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Simple ways to save energy

Start saving money on your monthly electricity bills by learning how to save energy one kilowatt at a time.

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Sustainability

Here are a few helpful tips on how to save energy:

After experiencing months of load shedding, South Africans have become a lot more aware of their electricity usage at home. Luckily, reducing your energy consumption as well as your bills is easier than you might think.

10 Tips on How to save energy at home

  1. Contain Your Heat

  2. Turn the Heat Down

  3. Repurpose Your Heat

  4. Choose Fluorescent Lights

  5. Seal the Gaps

  6. Wash Clothing Responsibly

  7. Use Your Microwave

Since most South African homes are not as geared for winter as homes in Europe or America, it can be difficult to stay warm on very cold nights. You can help keep your home cosy by keeping doors closed while you warm up a room with a heater.

Many geysers are set well above 70 degrees Celsius when a temperature of 55 degrees will do the same job. Turn your geyser down to start saving on electricity costs.

If you use your oven quite often, learn to leave it open after use to spread that heat around your home when you’re feeling a little chilly.

Fluorescent lights bulks use 75% more efficient than incandescent bulbs, a small change that will help with your electricity costs.

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It’s very easy for heat to escape your home, in fact, 15% of heat is lost through gaps in your windows and doors. Take the time to seal any gaps to keep your home warm and cosy.

The higher the temperature of your washing machine, the more electricity it takes to heat it. Turn your temperature down to start saving energy.

Ovens and stoves use a lot more electricity than microwaves so if you’re looking to save on costs, use your microwave more often.

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  1. Upgrade

Older, less-efficient appliances generally use more electricity. If you have older appliances in your home, it might be time to upgrade. Look for appliances with higher energy ratings.

  1. Keep Your Curtains Closed

Keeping your curtains closed reduces heat loss by at least 10%, making this a great way to stay warm and save energy.

  1. Don’t Fill the Entire Kettle

If you’re only going to be making a cup of coffee for yourself, there’s no need to boil a full kettle. Doing so will help save a lot of electricity in the long run.

While we generally use more electricity in winter, we can always start making small changes in the summer months to save on energy consumption and costs. It’s the small changes that make a big difference when you want to save electricity at home.

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