Cut your energy consumption this winter.

Winter is in full swing and our need to stay warm is at the forefront of our minds. However, ensuring we have sufficient access to warm meals, drinks, showers, or baths and sustaining a warmer body temperature requires a lot of energy. Your energy usage will naturally go up during the winter months, but there are easy ways in which you can keep your energy usage as low as possible and also ensure that your utility bill does not become unbearably expensive. Keeping the country's energy challenges in mind, below are a few practical methods to help you cut down on your energy usage during the colder months.

Effective Insulation

South Africa experiences a diverse climate and the weather at times can be unpredictable. An insulated home can regulate its temperature better than a home without insulation. A well-insulated building is key to retaining heat during winter. One can minimize heat loss by having the roof, walls and floors insulated.

Seal air leaks

In the colder months, your home will likely lose heat through various forms of air leaking. Air leaking in simple terms is when the air leaks into or out of the house through cracks and gaps in your home. These could be electrical outlets, through the bottom of doors, baseboards and roof hatches. By sealing around these openings, one will be able to ensure that your home is less drafty and feel slightly warmer.

Utilize Natural Sunlight

Closing your curtains in winter can decrease heat loss from a heated room by as much as 10%. For greater insulation, hang curtains closer to a window. Oppositely opening the curtains on a sunny day could raise room temperature as well through means of solar energy. It is very important to close curtains at night or in front of windows receiving minimal sunlight.

Energy Efficient Appliances

When buying new appliances, opt for upgrading to energy - efficient appliances that have the Energy Efficient label on that indicates that they consume less electricity. This not only applies to heaters but also to refrigerators, water heaters, washing machines and lighting fixtures.

Water Heating Solutions

Water heating can be a major energy drain. Lower the temperature setting on your geyser to around 55 degrees Celsius and consider installing a timer to heat the water only when needed. One can also insulate hot water pipes to reduce heat loss during distribution.

Energy Smart Cooking

Finding quicker and smarter ways of cooking can also assist in cutting down on your energy usage. Using lids on pots to retain heat while cooking, will cook food faster and therefore you will not have to use your stove for as long as you would have if you did not use the lid. Pressure cookers, air fryers and microwaves are also good appliances to use when cooking, as they are more energy efficient compared to the conventional oven and stove top.

Unplug Unused Electronics

There are many appliances and electronics which still consume power even when turned off. Unplug chargers, televisions and other electronics when not in use or use power strips to easily cut power to multiple devices at once.

The above-mentioned points are a few guidelines in assisting you to save some energy this winter and retain heat in your home where possible, these are definitely not the only ways in which one can save energy and retain heat though. Not all of these guidelines will work for everyone as well, so we encourage you to find what works for you and your space.