Lose The Load

Rethink the way you use your electric appliances and your consumption habits. Practice habits that will help you reduce electricity consumption, such as unplugging unnecessary electrical appliances, and using four or five-star energy-saving appliances.

Keep your A/C at 24°C – you can beat the heat with an afternoon of chilled-out A/C indulgence while saving yourself from the rising costs that come with cooler temperatures. You can improve air movement by increasing the speed of the air conditioner fan

Make sure your fridge door stays closed with air-tight seals, and avoid placing hot food inside, to reduce the load on your electricity consumption.

Make sure to do your A/C maintenance periodically, 3 to 4 times a year, including cleaning the air filters, internal and external cooling tubes. Check also the refrigerant level, the condition of the compressor, the valves and the control panel. This not only improves the efficiency of indoor air conditioning, but also reduces electricity consumption.

While enjoying A/C during the day, be sure to draw the curtains and use reflective materials for windows to reduce the amount of heat emitted through the glass. Also make sure that the doors and windows are tightly closed to reduce energy waste so that your home remains refreshed.

Use the services of a professional technician to seal the openings in windows and doors and use heat insulators for places where cold air can escape to the outside and hot air and dust can penetrate inside. This reduces consumption and waste and increases comfort at home.

A warm-water shower can be very relaxing, but you don’t need a water-heater to keep the water hot during summer. Try to keep the heater switched off, or switch it on for just less than 30 minutes before you shower.

Keeping your fridge cool (and away from direct sunlight and from the stove) with at least 10 cm of space all around it for air circulation can help reduce your energy consumption and maintain the fridge’s efficiency.

Working on your dishwasher or washing machines? Here’s a tip – run them at full capacity, with cooler temperature settings for the water – and enjoy the benefits of a reduced load on your monthly bill, while saving natural resources.

Don’t forget to switch off your lights when not in use. You might even want to consider switching to energy-saving light bulbs or even installing occupancy sensors in your home. It’s one of the fastest ways to save costs on your electricity consumption.