Use Less. Save More.

Air Conditioner

• Set to 24°C — the Bureau of Energy Efficiency recommends 24°C as the default. Every 1°C below 24°C increases power consumption by ~6%.
• Use sleep mode — most ACs raise the temperature by 0.5°C every 30 minutes once sleep mode is on. You won't feel it at night, but the savings add up.
• Clean the filter monthly — a clogged filter makes the compressor work harder. Takes two minutes and can improve efficiency by 5–15%.
• Seal gaps — check doors and windows for gaps. Cooling a sealed room uses far less energy.
• Inverter ACs pay back — a 5-star inverter AC costs more upfront but typically recovers the premium within 2–3 years in electricity savings.

Washing Machine

• Wash full loads — a half-load uses almost as much water and energy as a full one. Wait until you have a full drum.
• Cold water wash — 90% of washing machine energy goes into heating water. Cold-wash programmes clean equally well for everyday clothes.
• Spin speed — a higher spin speed (1000+ RPM) extracts more water, reducing dryer time if you use one.
• Quick wash for lightly soiled clothes — uses 40–50% less energy than a full cycle.

Understanding BEE Star Ratings

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) rates appliances from 1 to 5 stars. A 5-star rated AC can use up to 30% less electricity than a 1-star model with the same cooling capacity. The rating is recalibrated every two years — a 5-star appliance from 2022 may only be 3-star by 2026 standards.

• Check the year on the BEE label, not just the stars
• For ACs, look for ISEER value above 4.5 for best-in-class efficiency
• For washing machines, annual energy consumption (kWh) is printed on the label — lower is better

Quick Wins

• Enable auto-off / timer on your AC — running it all night when the room is already cool wastes 30–40% of nightly consumption.
• Keep the refrigerator coils clean and ensure 5 cm clearance at the back.
• Unplug chargers and appliances when not in use — standby power can account for 5–10% of your total bill.