Power crisis? Not in all homes

By Zoe Christodoulides Published on September 17, 2011

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News came in last week about how much are electricity bills are set to go up by and although it is not as much as many had feared it has made many think about the power they use. ZOE CHRISTODOULIDES reports

As we all wave goodbye to the ridiculous heat of July and August and busy ourselves with the usual September routine, there probably isn’t a single one of us living on the island who isn’t slightly worried. Whether we like it or not, the damage caused to the Vassilikos power plant after the Mari explosion has affected all of us. There’s stress about the bad economic situation spiralling out of control, there’s concern about the government that presides over us being in absolute shambles, and then there’s worry about our own pockets.

Last week the energy regulator (CERA) announced a 6.96 per cent rise in electricity bills for 10 months in a bid to cover the electricity authority’s (EAC) overwhelming costs following the destruction of Cyprus’ main power station.

With all the adverts by the EAC on how we should all be trying to save energy, one has to wonder what measures people have been taking over the past few months in the privacy of their own homes.

“Right now I’m trying my best to save. I’m careful with the appliances that I use, definitely no ‘stand-by’s’ and before I go out I switch off all the plugs,” says Kostas Nicolaou who lives alone in a studio flat. “I haven’t gone near the AC this summer. One way or another we are all going to pay for this mess. Where is the government going to find the money? From us. We are simply going to have to bite the bullet.”

Some people however simply refuse to change their ways. “I would obviously like to save energy and money but I think it’s absurd how the authorities asked the public not to use AC in the 40 degree heat we had in August. To be honest I haven’t been doing anything differently,” admits Stelios Hadjipavlou. “During the heat of the past few months I just couldn’t bear the thought of switching off my AC.”

Stephanie Andreou also expresses the voice of indifference about saving power. Living in a three bedroom flat with her boyfriend, she hasn’t adjusted to the electricity crises in any way. “I’ve still been using the AC because the weather has been just too hot to handle; but I do expect a big bill and will probably get a shock when it comes through,” she admits. “I’m sure I’ll have to start being a little more conscious about the whole thing, especially come winter when I realise that it’s realise digging into our funds.”

Others have taken the matter a lot more seriously, even having family feuds about saving electricity. “There have been a good few fights with our teenage daughter,” explains mother of the three, Lynne Harford. “My husband refuses to let her turn the AC on when she is just lazing around the house and she just doesn’t seem to understand.” Lynne and her husband have tried to do their best to save energy in the household including switching off all lights when they leave a room while trying to completely avoid the AC. “We’ve only turned it on about three times this past summer whereas we’d usually have it on most afternoons. We’ve really made a big effort.”

July Ioannou admits that saving energy is all a bit hard to handle in a family of five. “We haven’t used AC at all this summer ever since the explosion. Usually we have it on in the kids’ room but this year we’ve been using a fan instead and that’s about it,” she explains. “I’ve also been trying to do my washing at night. I’m worried about the electricity bills that will come through because I can’t possibly see how we’ll manage to save more electricity.”

SIMPLE TIPS ON BEING ENERGY CONSCIOUS

Cooling the house in the summer

Before you decide to buy or increase the air-conditioning units in your home, it’s always best to look for alternative ways to cool the area that won’t cost a bomb.

Make sure you shade all the windows with shutters and plant evergreen trees to shade your building

Put ceiling fans in rooms. A ceiling fan cools and uses little power

Exposed areas above the stairs, chimneys, combined with some openings at low points in the building, can create very effective ventilation

Heating the house in the winter

Make use of solar energy to heat your building. On sunny winter days you should let the sun come through south facing windows as much as possible

If you have central heating, do not set the thermostat past 20oC. For each additional degree you are wasting up to seven per cent more energy

Ensure the proper setup and maintenance of the burner and clean the boiler every summer by a specialist restorer, who issues the certificate of maintenance in accordance with legislation

Lighting

Let the natural light pass through as many rooms as possible. This provides greater efficiency and better distribution

Make sure not to leave the lights on anywhere when not needed

Use low energy light bulbs. A common incandescent light bulb consumes up to five times more energy in comparison to a fluorescent lamp that offers the same light. The low energy bulbs can cost more than standard bulbs, but last eight times longer and consume four times less power

Regularly clean the light fixtures and lamps to ensure they are not wasting energy