As The South African reported over the Easter long weekend, Eskom’s 12.74% tariff increase was, sadly, no April Fool’s joke. Based on the average household usage of 900 kWh, people across the country are likely to spend anywhere between R2 750 and R3 500 per month from now on. Conservatively, this equates to R375 extra each month, or R4 500 more per year. Eish …
HOW TO SAVE ELECTRICITY IN YOUR HOME
That’s why it is essential to save electricity in your home. No matter what inverter/solar/off-the-grid arrangement you may have, using less electricity is always the best option. And, sadly, the majority of people don’t have elaborate power supplies at home to help them save/recoup power anyway.
Nevertheless, if you’re disciplined, you can always maximise your energy usage and save electricity in your home. A good way to stretch your money as far as possible is to know the items/appliances that consume the most power and avoid using them excessively.
MANAGE YOUR GEYSER USAGE
Managing your hot-water geyser usage is probably the most critical to save electricity in your home. Your geyser is way out in front when it comes to energy usage, accounting for between 30% to 50% of your bill. Keep it turned off until you intend to shower/bath. No exceptions.
By only switching it on for an hour per day, you can reduce a 150-litre geyser’s power usage from 360 kWh (on 12 hours per day) to just 60 kWh. Depending on your means, installing a solar geyser is a great way to extend off-time on sunny days and reduce overall usage in your home.
WET AND DRY APPLIANCES
As Mzansi heads into winter, tumble dryer usage will probably increase and it’s still near the top of home appliances that consume the most electricity. Same deal with your washing machine, dishwasher and any other ‘wet appliances’.
They require a lot of electricity to heat the water in their cleaning cycles. Therefore, use the low temperature and Eco modes. Better still, try and cut out these appliances as much as possible to save up to 15% on your electricity bill. That alone will save electricity in your home and equalise the 2024 Eskom tariff increase.
GAMING, LIGHTS AND SCREENS
It’s no surprise that TVs, computer screens, gaming consoles, laptop computers and general lighting around your house account for 10% of energy usage. We live in a screen-first world but switching off and disconnecting laptops and TVs when not in use will save electricity in your home.
Household lightning differs enormously from home to home. But you should always opt for the most energy efficient LED bulbs you can afford. The consumption of an efficient LED bulb (0.004 kWh) versus a regular incandescent bulb (0.1 kWh) multiplies significantly over time and will increase your energy usage.
NEXT READ: LATEST info on upcoming SASSA grants for April 2024
Do you have any tip tips to save electricity in your home? Be sure to share your thoughts with our audience in the comments section below. And don’t forget to follow us @TheSANews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest updates.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES FROM RAY LEATHERN