North West residents learn to save electricity through energy-efficient appliances, habit change
Liew Hanqing Straits Times 31 May 10;
KITCHENS account for nearly 40 per cent of total energy consumption in some households here - but the organisers of a new community outreach programme are hoping to change this.
Through Green Kitchens @ North West, about 2,200 households in the North West District were given tips yesterday on how to make their kitchens more environmentally friendly.
The programme, run jointly by the North West Community Development Council (CDC) and the National Environment Agency-North West Regional Office, was launched yesterday by Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District.
He said he hoped that through the programme, residents would learn how to select more energy-efficient appliances, and how to optimise their use.
'For example, many people thaw their food in the microwave. But that may not be the best way,' Dr Teo said. 'A more environmentally friendly option would be to let the food thaw on its own in the sink.'
These simple habit changes, among others, can easily help households shave up to 10 per cent off their monthly utility bills, he added.
The programme, which started in the Sembawang division yesterday, will be introduced progressively to the district's 13 other divisions over the next 18 months.
The initiative is part of North West CDC's 10-year eco plan - Green Living @ North West - which aims to cultivate a green culture within the district.
The eco plan is just one of many green initiatives introduced in recent years. Government agencies, including the Building and Construction Authority, Land Transport Authority, the Housing Board and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, already have various programmes in place to encourage the use of green technologies and reduce energy use.
With the green message in mind, 60 students from National Junior College and Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) went door to door yesterday, armed with information sheets on how households can change their kitchen habits for the better.
Some of the tips include covering pans while cooking to prevent heat loss, and turning off the oven or burner just before food is fully cooked, to allow the remaining heat to continue the cooking process.
Residents were also told how to make sense of 'energy labels' on appliances like refrigerators, which indicate how energy-efficient an appliance is based on the number of ticks - up to a maximum of four - shown on the label.
Woodlands resident Julie Phillips Gracey, 35, a housewife, said she felt the tips were useful and easy to put into practice. 'I learnt that to save energy, you shouldn't overload your refrigerator,' she said.
Another resident, Mr Teh Wei Meng, 42, a jetty supervisor, said the tips were convenient and easy to understand, adding that he planned to select his next refrigerator based on the eco-friendly guidelines.
Ms Emily Tan, the project manager in charge of the programme, said the organisers hope that about 200 households - or a tenth of households visited yesterday - will take up the green tips.
Households that reduce their electricity consumption by at least 10 per cent stand to win prizes, she added. The top-performing household will win $200 worth of NTUC FairPrice shopping vouchers.
'We hope families will participate for the right reasons, not just to win prizes,' Ms Tan said.
