Power saving: Where you’re wasting electricity
With electricity prices getting above-inflation increases, homeowners can’t afford to see their hard-earned cash going to waste. Yet a large portion of our monthly electricity consumption is wasted.
This is according to Keith Cassie, president of the Southern African Energy Efficiency Confederation.
“There are many areas in the home where we consume electricity without actually using it. Changing our behaviours and improving the energy efficiency of our homes can help us reduce our power usage without losing our quality of life,” he explains.
Cassie suggests that homeowners consider the following tips to improve their home’s energy efficiency.
- Optimise your geyser: These are electricity guzzlers, but you can reduce the amount of power they use. To assist with loadshedding, install a timer to switch it off between the peak period of 5pm to 9pm. Wrap the geyser in a geyser blanket and set the thermostat temperature to about 55 degrees. Consider switching to a heat pump for even more savings.
- Low flow water fixtures: Installing energy-efficient taps and showerheads will mean you use less hot water and can save on both your water and electricity bills.
- Light switch: Replace those old incandescent lights with newer fluorescent or LED lightbulbs. Those LEDs may look expensive on the shelf, by they more than pay for themselves in electricity savings and long lifespan. While you’re at it, remember to switch off unnecessary lights or install motion-activated lighting for areas such as hallways.
- Clean cooking: Keep stove plates, reflectors and the bottoms of pots and pans clean to improve performance and consider switching to induction stoves as they are more energy efficient. Switching to gas is another option and is more effective against loadshedding.
- Fridge/freezer dynamics: Let hot food cool down before putting it in the fridge or freezer. Remember to defrost and clear out your fridge/freezer regularly as your fridge has to work harder to stay cool if it’s too full. Keep the seals on the doors in good condition and ensure there are no leaks to prevent high cooling costs.
- Beware vampire appliances: All those appliances and electronics that have a standby mode could be using as much as 50% of the electricity they use when in full use. Rather turn off at the plug point or unplug in the case of chargers.
- Give your insulation a check: Roof and wall insulation can significantly cut your home heating and cooling costs by keeping the warm air inside during winter and preventing the sun’s heat from radiating into your home during summer.
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