Heating up your home in winter can drive up your household electricity consumption by as much as 17 per cent during the evening peak period (between 5pm to 9pm).
But you can manage this by reducing your usage and using only what you need while still keeping your home warm.
Whatever property you live in – be it old or new, a house or flat – there are a number of little things that you can do to make your home warm and cosy this winter.
You can draught-proof your house to ensure that you keep the winter chills at bay and keep your family warm economically during severe cold spells.
READ: Electricity and water saving tips in a home
“Over and above saving you money, combined with other energy-efficient measures and practices, stopping the draughts in your home will go a long way in assisting Eskom manage the power system in the midst of the winter season and the Covid-19 pandemic, which has made it increasingly important to ensure reliable electricity supply,” explained Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha.
There are many different ways to reduce the draughts that enter your home.
Below are a few ideas to consider when it comes to preparing your home for the winter chills:
Insulation – First and foremost, insulation is the single most important factor when it comes to heating a home.
An insulated room requires 51 per cent less energy than an uninsulated room to heat.
Insulating your home’s ceiling is the simplest and most effective way to prevent heat gained during the day and the warm air generated by the heaters from escaping.
Draught excluders – This is a cheap way to reduce draughts from your doors.
Take a classic long, thin cushion filled with wadding or sand and place it at the foot of an external door to reduce the flow of cold air from the outside.
Check window seals – Start with closing windows properly.
Worn-out seals on aluminium frame windows and doors can easily cause a room to lose heat rapidly.
Seals are easy to replace and there are lots of tips and videos online to help you get it right.
Plug those floorboard gaps – This will help to reduce heat loss over a large surface area.
Many old properties have floorboards which add unique character to a property but during the cooler months, it can become a bit of a nuisance when it comes to keeping your home warmer.
Once you have filled any floorboard gaps, adding in a large rug will also help to increase the warmth of the room.
It will trap heat and block any gaps remaining in the floorboard seals.
READ: Why our pets may be feeling the cold more than we think
If your floorboards are very draughty, a carpet is the best way to really improve the heat loss in the room.
So, keeping your home warm this winter doesn’t have to be an expensive exercise that pinches the pocket or puts strain on the purse strings. It’s about being electricity smart and doing the small things that make a big impact.
Remember to keep an eye out and respond to the real-time Power Alert messages on SABC, e.tv and DStv to help manage the strain on the electricity system. Together we can make a difference and keep the lights on.
For more energy saving tips, please visit the website at www.eskom.co.za/residential
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