In addition to insulating your home, here are a few additional tips to assist you to reduce your enviromental footprint and save energy.
Please close the door
Keeping internal doors closed in winter ensures you are heating smaller areas making heaters more effective.
Seal the gaps
Check around your windows and doors for any gaps. Insulating strips for your windows and doors are inexpensive and can be fitted in minutes helping you to retain heat in winter.
Shield your Home from the sun
Reduce the use of air conditioning by closing curtains and blinds on the sunny side of your home.
Landscape for Shade
Shade sunny windows and walls naturally by planting deciduous trees. Retractable awnings are also very effective at keeping your home cooler in summer.
Switch to LEDs
LED light bulbs use 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. Switch out the most widely used bulbs in your home. Then, replace the rest as they burn out.
Install Dimmer Switches
When you fit dimmer switches, you use only as much light as you need.
Line Dry Your Laundry
Use a clothesline in your backyard and let Mother Nature dry your laundry instead of running an energy sapping tumble dryer.
Upgrade to Energy Star appliances
Are your appliances older than ten years, when you do consider replacement then look to do this with Energy Star models, these use considerably less energy.
Install low-flow shower heads
Less water flowing through your shower head means less water to heat and less water used!
Keep your fridge and freezer Full
Keeping your fridge & freezer full means they don't have to work as hard and therefore they use less energy. Empty space in your fridge or freezer wastes not only space but energy too.
Install ceiling fans
Keep the air circulating in your home, and your air- conditioner won't have to work as hard.
Schedule annual air-conditioner maintenance
Have your air-conditioners checked and cleaned annually to keep them running efficiently and you will also enjoy cleaner air!
Only wash full loads
Lots of electricity is consumed by your washing machine and dishwasher, washing with full loads will help to minimize the power drain.
Lower the temperature on your geyser
Around 12% of a home's electricity is used to heat water. You can lower this percentage by setting your geyser thermostat lower (for optimal geyser efficiency you should set your thermostat to 50°C in summer and 60°C in winter).
Also fit a geyser blanket and reduce heat loss. Remember to lag two meters of the outlet pipe for even greater efficiency.
Switch off your oven
Turn off the oven 10-15 minutes before cooking time runs out. Your food will continue to cook without using the extra electricity.
Don't put uncovered foods & drinks in the refrigerator
Condensation makes the fridge work harder and costs you more money.
Allow foods to cool before putting them in the refrigerator
Placing hot foods in your fridge will increase the interior temperature, and cause your refrigerator to work harder.
Cook with the lids on
Foods cook faster with the lid on the pot, because the heat can't escape and you then waste less energy when cooking.
Use Your Microwave Instead of the Oven
A microwave uses less electricity then a conventional electric stove and releases less heat into your home.
Slay the vampires
Vampire power or phantom load is working behind the scenes to consume energy even when your appliances are turned off. This “Standby Power” refers to the energy drawn down by an appliance when it’s not in use. By turning off appliances at the wall, you will reduce your electricity consumption.
Shower Power
Shower rather than bathing. Also take shorter showers, this does more than just save water – it saves energy, too.
Cut the lights
Switch lights off when you’re not in the room to save up to 15% on your energy bill.
Tea for two
Making a cup of tea? Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need.
