LOW COST WAYS OF SAVING MONEY AND ENERGY

1. Your House

Every household in South Africa can save electricity and money through the wise use of energy in their homes.

Geysers

Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 15% of your utility bill. There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient water heater. Therefore please consider the following:

• Take showers instead of baths.  Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household.
• Set thermostat of electrical geysers at 55 – 60 degrees C.  Make sure the geyser and all hot water pipes in the roof are well insulated with a geyser blanket or even fibreglass.
• Solar heating units could reduce the geyser’s electricity consumption by 40% to 50%.  This would result in a saving of about 200kWh to 250kWh of electricity per month, depending on the number of geysers and the size of the family.

Lights

• Switch lights off when they are not needed.
• Use fewer bulbs with higher wattages.  For instance, one 100 watt bulb produces the same light as two 60 watt bulbs.
• Dimming switches reduce electricity consumption.
• Use compact fluorescent lamps CFL instead of ordinary bulbs.
• Use low-energy lamps for exterior lighting.

Heating

• Use the correct heaters.  Infrared electricity heaters are more efficient.  An oil filled heater is the safest type of heater.
• Insulate the ceiling and seal air gaps in the home.
• Ensure that heaters have thermostats.
• Use electric blankets but turn them off when in bed.