Roger Hislop, an energy management systems executive at CBI: Energy, says one of the first things you can do is start taking a closer look at your utility bill. Hislop says if you take a closer look at “time of use” tariffs, and notified maximum demand penalties, simple behaviour changes can take 20% to 30% off your electricity bill.
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You can also install a managed smart meter behind your utility meter to check that you are being billed correctly. You’ll also be able to see day by day what your consumption trend is to identify runaway usage before you get a month-end bill shock.
“A managed smart meter on key distribution boards or large loads can help you understand where your consumption is happening, and when,” he says.
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Here’s what you can do:
- Change usage habits by scheduling your loads. Many are aware of the electricity savings when you keep the geyser on for just two hours a day rather than all day. However, you can also maximise other electricity use. For example, load the dishwasher during the day and just do one load overnight.
- Review your home design so that it is more energy efficient. Changes can include lighting – switching to load shedding rechargeable light bulbs that charge when the power is on, and stay on when load shedding occurs. You can get a pack of five 9W screw-on LED rechargeable light bulbs at Takealot for R247. Interestingly, these bulbs have seen a price drop in the past 18 months and would have cost you R320 in January last year.
- Review the seals on your windows and doors to ensure that your home is efficiently keeping heat in – particularly in the winter months.
The City of Cape Town recommends the following top 10 ways to save electricity:
- Maintain your geyser temperature at 60°C. You could get your plumber to turn the temperature down for you or you could do it yourself. First, switch off the electricity circuit at the mains. Then, undo the cover over the electrical element of the geyser and turn down the thermostat using a screwdriver.
- Turn off your geyser when you go on holiday or if you are going to be away for the weekend.
- Insulate your geyser. A geyser blanket is particularly recommended if you have an older geyser. Also insulate the water pipes leading from the geyser for the first three metres.
- Install a solar water heater. This can typically save you about two-thirds of your water heating costs, and should be installed with a timer for the best saving.
- Use less hot water. This is as easy as it sounds – have a shower instead of filling the bath, only fill the kettle with as much water as you need, use cold water to wash your laundry and wash a load of dishes rather than one dish at a time.
- Turn off your appliances at the plug. Appliances such as televisions and DVD players, which remain on “standby” when not in use, draw about 20% or more of normal electricity use.
- If you have a pool with a cleaning system pump, reduce its operating hours to the minimum, such as six hours a day. Clean the pool filters regularly, use a pool cover in summer and turn off the pump at times during winter.
- Only use your heaters or heating system to warm up rooms that are occupied. Fan or oil heaters with thermostats are the most energy-efficient types of heaters and should be switched off if the room is unoccupied. A really simple solution is to dress in warmer clothes (layers if necessary) and use blankets to keep warm.
- Install an energy-efficient shower head. To test your shower head, hold a bucket under the shower head for 12 seconds. Measure the amount of water in the bucket with a measuring jug. If you have collected more than two litres of water, your showerhead is inefficient.
- Install Compact Fluorescent Lamps, which use 75% less power than incandescent bulbs, and also last longer.
- Switch off lights in rooms that are unoccupied. DM