmas lights in golden yellow are wrapped around vibrant green wreathes that's decorated with shiny red Christmas balls and ribbons. Pasko na talaga, and you feel excited to share the festivities with friends and family.
Before you prepare to bring out your Christmas decorations from storage, here are some Bright Ideas tips to make sure your family is safe and your electricity bills are within budget.
1. Use LED Christmas Lights
LEDs consume up to 80% less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Switching to LED Christmas lights only costs you ₱0.09 per hour.
*Tested using LED Christmas lights with 100 bulbs at 7 watts per bulb.
2. Use Solar-Powered or Battery-Operated Lights
Reduce electricity usage by opting for solar lights, especially for outdoor decorations.
3. Set Timers for Your Lights
Limit the time your lights are on to 4-6 hours in the evening to save energy. You can even use SMART plugs for only 1 centavo per hour to remotely switch your Christmas lights.
4. Use Outdoor Lights with Appropriate IP Ratings
Your appliances have IP (Ingress Protection) ratings based on how well they're protected from solids and liquids. Appliances with IP ratings of 65 and above are generally suitable for outdoor use; any rating lower than this is recommended for indoor use only. See the IP rating chart below for more information.
IP Ratings Chart
IP ratings are represented by combining the first and second digits of the following columns:
| Solids | Liquids | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Protected against a solid object greater than 50mm, such as a hand. | 1 | Protection against water drops. |
| 2 | Protected against a solid object greater than 12.5mm, such as a finger. | 2 | Protection against water drops at a 15-degree angle. |
| 3 | Protected against a solid object greater than 2mm, such as wire. | 3 | Protection against water spray at a 60-degree angle. |
| 4 | Protected against a solid object greater than 1mm, such as a thin strap. | 4 | Protection against water splashing from any angle. |
| 5 | Protection from limited dust ingress. | 5 | Protection against water jets from any angle. |
| 6 | Dust tight. No ingress of dust. | 6 | Protection against powerful water jets and heavy seas. |
| 7 | Protection against the effects of temporary submersion in water (30 min at 3 feet). | ||
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8 | Protection against the effects of permanent submersion in water (up to 13 feet). | |
5. Use DC fans instead of your usual AC fans
This will help you save almost half of your consumption. Get P148 pesos savings per month.
Tested using 16" blade fan at max setting.
To better manage your consumption, use the Appliance Calculator to see how much your appliances consume. This year, #Yougotthepower to enjoy Christmas festivities with your homes safe and electric consumption manageable.
