Eskom gives some helpful hints on how you can save up to 10 per cent on your electricity bill.
Hot water:
- Turn down the thermostat on your electrical element geyser to 60°C
- Don’t use hot water for tasks you can accomplish with cold water – such as rinsing dishes and vegetables
- Only use hot water for cleaning tasks that really need it, like washing your hands
Fridge freezer:
- Set your fridge to 3°C – any lower and it will use more electricity than necessary
- Make sure the seals of your fridge and freezer doors are intact
- Don’t open the door unnecessarily
- Place your fridge somewhere cool – away from sun-facing walls and windows, and as far as possible from the stove
- Defrost your chest freezer twice a year; upright freezers should be defrosted three times a year
- Don’t overfill your fridge or freezer; only use 90% of its capacity
Living rooms and bedrooms:
- Always switch off lights in unoccupied rooms
- Unplug all appliances you are not using
- Don’t leave computers, TVs and DVD players on standby – if you do, these appliances use up to 50% of the power they normally use
- Keep curtains and blinds open during the day to optimise natural light and postpone switching on artificial lighting until it gets dark
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