How to save up to 10% on your electricity bill

ESKOM: You could save up to 10% on your electricity bill without spending a cent – follow this checklist

 

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

Less is more… Using less energy in your home means a lower electricity bill – and more money in your pocket at month end

 

Stove and oven:

• When you cook in the oven keep the oven door closed until the food is done; opening the door unnecessarily causes heat loss and the stove has to use more energy to maintain the selected temperature
• When cooking on your stove, match the pot with the size of the stove plate
• Never use your stove for small tasks like boiling water for tea and coffee
• Use your microwave for small and medium amounts of food
• Place frozen food in the fridge to defrost – avoid defrosting food in the microwave
• Use your pressure cooker or slow cooker to prepare meals that have to cook for a long time, such as stews and casseroles

Small appliances:

• Use specialised appliances for specialised tasks – for instance, always make toast in a toaster and never in the oven
• Only boil the amount of water in your kettle that you need for the number of cups of tea or coffee you are making

Dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer :

• Only use your dishwasher and washing machine when you have a full load
• Connect your dishwasher and washing machine to a cold tap
• Avoid using your tumble dryer; when the weather is fine, hang washing on the line to dry

Living rooms and bedrooms:

• Always switch off lights in unoccupied rooms
• Unplug all appliances you are not using
• Don’t leave computers, TVs, DVD players, ipads and cell phones 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

In summer:

• Open windows and doors to allow cool breezes to circulate through the house; delay switching on your air-conditioner
• If you have to switch on the air-conditioner, keep it at a comfortable 23˚C; ideally, the difference between inside and outside temperatures should not be more than 10˚C

In winter:

• Delay switching on your space heater by dressing warmly, wearing a beanie and gloves, wrapping yourself in a blanket, putting a hot water bottle on your lap, and drinking your favourite hot drinks
• When you do switch it on, make sure your space heater is controlled by a thermostat; this is a built-in device you can set to switch the space heater on and off at a predetermined temperature
• Only use your space heaters in the rooms you and your family occupy – it costs you money to heat up an empty room

Via Eskom