Singapore electricity tariffs up by 5.38 cents per kilowatt per hour, increase of 21%, highest in 7 years

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans will see an increase of 21 per cent in their electricity bills in the last quarter of this year.

The average electricity tariffs from October to December would go up by 5.38 cents per kilowatt per hour. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) said the increase is due to higher fuel oil prices.

For the last quarter of this year, oil prices were nearly S$155 per barrel, 38 per cent more than the third quarter.

So average monthly electricity bills look set to rise by S$5.70 to S$22.92 for those living in one- to five-room public housing flats.

For those living in the one- to three-room flats, this works out to an increase of between S$90 and S$223 in electricity bills for this year.
... The EMA feels there is more room for Singaporeans to conserve and use less energy. That's because the EMA's surveys and findings show that nearly 40 per cent of Singapore homes are using more energy than they require to. And the air conditioner is one of the largest energy guzzlers in homes here.

Here are some things we have done to conserve and use less energy:

• Switch off the aircond. We no longer use air cond for years. We use fan.
• Replace the electric hot air-pot with a Tiger vacuum flask.
• Turn off any gadgets not in use. Don't let them standby and idle. Example, VCR, DVD player, the speakers for the PC's if you don't need the speaker.
• Switch to LCD TV's and LCD monitors. LCD panels use about half the energy required to power equivalent CRT displays of a similar size.
• Turn off un-used lights.
• Use enery saving bulbs.
• For fridge, leave room around food to allow air to circulate, keeping our refrigerator cool without requiring more energy.
• For freezer, as opposed to the refrigerator, the food in our freezer is packed tight. An easy solution is to fill extra space with water bottles to help retain the cold.
• Let hot foods cool to room temperature before putting them in the fridge. Putting hot food in the fridge will raise the temperature incide, making your refrigerator work harder and suck up more energy.

Actually all these remind me of my parents nagging when i'm younger. When we leave a room (be it kitchen, bedroom, bathroom) we must switch off the lights. Else, my mom will start nagging. Similarly, our family bonding time was all gather in the living room watching tv at night. These days, you find that in a family, a sibbling will be in the room using computer, another in another room yakking on the phone with the wireless phone, the mom watching one tv in the living room, the dad may be watching another tv in another room. Also, last time, we always need to help my mom clear the food after dinner. Those warm soup, we will leave on the table. Wash up everything. Showered. Then keep the food that had been cool into the fridge. My mom's rationale then was not to spoil the fridge. But actually, it's really enery savings. I think, in the old days, when we were poor, we are really made to be thrifty and more responsible to nature. And our CRT TV is so small. 19"? and so happpy. These days, people looking at 42" and above. So, perhaps, we really need to look back to ways of old days.

See also:
1. ABC Guide to Beating Inflation in Singapore and Elsewhere, Part 1
2. ABC Guide to Beating Inflation in Singapore and Elsewhere, Part 2
3. ABC Guide to Beating Inflation in Singapore and Elsewhere, Part 3
4. ABC Guide to Beating Inflation in Singapore and Elsewhere, Part 4
5. Your power bill is standing

Awed by Canon EOS 5D Mark II HD movie clips sample REVERIE by Vincent Laforet

The whole world is really getting excited over this DSLR.. the first EOS with full High Definition video capability.. and it's not difficult to see why after you see this raw footage by Vincent from the prototype EOS 5D MKII that Canon allowed him to borrow over a 72 hour period - REVERIE.

From dpreview.com:
Canon redefines the future of photography: 21.1 MP EOS 5D Mark II offers Full HD video capture - the successor to the venerable EOS 5D, the world's first 'compact' full frame digital SLR. The EOS 5D Mark II boasts a new 21MP CMOS sensor, an expanded ISO range of 50-25,600 and a wealth of improvements and new features including full 1080p HD movie recording, live view, 3.0" 920k dot LCD, DIGIC IV processor, increased battery capacity and sensor dust reduction. UPDATE: Body-only prices: US: $ 2,699, EU: ? 2,499, UK: £ 2,299.

Exciting times ahead.. this is the beginning.. few years down, it will get cheaper for us all.. a new era of cheaper greater tech unfolds..

the 3 men in biow's life..

playing lego.. Lego Set # 6118 Wheels and Lego Set # 6119 Roof Tiles

See also:
1. the 3 men in biow's life.. 21-Jun-2008
2. the 3 men in biow's life.. 24-Jun-2007
3. the 3 men in biow's life.. 03-Sep-2006
4. the 3 men in biow's life.. 25-Jun-2006
5. the 3 men in biow's life.. 06-Jan-2006

overheard.. Ken says.

Ken was learning idioms in school.. so he brought back his drawings and tracing of the idioms.. as we flipped, there was one page "facing the music".. ken drew a boy beside the radio..
Ken said: That is Wenn while pointing to the boy in his drawing
I said: Why is it Wenn and not you?
Ken said: Cos he naughty. he face the music
I said: Wah, so you know what is the meaning of "facing the music"?
Ken said: Yes. But ours is not face the music. Ours is face the door.

heh.. when they are notti.. i put them to notti corner which is just facing our front door for 1min for every year of their age, ie Wenn for 3min (3yo) and 5min for 5yo Ken.

F1 Singapore Grand Prix LIVE telecast on Channel 5 TV schedule

Folks in singapore who are not going to the race track, die-die must watch F1 Singapore Grand Prix - The NIGHT Race at the comfort of your home, OK?

2008 F1 Singapore Grand Prix (Available In True HD On Channel 5)
26 Sep 2008 (Fri), 10pm - Practice Session
27 Sep 2008 (Sat), 10pm - Qualifying Session
28 Sep 2008 (Sun), 7:30pm - The Night RACE

The 2008 FORMULA 1? SingTel Singapore Grand Prix is a rain or shine event.

Program

The provisional schedule of the race weekend is as follows:

Note: All information is correct as of 08/09/08 and is subject to change.

2008 Honda Civic Hybrid FD3.. real world fuel comsumption

I'm so in love with our new Civic Hybrid.. look at my Civic Hybrid dashboard.. we have driven 619.6km, yet there's another quarter tank more to go.. *cool sia*.. and when we stop at traffic light, the "AUTO STOP" indicator lit up because the engine will stop and consume ZERO fuel.. the government should make it even cheaper for everyone to own a Hybrid/Prius.. that will at least make the limited petrol available to stretch a little longer for everyone..