CUT YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL
1) If you are going to buy new
appliances this year, choose eco-
friendly ones. They tend to be more
expensive, but they will save you
money in the long run. Look out for
the guarantees though, to make sure
the appliances will survive long
enough to get your money's worth.
2) As an alternative to energy-
guzzling appliances do this: only
heat up rooms you are using, warm
up with more clothes and blankets
instead of electric heaters, wash your
clothes in cold instead of hot water
and use a clothes line or a laundry
rack instead of a tumble dryer. If you
have an electric hob and oven
consider buying an alternative gas
hob to use for things that take long
to cook, and use a microwave oven
instead of the electric one.
3) If your fridge was built more than
eight years ago, the chances are that
a substantial part of your electricity
bill is being spent on its inefficiency.
Changing it now, while the running
cost is increasing, will be an
investment worth making. If you don't
think it's worth replacing just yet,
check the condition of the door's seal
and replace it if it is damaged.
4) Get rid of the Window type Air-conditioner, the newer split ones have inverter technology which means more savings.
5) If you have not done so yet, make
the switch to energy-saving light
bulbs. No need to wait for the
government to give out the free bulbs
it promised - those can be made use
of later. Traditional bulbs use up
more electricity on producing heat
than giving off light - they are just
not worth having anymore. Also,
switch off lights and appliances
whenever you do not need them on.
The impression that switching on and
off electrical appliances and light
bulbs means more consumption than
leaving them on is a myth.
6) You cannot save much from
computers, but simple things can
make a difference. Keep your
computer on sleep instead of on
screensaver. And if you still use the
old CRT (curved) screens, replace
them with newer LCD flat-screens.
The latter are far more efficient.
7) Buy a timer for your water heater
(geyser) so that it only switches on
an hour before you actually need the
hot water. They do not cost much,
but if you are ready to time your
shower schedule accordingly, you
can make big savings. Also, set the
temperature to around 55 degrees
Celsius, not more. You can also
choose to replace your electric with a
more efficient gas water heater or
better still a solar water heater. When
offset against the recurring cost of
the new bills, the money spent on
replacing your old electric unit can be
recouped in a short span of time.
8) Be bathroom-efficient. Install a
water-efficient shower head, and
shorten your showers by a couple of
minutes.