easyDIY spoke to Roger Bulgin from Mr. Power about a 12-month plan to create an energy-efficient home. Roger recommends you breakdown the year into quarters and create a plan that suits your budget with the maximum impact on return on investment (ROI).
GOOD TO KNOW
“Many home-owners feel overwhelmed by the perceived cost of becoming more energy efficient, which is why I suggest taking a methodical step-by-step approach that suits your budget, by tackling the greatest electricity guzzler first,” advises Roger.
HERE’S HOW:
• Step 1 – define your budget
• Step 2 – identify what uses the most electricity
• Step 3 – create a roll-out plan for implementation
• Step 4 – measure the return on investment
Divide the transformation into a step-by-step process, suggests the Mr. Power team:
First Quarter: Geyser
The geyser uses up to 60% of the total electricity bill, so it’s best to tackle this first. When choosing a device to manage the geyser, bear in mind that there is a big difference between a controller and a timer. The controller checks for current during the pre-set time period whilst a timer continuously heats and reheats the geyser during the pre-set time period
A Mr Power Geyser Controller can reduce your electricity bill by 20-30%, and the cost is approximately R1500, including installation by an electrician.
Lifestyle Changes:
Set the geyser thermostat at 65 degrees.
Switch off lights and plug points – basically anything that draws a current and isn’t in use.
Avoid using the hot water tap wherever possible – for example, wash your hands using cold water.
Q1 ROI = ± 6 months
Second Quarter: Lighting
Calculate the average number of hours the various lighting is on. Begin with the biggest energy-eating lights, whether they are outdoor floodlights or indoor lighting (usually in the kitchen, followed by the living areas). Replace all these bulbs with LED lights – choose a reputable supplier with a guarantee. LED lighting has a low energy consumption, long life span (20,000 hours plus), and provide a variety of lighting ambience. They give a fuller spectrum of light and don’t attract insects.
Use the calculator on the Mr Power website to measure your investment versus ROI at www.mrpower.co.za/lightingcalculator.html
There are many factors to consider when working out how much you will save, but you are looking at a saving of at least 10-20%.
Lifestyle changes:
Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
Place a brick in the cistern of your toilet – this reduces the amount of water used for a flush.
Q2 ROI = ± 12 months
Third Quarter: Lighting and Showerhead
Use this quarter to continue the transformation to LED lighting throughout your home. Replacing conventional lightbulbs with LED lightbulbs as the conventional ones blow is an easy way to do so.
Install a water-efficient showerhead in your shower. The Methven SatinJet® Showerhead design saves up to 40% of the water usage per shower, which translates to about 10% of the associated electricity costs, and is available from Mr Power. The average showerhead uses 12 – 14 litres of water per minute, whereas SatinJet technology uses only 7.5 litres, which can provide a saving of about 5 -10%.
Lifestyle changes:
Don’t leave the tap running unnecessarily, for example when brushing your teeth.
Ensure your oven door seals properly so that the heat doesn’t escape – a seal is inexpensive to replace.
Electric hotplates and pots keep a good temperature for several minutes after switching off, so turn off your plates just before the cooking process is complete.
Q3 ROI = ± 6 months
Fourth Quarter: the Final Touches
Appliances and electronics consume approximately 20% of the energy in your home, so when it’s time to replace a tired or damaged appliance, look for a new appliance with good to excellent energy efficiency ratings.
Consider a Pool Pump Controller, which works in a similar way to the Geyser Controller.
Lifestyle changes:
Consider purchasing an energy saving kettle.
When leaving to go on holiday, switch your geyser/s off.
When on holiday or away, turn the setting down on your fridge, as it won’t be opened and closed regularly, thus it will retain the cold easier.
Q4 ROI = ± 12 months
With this easy-to-follow plan, your home will progressively become more energy-efficient and the investment you put in will start paying itself off immediately.
Article courtesy of EasyDIY
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