
With power shortages and electricity price hikes on the horizon, Filipino families are faced with the challenge of transforming their houses to a more energy-efficient home. But the question remains: where do they start?
“The average Filipino household consumes P21, 600 to P30, 000 of electricity a year,” says Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno, Country Manager of Philips Philippines and General Manager for Philips Lighting. “With looming electricity hikes, these consumption rates are threatening to rise.”
For this month, Meralco announced that electricity rates will increase by 18 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the average residential customer with 200-kWh monthly consumption. This rate follows an increase of 31 centavos kWh last August.
According the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the Philippines has one of the highest electricity rates in Asia. Bearing that in mind, this is the perfect time for households to embark on energy-saving measures.
“Even the smallest details can make a big impact when it comes to having an energy-efficient home,” describes Tetteroo-Bueno. “From switching to LEDs to investing in the right kitchen appliances, energy efficiency starts with the right choices.”
Better lighting for lesser cost
Based on a survey from the Philippine Statistics Office (PSO), lighting accounts for 74 percent of a household’s electrical consumption. From this perspective, lighting has the potential to be the biggest source of energy savings for Philippine households.
One of the simplest ways to have an energy efficient home is by switching conventional lights to LED lights. Tetteroo-Bueno clarifies, “While this may seem expensive in the short-term, the change will result in significant savings in the long run.”
Switching from conventional lighting to Philips LED lights can help households save up to 90 percent in electricity and also enjoy a lasting brightness in the years to come.
Energy-saving kitchen appliances
The kitchen is the Filipino homemaker’s favorite room. Unfortunately, with inefficient appliances, it could also be an expensive part of the household in terms of energy consumption.
According to RJ Buenaventura, Philips General Manager for Consumer Lifestyle, “Consumers need to give particular consideration to the electrical efficiency of their kitchen appliances. This doesn’t mean they have to compromise the quality of their kitchen appliances. In fact, investing in substandard appliances could lead to even poorer energy efficiency.”
For its part, the Philips Kitchen Collection offers home chefs the functionality they need to cook up delicious meals, while minimizing the household’s electricity bill.
The Philips Airfryer—known as the world’s leading low-fat fryer—operates at P16.51 per hour*. The Philips induction cooker on the other hand works for as low as P19.72* per day for an hour of usage. This translates to up to 50% cash savings of using a gas stove. Buenaventura says that similar efficiency can be expected from Philips rice cookers and slow juicers.
He points out, “Each product in our kitchen line also offers multi-functionality. The rice cooker, for instance, can also be used to stew and bake. In the end, our goal is to make the kitchen experience simpler and more cost-efficient.”
Philips partners with Meralco
For 123 years, Philips has anchored its vision on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovations. As part of its thrust, the company has recently partnered with Meralco under its Bright Ideas campaign to push forward the switch to energy-efficient technologies.
From July 1 to September 30, 2014, Philips Digital Airfryer, Induction cooker, Sweep & Steam, Steam Iron, and selected LED bulbs can be purchased at discounted prices in participating stores. By simply presenting the promo flyer or their Meralco bill, consumers can save as much as P3,500 and P100 in selected domestic appliances and LED lights respectively.
Tetterroo-Bueno concludes, “As long as there are challenges out there for us, we will continue to revolutionize technology to improve people’s lives. We are committed to discovering new innovations that make a big difference to our customers and, right now, Filipinos need more energy-efficient solutions at home.”
Philips, a health and well-being company, focuses on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation. To know more about the products, log on towww.philips.com.ph. You can also call our customer hotline at (632) 6679000 if you are within Metro Manila or 1-800-10-7445477 if you are outside Metro Manila.
*based on average Meralco rate as of January to May 2014