Save energy in your home and business
JOBURG – Look into ways you can save energy using eco-friendly methods to promote an energy sufficiency environment.
Following the country’s crisis on load-shedding, the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) has provided a few attainable steps that could go a long way in establishing an energy efficient environment in your home or business.
According to Sanedi, energy efficiency plays a fundamental role as South Africa strides towards establishing an economy that is built on sustainable and environmentally conscious practices. “Improving energy efficiency is more than just using less energy, it requires you to become aware of how it is used, where it’s wasted and how it can be utilised effectively and efficiently in everyday life,” said Barry Bredenkamp, general manager for Energy Efficiency at Sanedi.
“We encourage both consumers and small businesses, to start with low-cost steps such as improving their homes or facilities’ insulation,” he said. “Sealing leaking windows, for example, will prevent air coming in through little cracks and openings. It will also prevent cool or warm air leaving the home or office. If the power does go off in your home or business, it won’t become exceedingly hot or cold, which will also mitigate the unnecessary use of air conditioning or heaters.”
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Bredenkamp also recommended planting trees in front of windows to ensure that it provides some shade in summer, cooling down the home or office, while warming it in winter when the trees shed their leaves. “It is an inexpensive and eco-friendly solution,” he said.
According to Breedenkamp using LED lights is also an inexpensive solution. “Whether you’re a low- or high-income consumer or business, lighting is important, we all need light. “Today there are so many energy-efficient and cost-effective LED technologies available that one can easily convert from inefficient, energy-hungry lighting.”
The above steps provide the foundation for moving towards a household or business that is more energy efficient. “We no longer live in a country where we have cheap and abundant energy; establishing a society that embraces energy efficiency is a vital step. Through awareness and ultimately a mindset change, most people will be able to embark on the energy efficiency journey towards a more sustainable future,” he concluded.
