5 Cheap and Easy Ways to Save Electricity in South Africa
Mondo Admin / 26-01-2023 / Financial News
With an 18.65% electricity tariff hike on the horizon, we’re all looking for ways to save where we can.
Many of the popular long-term money saving hacks, like adopting solar power and replacing your light bulbs can be an expensive exercise.
But there is hope! Here are 5 simple, cost effective ways to save and make a difference to that growing electricity bill.
1.Switch to Gas
Installing a gas stove can set you back thousands of Rands. The easy fix is to invest in a small hotplate.
One or two-plate hotplates are feature regularly on the shelves at your local super market and online stores. Quality hotplates that are built to last can cost anything between R159 – R800. Hotplates are also a handy tool to have around for when load shedding or power outages occur so you’re also saving on takeaways.
2.Blanket Your Geyser
Keep your water heated without adding extra volts into the mix with the help of a geyser blanket.
This accessory works in much the same way as regular blankets do, wrapping around the geyser and providing an added layer of warmth and keeping your water hotter for longer.
Geyser blankets range in price from R200 upwards.
3.Keep it Cool
Another great trick for your geyser that costs zero Rands to achieve, is to lower the set temperature to 55 – 60
Making this simple change can knock about 5% off your electricity bill!
4.Get Unplugged
Much like turning light switches off when you leave a room saves energy, unplugging your chargers and other plugs for appliances that are not in use also make a big difference to your bill. Simply unplugging non-essential appliances like your microwaves, washing machines, kettles, hair straighteners and chargers while you’re away from home can save you up to 10% every month.
5.Defrosting Food
Life is busy, but where possible, try to avoid using your microwave to defrost your meat and poultry products. Rather, leave your food of choice to defrost naturally in your fridge overnight.
You can even speed up the process by thawing the meat in a bowl filled with water. This not only saves energy but also helps prevent bacteria from latching on to your food or drying out your produce in the microwave. It’s also great practice for those late evening load shedding slots!
There are many other small changes we can make in our daily lives that will lead to big savings on our electricity bills. By following these 5 tips, you'll be sure to see a decrease in your monthly electricity expenditure. Be sure to try them out and let us know how much you saved!