Vietnam’s economy is on an upward trajectory, recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Families are enjoying stable incomes, and most households now own a refrigerator, a device that often runs continuously, 24 hours a day.
Keeping the refrigerator organized with just the right amount of food helps reduce electricity consumption.
My family is no exception; we purchased a refrigerator a year ago. However, climate change has led to rising environmental temperatures, creating an ideal environment for microorganisms to thrive. Food left outdoors without proper preservation quickly withers, rots, and spoils.
To prevent food spoilage, we started storing more food in the refrigerator. As a result, our electricity bills soared. Determined to find a solution, my mother shared her valuable lesson: “Save money by saving energy,” through simple yet effective tricks.
Her first tip for homemakers is to store just the right amount of food in the refrigerator. Storing too little or too much food will not help reduce energy consumption. It’s essential to find a balance.
Additionally, she suggested reducing the use of air conditioning throughout the day. Instead, we use it only during the hottest parts of the day or when natural ventilation isn’t enough, and we supplement it with fans. This not only saves electricity but also improves air circulation and keeps the house cool. I’ve also relocated my workspace to a brighter area, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day.
My mother’s energy-saving practices help reduce the burden on the power grid and prevent overloading.
EVN
Our house is surrounded by vast rice fields, so we keep the doors open during the day and only close them when everyone is out. The constant breeze keeps the house cool, and anyone who steps inside immediately feels the refreshing atmosphere. We only turn on the lights in the evening for essential activities, keeping other areas dark when not in use.
Despite the scorching weather, our home remains comfortably cool. We gather in one place to watch TV together, avoiding the use of individual devices like laptops or speakers. This not only reduces our electricity consumption but also brings us closer as a family. When the power goes out, we huddle together in one room, chatting or sleeping until it returns, sometimes even until morning.
Arrange the Space in a Reasonable and Neat Manner
These days, each person in my family has their own fan, which can be inconvenient. So, my mother rearranged the placement of the fans and air conditioners to optimize their cooling effect. She positioned the fans in corners to maximize the circulation of cool air. Additionally, we make sure to unplug electrical appliances when not in use.
My mother strategically places the fans to ensure everyone can enjoy the cool breeze.
TGCC
For appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, rice cookers, and frying pans, it’s essential to leave some space between them and the wall. This improves heat dissipation and allows the condenser to receive more cool air for better cooling. We also keep the refrigerator in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, ovens, or grills.
The Energy Saving as a Habit writing contest is a platform for readers to share their stories, innovative ideas, and proven energy-saving methods practiced by families, offices, and businesses.
The contest offers a total prize pool of 100 million VND and will run until July 10, 2024.
Readers can submit their entries to [email protected] or by mail to the Thanh Nien office (268 – 270 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City). Please mark your submissions with the subject: Entries for the Energy Saving as a Habit Contest. Detailed contest rules are available on thanhnien.vn.
