Splurge this winter by saving smartly

With winter around the corner 49M is once again appealing to power users to try to keep their electricity usage as low as possible.

It is important for consumers to continue checking how much electricity their household typically consumes in order to understand how they could be saving.

Appliances typically associated with heating – such as geysers and appliances used for food preparation continue to use the highest amount of energy in your household.

South Africa is blessed with sunshine most days of the year. Open the curtains during the day to allow the sunlight into your home to warm it and close them at night to keep out the cold.

Below are more tips to become even more energy efficient this winter:

• Dress for the weather – an extra layer of clothing and a cozy blanket over your knees will help you stay warm.
• When you switch on your heater, heat only the room you are in – remember to close all doors and windows while the electric heater is on. If you use a gas heater, remember to leave a window open to allow toxic gases to escape.
• Remember to seal gaps around windows and draught-proof wall cavities throughout your home. You could lose up to 1/3 of the heat generated in your home through these draughts.
• If you warm your bed with an electric blanket – switch it on an hour before bed time and switch it off when you get into your bed.
• Alternatively, use a hot water bottle to keep your feet happy; you can also use a hot water bottle in front of the television.
• Under-floor heating consumes a significant amount of electricity, consider alternatives with less impact. With under-floor heating, it is usually switched on at the onset of winter and left on until spring. This means a consistent increased amount of electricity usage.
• Switch off appliances at the power point when you are not using them – appliances can use up to 50% of the electricity they use when operating while on standby mode.
• Use energy-efficient appliances for cooking – slow cookers are best for preparing winter warming meals such as stews and oxtail, whilst microwaves are best for preparing your favourite small-volume winter meals.
• Boil only enough water in the kettle for the number of cups of hot drinks you are preparing.
• Swap your bath for a shower – keep it hot and short. Showers use less water and therefore less electricity too.
• Your pool will look great when you reduce the pump running time to 3 hours a day. Installing a pool cover will also mean you spend less time in the cold clearing leaves and other dirt and will also prevent water evaporation.

During winter, the electricity system comes under huge pressure between 5 pm and 9 pm with an additional ‘peak within the peak’ from 5.30pm and 6.30pm. During this time, demand surges a whopping 3,000 MW within a 15-minute period as users get home and turn on heaters and stoves. Due to this sudden increase, the system is placed under severe pressure and could lead to load shedding on days when the system is already constrained. Play your part in protecting against this by implementing every possible measure on your side to save electricity, especially during the peak periods.

About 49M
The 49M campaign was launched in March 2011 as a response to the country’s constrained power system. The campaign encourages individuals and corporates to lead energy smart lifestyles thereby saving the planet and their pockets. South Africans are encouraged to join the campaign by visiting www.49m.co.za to pledge their support. Go to the 49M Facebook page or tweet @49MillionSA.