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23 January 2008

Electricity saving tips

You're only allowed to complain about the blackouts if you're doing your bit to save electricity. Here's how.

These simple tips energy saving tips don't require radical lifestyle changes, and they'll save you money in the long run.

General

Step one: switch off all lights when you leave a room, and unused appliances like TVs.

Remember to unplug your cellphone charger: it's the most energy-heavy aspect of cellphone use.

For fresh air, open a window before automatically reaching for the aircon or fan switch. Through-flow of outdoor air is important for reducing indoor pollution. Nonetheless, it’s often helpful to draw blinds and curtains and keep windows closed during the hottest part of the day, then let the cool air in at night.

Get the whole household to take more of an interest in the electricity bill... and in reducing it from month to month. Use the money saved to buy everyone who turned off a light a small treat.

Cooking

Heat only the amount of water you need.

Use boiled water straight away, rather than leaving it and then re-boiling.

Put well-fitting lids on pots.

Be sure pots and pans completely cover the stove plates – this can save you up to 25% on the electricity you use while cooking.

Use the microwave when possible: it uses less power than a conventional oven, and produces less waste heat.

Keep oven doors completely closed until food is cooked. Every time the door is opened, the oven temperature drops, and the heat must be replaced.

Fridges/freezers

Check your door seals – they should be able to grip a piece of paper.

Check that the fridge is not near the stove.

Defrost the fridge regularly. Defrosting of chest type freezers should be done once or twice a year. For upright models, defrosting should be done two or three times a year.

Use old newspaper to fill gaps in the freezer when you are not storing much food – it is more efficient.

Try not to open the fridge too often and to avoid leaving the door open for too long.

Dishwasher

Wait till you have a full load before operating.

Turn the dishwasher off after the final rinse, before the drying cycle. Wipe dishes dry with a cloth.

Use short wash cycles.

The dishwasher filters must be kept clear of debris. A blocked filter reduces efficiency and wastes energy.

Washing machine

A front loading washing machine uses less water and costs less to operate even though the purchase price may be higher than a top loader.

Use warm and cold water setting as much as possible in order to cut down on energy needed to heat the water.

The automatic washing machine uses the same amount of electricity for a full load as it consumes for a single item. Save dirty clothes until a full load has accumulated.

Never overload your automatic washing machine. Overloading will reduce the cleaning action.

Use low-temperature washes whenever possible.

Dry clothes naturally.

Bathroom

Don't bath! Shower instead: it uses two thirds less energy.

Reduce the temperature of your geyser (around 55 degrees is recommended) – you shouldn't need to add loads of cold water when you shower or bath (or do the washing up).

Insulate your geyser by wrapping newspapers, old blankets or other insulating materials around it and the hot water pipes.

Appliances

Turn off the TV at the mains rather than by remote control. On standby, energy is still being used.

Turn off your computer when you are not using it.

Energy-efficient products
Where possible, buy energy-efficient products, like geyser blankets, roof, door and window insulation, low-flow showerheads and tap aerators. Ask retailers about energy- and electricity-efficient products.

Did you know?
Five ordinary light bulbs can burn up to seven tons of coal in only a few years. Fit energy-efficient bulbs to cut consumption by up to 80%. Fluorescent lamps also give five times the light and last up to 10 times as long as ordinary bulbs.

For more info on how to save electricity visit www.eskom.co.za

Got any tips of your own you'd like to share? Post them in the comment box below.

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To save power, (when the kids have all gone to bed) turn off the lights (and the tv) and light up some candles, open a bottle of wine, and have a romantic evening with your partner. It doesn't just have to be over a weekend, and it will certainly help take some of the stress of the day off your shoulders. Have fun!!!

Carol on 23.01.2008 at 19:20

Hi please note there is no need to switch your dishwasher off before the "drying cycle" There is no such thing as a drying cycle it dry's with residual heat from the cleaning process. Therefore using no electricity!! P.S. a dishwasher also uses HALF the electricity & up to 9 times less water it takes to wash you dishes by hand

Bevan on 24.01.2008 at 09:29

Why are you only aloud to complain if you are saving electricity. It a service I pay for and I want what I pay for. Stop this ramping about saving electricity, this will not solve the problem...they are trying to put a band aid on a slashed wrist!

hHendrik on 24.01.2008 at 09:31

I agree with all the above and add that I leave my geyser off for most of the week, turning it on for about 2 hours once I have used all the hot water which gives me about 3-4 showers. I also make use of running club shower facilities. I wash-up, not by running 5 litres of water out of the geyser before the water gets hot, but by boiling about 2 litres in the kettle. I use between 150 - 200 units a month as a result. I am now looking into a solar heated geyser next. Only problem with that is it takes about 10 - 15 years to pay for the outlay. Idealy you want to one day become completely independent of the grid and bad government decisions!

Pete on 24.01.2008 at 09:47

switch lights off when you leave a room, use only lights in theh room your are in. Install solar lighting for your garden lighting and sceurity lights. Run your electric fence off solar power, solar powered electric fences are stong enough to stop large bull eleephants any burglar trying to mess with that would come off second best.

Diana on 24.01.2008 at 10:30

I think you use more power by turning your geyser off, because how mutch electricity are you going to use to warm up the geyser again.

Joan on 24.01.2008 at 10:48

Why don't Eskom / Government subsidise things like Geyser Blankets, CFL globes & Solar Heating?

Marc on 24.01.2008 at 11:00

We were out of electricity last year in the Boksburg area for almost eight days. I expected my bill for that month to be less but this did not happen and was the same as the other months. When I went to query this, the lady at the counter told me when the electricity was restored the electricity for the eight days was already used. How does one explain this?

Ravin on 24.01.2008 at 12:45

To Hendrik, 3rd post. It is because of people like you that SA is in such a predicament. Grow up man, switch of appliances that is not in use. I hope you get stuck in traffic today for at least 2hours because of load shedding just because you did not switch off your creepy crawly at home and is so narrow minded about saving electricity.

Henk on 24.01.2008 at 12:52

I'm glad to see you don't tell us to turn off our geysers. Constantly turning geysers on and off will blow the thermostat - rather turn the temp down and use geyser blankets.

Claire on 24.01.2008 at 13:26
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