Save your electricity bills

In Bahrain, expansion in the areas of infrastructure, new cities, industrial and commercial projects is leading to increasing urbanization and development, thereby driving the demand for energy in the region. Thus Energy Efficiency has become a mandatory term used everywhere.

Energy efficiency is “using less energy to provide the same service”. There are many other definitions, but this is a good operational one. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature. Installing fluorescent lights, LED lights or natural skylights reduces the amount of energy required to attain the same level of illumination compared with using traditional incandescent light bulbs.

Improving your energy efficiency is the first and most important step toward adopting renewable energy. The more efficient use of energy throughout our country results in less money spent on energy by homeowners, schools, government agencies, businesses, and industries. Also seen as a solution to the problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the International Energy Agency, improved energy efficiency in buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world’s energy needs in 2050 by one third, and help control global emissions of greenhouse gases

Energy efficiency is not energy conservation. Energy conservation is reducing or going without a service to save energy. For example: Turning off a light is energy conservation. Replacing an incandescent lamp with a compact fluorescent lamp (which uses much less energy to produce the same amount of light) is energy efficiency.

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Energy Efficiency Programme has set a strategy which defines a national target of 20% reduction in electricity consumption by 2030. A set of measures relating to regulatory environment and market mechanisms aim to foster private sector investments in energy efficiency initiatives. They target electricity consumption in building and industrial sectors.

Electricity & Water Authority (EWA) in cooperation with several government and private bodies, has completed mandatory thermal insulation in buildings. This came after it emerged that 75 per cent of the total electricity consumed in Bahrain was the result of air conditioning and lighting. The EWA is urging all suppliers and manufacturers of air-conditioners and lighting for the registration of their products with EWA and said it would provide the necessary support to all concerned.

In Bahrain’s air conditioner market, split and centralized air conditioner have fueled the growth of the market. Extensive usage in residential and small commercial places have led to the growth of split air conditioners in the country.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued Resolution regarding approval of efficiency code for window or split system non-ducted air conditioners (A/C’s) aimed to reduce electric energy consumption. The new code is another success for Bahrain in energy saving and environmental protection that is compatible with global trends and regulations to conserve energy, protect the environment, curb waste and improve energy consumption.

REGULATION ON ENERGY LABELLING AND MINIMUM ENERGY PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR-CONDITIONERS was released by EWA to regulate the energy efficiency in the country. This regulation provides the star ratings for air conditioners based on the EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio). The star ratings are from 1 to 6 and it is determined by factory tests conducted at set temperature conditions. Below mentioned simple calculation can explain us the benefits of star ratings easily. 

A 1.5 ton split AC has cooling capacity of 18000 BTU/hr.

For a 1 star AC the Annual power consumption would be approx. 2400 units.

For a 6 star AC the Annual power consumption would be approx. 1750 units.

Annual power savings of 6 star AC over 1 star AC is approx. 650 units for a 1.5 ton capacity AC. Energy efficiency reduces electricity costs and may result in a financial cost saving to consumers.

So higher the star rating, higher the energy savings which will in turn save your electricity bill.

The writer is Senior HVAC Engineer  at Continental Group (MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC)