How to save up to 10% on your electricity bill

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

Photo: Supplied

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