JPS eStore Smart Power Challenge

It is no secret that electricity in Jamaica is expensive.  For me, my JPS bill is among my biggest monthly expenses.  I needed to do something ... other than complain about the bill.  So, I have signed myself up for my self imposed JPS eStore Smart Power Challenge.

Challenge
Take this unscientific but possibly surprising journey with me.  Using a few 'tools' I picked up at the eStore, my goal is to reduce my electricity consumption from 267 kwh to 214 kwh.  That is 20% in one month!  A little ambitious no doubt, but where's the fun without the ambitious goal.

Tools
I've armed myself with three tools.

Digital Energy Timer (DET)

Digital Energy Timer (DET) - $3,200 - in effect, this smart plug safety cuts the power to any device plugged into it.  The version I have, was designed by Jamaican inventor Jackie Stuart but made in China.

LED Light - $2,600 - this expensive bulb saves up to 20% over florescent (CFL) bulbs.  I'm not going to even get into incandescent; if your still using those, you're way behind.

Smart Power Strip - $6,900 - this device has an outlet for the master and several for the slaves.  So, you plug, for example, your TV into the master, when the TV goes off, the device automatically cuts power to electronics like the DVD player or cable box plugged into the slave outlets.

Deployment
The DET went straight to the refrigerator.  I didn't need the available digital energy monitor to tell me that the fridge was burning up electricity (pun intended).  The timer can take up to seven different profiles; really I only needed one.  So it took longer to set up than I liked.  Further, I didn't find the instructions very helpful and the worst part is there is no website or customer service number for help.  Urgh!

Nevertheless, I set the timer to cut power to my fridge between 11 pm and 5 am daily.  I am really hoping for big savings and no spoilage.

The single LED bulb went to the kitchen, the light that is on almost all day and much of the night.  Frankly, I don't expect to save a lot here, but boy, the light pretty you see!  Maybe I would have a different result if I was able to replace every bulb in the house.

The JPS eStore smart power strip replaced my Monster Green Power Centre which protects against power spikes for coaxial and phone cables as well in addition to preventing vampire power (it's really fancy, I'll admit).  It's not really a fair trade, but let's see.

Result
Check back in a month and let's see!

Silent Chill

I am ashamed to admit that, I've been startled awake in the middle of the night by the compressor on my fridge kicking in.  That sucker is loud.

If I had the new, recently launched, Samsung Refrigerator with a digital inverter compressor, I could sleep like a baby.

Samsung Refrigerator
with Digital Inversion Compressor

Thanks much the people over at CME for inviting me to the launch at Courts Constant Spring.  During the event, everyone went through great pains to highlight the energy efficiency of the fridge.  They say, the digital inverter compressor uses a 5 speed RPM to automatically manage temperature fluctuations.

In effect, if you open the door a lot, or your put in Sunday dinner right off the stove, the fridge is smart enough to know to speed up the cooling process to re-establish the perfect temperature.  This saves you money in two ways - saving on electricity and saving on food spoilage.  Sounds like a win/win.

The stainless steel finished kitchen appliance is reported to be durable too.  All that power cooling leads to less wear and tear on the compressor that sports a 10 year warrant from the manufacturer.

I sure liked the cool, if unnecessary, digital display on the door, the super efficient LED lights, the recessed door handles and the very high capacity water dispenser (we really should drink more water).

But the coolest feature (no pun this time) is, the remarkably quiet compressor.  If I had this fridge, I would have to open the door to know it if was on.  Sweet.

Turn Off To Turn On

This is in effect the new pitch from the Jamaica Public Service Company – JPSCO.  Turn off to turn on.

I think it is safe to say that most Jamaicans hate JPS.  Yes.  I do know that hate is a strong word.  Yet, we love our power hungry devices.  We run the fridge, heat up the water, leave on the TV day and night, charge up the cell phone and, well you get the point.

Then, we turn around and blame JPS for the massive bill we get each month as we take a cleaver to our limbs to cover the bill.  It seems JPS is tired of that cycle (pun intended – just in case you weren’t sure).

Enter, the eStore and the concept of ‘conservation as fuel’.  JPS is encouraging us to take charge (I’m killing me) of our energy consumption using a variety of gadgets and gizmos to help us be, “energy safe, energy save and energy smart”. The flagship store on Ruthven Road stocks over 40 devices, which they say will save us money.  Just what we like to hear.

JPS eStore Surge Protector

JPS Director Sales and Marketing, Garth McKenzie broke it down for me.  Energy safe products include surge protects and other products that protect your equipment from power spikes and other catastrophes.  I will bet good money that you already have every appliance in your house connected to a surge protector.

Ok.  Moving on.  Energy save sounds a little more exciting.  I changed out all my incandescent bulbs to fluorescents a decade or so ago.  Seems like I need to spend some money on LED bulbs to save some money.  JPS is also offering a number of power switches and timers.  These save us money by stopping energy leakage – appliances using power when they don’t need to.

Work and entertainment electronics are BIG culprits in this department.  The TV, cable box, DVD player, printer/fax, well, again, you get the point.  These items, even when ‘powered off’ suck power from your grid.  We can save money by plugging these power hog devices into timers, which can automatically kill their electricity supply.  And its idiot proof!

Again, not new.  But, JPS is offering a locally designed Digital Energy Timer (DET) well suited for our 50-cycle power grid.  Jamaican inventor, Jackie Stuart says the DET can hold 16 programmes in a day and the days can be individually programmed.  Power outages don’t affect the DET, because it has it own back up battery.

Andrew Simmonds suggested that you could use the DET to turn off your TV at night.  I suggest that you could use it to cut power to your fridge while cutting cost from your bill!

For me, the most exciting product category was also the most expensive.  Energy smart.  Here’s the deal: you can call up JPS and arrange for an Energy Audit after the audit, they can install an energy monitor.  In effect, the monitor tells you where and when, you are burning up fuel.  But it is not cheap.  The most advanced monitor will set you back over forty grand.  But, it can give you really detailed reports on consumption and cost of energy use in real time.  No more waiting for the bar chart on the bill.

In his presentation at the store launch earlier this month, it was The Hon. Phillip Paulwell that said, “Conservation is the new fuel.”  JPS President and CEO Kelly Tomlin supported the sentiment with, “turn off to turn on.”  I will add my two cents (equivalent to about 45 sec of LED lighting) – spend more to save.