Smart tips for the clever saver
Air conditioning at home uses a lot of electricity, but with the heat raging on, consumers aren't too worried about power consumption and only want to cool off.
Eskom has given a few useful tips on saving energy used by an air conditioner.
Cool down the “bricks and mortar” of the house early in the morning by making use of the cool outside air: open doors and windows and use the air conditioner’s fan to circulate the fresh morning air through the house.
As a result, the house will take longer to heat up as outside temperatures rise, thereby putting off the need for the air conditioner’s chillers to take effect.
How to (almost) avoid using an air conditioner:
It is surprising to realize how many measures can be taken to control the indoor temperature without having to resort to air conditioning.
Buildings can be used to “store” coolness.
By shading a building from the outside by means of trees, horizontal metal blinds, awnings or heat reflecting film on windows, direct sunlight is prevented from heating the interior.
The outside temperature will rise much quicker than the inside temperature, once again delaying the need for air conditioning.
Ceiling insulation is one of the most effective ways of beating the heat.
Proper insulation slows the process down of heat entering a building through the roof, while in winter preventing hot air from escaping through the roof.
Appliances and equipment, such as urns, computers, copiers and lights all give off heat while in operation.
Therefore, switching them off when they are not in use would further cool down the temperature inside a room or a building.
