11 Ways to Save Money On Electricity

The looming electricity tariff hike will no doubt put extra strain on already tight budgets. As such, saving electricity is no longer an option, but an absolute necessity. 

With budgets already tight, not many South Africans will be able to absorb the electricity price increase. 

Hopefully, consumers will see a price increase as an incentive to take action against rising electricity costs by cutting back on the amount of electricity they use in their homes. Prudent power management is the order of the day. 

It is possible to cut back on electricity consumption and costs by making a conscious effort. Here are some electricity saving tips… 

1. Switch off devices when not in use 

Unplug your cell phone charger when you're not using it. If the charger feels warm when it's plugged in but not attached to a cell phone, it's still using energy. 

2. Cold for laundry 

Ninety percent of the energy used by a top loading washing machine is for heating water. A front loading washing machine uses less water and costs less to operate than a top loader.  

A washing machine uses the same amount of electricity for a full load as it does for a single item, so keep dirty clothes until a full load has accumulated. 

3. Use a low-flow showerhead 

A low-flow showerhead uses less water per minute, which means less water to heat. 

4. Save money with low-energy light bulbs 

Changing your traditional light bulbs to energy-saving equivalents can make a big difference. Also remember to turn off lights in rooms you are not using. 

5. Switch off the air conditioner 

You need three times more energy per degree to cool a room than to heat it. 

6. Optimise the energy consumption of your PC 

Modern PCs can be set up to enter energy saving modes. 

7. Dishwasher 

Fill your dishwasher completely before operating it and use short wash cycles, rinse-only cycles, mid-cycle turn-off and other features that are designed for energy conservation as well as convenience. 

8. Fridge 

Don’t overload your fridge as this uses more electricity. Don’t open your fridge needlessly and switch on the energy saving switch if one is fitted to the appliance. 

9. Freezer 

Keep the freezer open for as short a time as possible to prevent the loss of cold air. Your freezer should be kept as full as possible to prevent heavy icing. 

10. Microwave ovens 

Defrost your food in the fridge instead of the microwave oven as it is more economical. Use your microwave oven to cook small to medium quantities of food as it is more economical to cook larger portions of meat in a conventional oven. 

11. Tumble dryer 

Clean the lint filter in the tumble dryer after each operation to maintain full air flow and to maximise the drying efficiency. First choice would be to dry clothes outside, in direct sunlight, or use the tumble dryer in consecutive loads where possible as your dryer will be warm already and will save on initial energy consumption.

 

Source:  Property24/Rentokil