Energy Saving Tips

The purpose of this section is to provide you with tips on how to save electricity in the household

To become more energy efficient is not just about constraining your monthly electricity bill, but in a small way reduce your carbon footprint in a sensible way.

Considering that the average household in South Africa uses 1100 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month, and below shows the basic breakdown per application.

On average the five most important users of electricity in the average household are hot water heaters (geysers), space heaters, cooking and pool pumps. Hot water heating, lighting, pool pumps and space heating account for 77% of electricity usage in the average household.

• Find out how much electricity you use and what the main culprits are.
• By installing an Energy Monitoring Device and save consumption by managing your electricity!

• Saving electricity used for heating water:
• Insulate the geyser with insulation blanket
• Insulate the hot water pipes
• Reduce the thermostat down to acceptable temperature
• Consider installing a solar water heater
• Showers use much less hot water than baths.
• Installed an aerated shower head
• Dont waste hot water

• Lighting is a key area where electricity savings can be achieved
• Change all incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) or LED type lights
• Install day/night sensors on outside security lights
• Leave lights off when there is sufficient day light available

• Space heating/cooling
Space heating in winter is a large peak user of electricity. Space cooling is also an important energy user during the hot summer months.
• Insulate the ceiling of your house.
• Use gas heaters
• Use energy efficient heaters or coolers.
• Heat one room versus the whole house in winter.

• Ensuring energy efficiency in the purchase and use of appliances
It is important to consider if the appliances in your household are energy efficient.
• Only buy energy star rated appliances.
• Buying a dishwashing machine. (Modern dishwashers use only 7 to 10 litres of water per wash and use less than half the amount of electricity when compared to washing dishes by hand.)
• Switching off appliances normally left in the standby mode.

• Swimming pool pumps and chlorinators
Swimming pool pumps are real electricity guzzlers.
• Fitting an energy efficient electric pool motor.
• Reducing the number of hours that the pool pump operates.