This article will cover the top 10 energy-saving tips for South African conditions. As we all know, heavy energy consumption affects our environment. So we will look at the top 10 energy saving tips in order of biggest savings. Homeowners that follow these steps can save as much as 50 if not more on energy saving.
Energy-saving and the environment have been the most important discussion points in the last few years. As global warming is now wreaking havoc with our planet, we all will be in a desperate situation soon.
Global warming, as well as pollution, are destroying the planet as we know it. Energy saving is at the top of the list for future generations.
We are putting some of these tips in place, if not all, will be a huge energy saver for the future.
Top 10 Energy Saving Tips
- Solar Geyser Heating a rather expensive option is the Solar route. However, the results are good for energy saving.
- Heat pumps come in different sizes depending on family size—a far more affordable option with great energy savings. Energy saving is similar to solar heating.
- Double Glazed windows are a great energy saver as well.
- Solar film for summer benefits.
- Roof insulation products like Aerolite Insulation reduce heat flow into the home.
- Wall insulation reduces heat flow through walls in summer.
- LED lights save hugely on energy
- A gas stove is more economical than an electric stove.
- Door get the right door fitted and save on heat reduction.
- Heavy curtains or solar film reduce heat gain via the windows.
Solar Heating
Solar heating for geysers or heat pumps will save substantial energy per year. Your energy bill is estimated to be R 2ooo per month, giving R 24 000 per annum. Your energy saving will be about R 5800 per year. Now take into account that this energy-saving will go on year after year.
When looking at this upfront, it does not seem as though the benefits are great until you place this into a 10-year saving. This then changes the game totally as one must also consider rising energy costs. However, to simplify this, let’s not consider energy rising costs. The solar at a huge price will save you around R69 000 per year.
Heat Pump Hot Water Solution
Heat pump 4.7 kilowatts is ideal for a family of 6 and will cost a fraction of solar heating. The same applies. Let’s work on a family consuming R 2000 per month with an annual bill of R 24 000 per annum. Your projected energy saving could be as much as R5400 per year.
We are all aware that the standard geyser solution is expensive to run as it consumes massive energy. At a fraction of the cost, the heat pump system will save around R 64 800 per year. Operators in their field of expertise supply these figures, so we rely on their input on accuracy.
Double Glazed Windows
Most homes have old wooden framed window frames. Unfortunately, these window types are not very energy efficient. Especially in winter, when one needs heating in the house, having cold air entering through the windows you think is closed will cost you a lot more energy.
Use thicker glass for the windows or double glazed windows. Most modern homes today in South Africa must comply with the SANS legislation. Only 15% of your home can be glass unless you achieve the recommended loss projection.
Double glazed windows are a massive energy saver per annum. We can expect savings of 25% of energy loss in the home through closed windows. Double glazed windows will reduce the summer heat gain and the winter heat loss.
Solar Window Tinting
Solar window tinting will substantially reduce heat flow into the home on hot summer days. However, this option is not effective in winter when you need to conserve the home’s warm air. However, heavy curtaining would act as an insulator against losing the home’s warmth in winter.
Many homeowners do not like the idea of tinted window glass. However, there are options with almost no tint that are very effective.
Roof Insulation Products
We do not believe in the blow in type paper dust insulation and will not install this. Especially in the Cape region, where we get powerful winds, this tends to blow the insulation to different home sides.
As much as 45% of heat loss and gain are from the roof space into the home. For this reason, roof insulation is essential. In homes that are running heating or cooling, this means that a well-insulated house will reduce energy loss substantially.
Many homeowners suffer the summer heat and are free in the winter chill. They are unaware that an insulated home will give them comfort without spending money on heating and cooling. Roof Insulation is one of the best top 10 energy-saving tips. Good quality roof insulation will reduce the heat flow in or out of the roof space by up to 90%. Cover your cost in 3 years.
Aerolite Soft Touch Insulation
Aerolite insulation is a glass fibre insulation product and has been on the market for more than 90 years. This is still the most widely used insulation product in the UK and USA. The new Soft Touch Aerolite is almost itch-free and dust-free. The Think Pink Aerolite 135 mm is SANS compliant and will achieve the R-value of 3.70 as specified for the Western Cape region. Find out more about Aerolite so you can make the right choice.
Wall Insulation
Installing CavityBatt or Cavitylite will offer huge heat-saving benefits as well as soundproofing. The insulation will give better thermal results than standard brick and mortar when added to the external walls.
American style homes are very energy efficient as the walls, floors and roof space are all well insulated. Most American homes are timber or Nutec sidewalls that are well insulated. In South Africa, most of our homes are brick. As we know, on hot days, the brickwork will absorb the heat, and the home inside is like a pizza oven.
Well, how can we solve this, you may ask. On existing homes, we can’t do anything. However, it would be advisable to fit Isoboard between the inner and outer walls on all new builds. This will reduce heat gain through walls in summer and winter. Most homes will lose up to 35% of their energy through the uninsulated wall.
Floor Insulation
Many houses built above water retention areas are much colder in winter. Homes with concrete floors can be insulated to reduce the cold flowing into the house via the floor. Homes on the river’s edge are also affected in the same way.
Fitting Isoboard into the concrete will reduce this heat loss substantially. The Isoboard will ac as an insulation barrier between the cold water and the home inside.
LED Down Lights
LED lights are a no-brainer. The regular 40 watts or 50 watts downlight runs at a temperature of between 275 and 350 degrees C. Installing an LED energy saver downlight will dramatically reduce electricity consumption.
Let’s say you are installing 2-watt energy save led downlights. 13 of these lights would consume less electricity than one of the standard 40-watt bulbs. Some homes have more than 100 downlights—a massive energy saving when all lights are left on. For example, if we had LED lights, and all were on, they would consume less energy than 7 of the 40-watt lights.
Fit A Gas Stove
Gas stoves are a great way of saving energy in the home. These stoves are far more economical to use as the heat is instant. Many homes with electric stoves must wait for the plates to heat up this is wasted energy. An all-around gas stove is far more economical to run.
Doors for Your Home
Outside doors must be good quality thick wooden doors and well treated. Also, make sure the doors seal very well. Make sure you don’t have gaps for air leakage as it will make the home colder in winter.
A great option is double glazed Aluminium doors, which will reduce heat flow substantially. In conclusion, we hope these top 10 energy saving tips will help. The top 10 energy saving tips are more for newly built homes and retrofits on existing homes. So be safe, insulate and save energy.