Higher utility bills are coming.
It’s a fact of life that none of us, as consumers, can change.
But there is something we can each do to decrease the amount of energy we’re consuming at home.
For starters, everyone in the Cayman Islands who has electricity is a customer of Caribbean Utilities Company.
CUC has repeatedly told us that utility bills are rising because of increased fuel costs for generating electricity.
And while CUC acknowledges that bills are going to be higher, they also offer suggestions to help consumers use less energy.
They’ll even send expert energy savers to individual homes for a walk-through, offering energy-saving tips.
It’s a message CUC tries to communicate to the public each summer, but it seems more important this year as the fuel-adjustment factor is up 68 per cent from last year for this month, and is predicted to be up to 76 per cent in July.
Before calling on CUC to do a home inspection, there are a few simple things homeowners can do themselves to cut energy consumption.
Some of them include the following:
Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.
Air-dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher.
Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional electric range or oven.
Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
Plug such electronics as televisions and VCRs, into power strips and turn off the strips when equipment is not in use.
Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater; 115° is comfortable for most uses.
Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot-water use.
Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes. Wash clothes in cold water.
Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity.
Grown on trellises, vines such as ivy can shade windows or the whole side of a house.
Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement or asphalt on south or west sides. It increases temperatures around the house and radiates heat after the sun has set.
Open windows and use portable or ceiling fans instead of operating your air conditioner.
Use a fan with your window air conditioner to spread cool air.
Use a programmable thermostat with your air conditioner to adjust the setting at night or when no one is home.
Don’t place lamps or televisions near your thermostat. The heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer.
These are just a few simple suggestions.
We encourage everyone to do their part to conserve energy in the Cayman Islands. Take CUC up on its offer, and let’s all work together to reduce energy consumption — and our bills.
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