5 energy-saving tips

WITH South Africa facing a continually-constrained energy supply, load shedding has become a normal part of life for many people.

Daily routines are reworked to cater for power cuts, and backup cooking and lighting solutions are becoming increasingly popular.

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However, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) reminds South Africans that there are simple things we can do every day to reduce power consumption, take pressure off the grid, and ultimately help to mitigate the risk of load shedding.

‘As we head into winter, we tend to use more power.

‘Now is the time to start thinking carefully about how we use electricity,’ says Barry Bredenkamp, General Manager: Energy Efficiency & Corporate Communications for SANEDI.

Being cautious of our consumer behaviour and implementing energy-efficient solutions are the main ways that power use can be minimised.

Bredenkamp has five key tips for saving energy in your home, and it all relates to your appliance usage: Rethink your lighting

While turning off lights when you leave a room is a great habit, what about changing the lights themselves? Newer lighting technology, such as LED, has proved to be vastly more energy efficient than older bulbs.

Be cautious of how you cook

Microwaves sometimes have a bad reputation, but in fact they cook food quickly and more efficiently than a traditional oven – especially if your oven is more than five years old.

Consider using your microwave rather than your oven, whenever possible. Using a gas stove is recommended if available.

Use your water appliances wisely

If you have a dishwasher, use it. Hand-washing a 12-piece dinner service requires 2.5 kWh of electricity and 103 litres of water.

The same load in a dishwasher will use only 1.05 kWh of electricity and 12 litres of water, while taking a fraction of the time. When it comes to washing clothes, use a 40°C wash cycle rather than 60°C.

‘This offers a 30% electricity saving. Even better, you can save another 20% of power by skipping the pre-wash cycle,’ says Barry.

Keep that fridge cold

The seals of fridges and freezers must work properly to ensure no warm air gets in and your appliance doesn’t have to work overtime to stay cool. Also remember to defrost your freezer regularly, as ice build-up prevents the freezer from operating efficiently. Try to limit opening and closing the fridge too often.

Think before you buy

‘Home appliances are ever-improving, as manufacturers strive to play their part in reducing climate change. Added to that, minimum energy performance standards and associated labelling help consumers make better purchasing decisions.

When purchasing new appliances, ensure that they carry the Energy Efficiency label, preferably rated with an A-rating. That is not to say you must rush out and replace everything in your house – just keep the label in mind next time you need to replace a household appliance,’ concludes Bredenkamp.

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