• Turn off your dishwasher after the final rinse (before the drying cycle).  You can wipe ?em dry using a dishcloth or leave ?em to drip dry.  True?
• Most modern dishwashers have the following special features: Rinse only; Short wash and Mid-cycle turn-off.  Use them whenever possible. They are designed for energy conservation. 
• Connect your dishwasher to your cold water supply - unless otherwise directed.  Cold water costs less and works just as well.
• Always pack full loads into your dishwasher.  Half loads cost you twice as much.  Make sense? 
• Clean the filter regularly. Blocked filters reduce efficiency & waste energy.  Do it.  Your dishwasher will be grateful.
• Here?s a good idea: Put hubby to good use. Get him off the sofa and onto dishes duty.  If you get that right, get him to use cold water, which works just as well as hot water for non greasy foods.  By the way, kids prefer cold water too.

Print out this checklist and put your fridge to the test.  (You?ll need to set aside 10 minutes or so)

Here we go:

• Whatever you do, don?t overload your fridge.  You use as much as 10 -20% more electricity cooling excess products.  Yes, 10 ? 20%!
• Take out old, unwanted or unnecessary items.  There?s no point using power to cool stuff you?ll never use, right?
• Make sure your thermostat isn?t set too cold.  Keep adjusting it until you determine the minimum requirement to keep your products chilled.  Excessive cold wastes as much power as excessive heat.
• If the ice or frost that builds up on your chilling panels is more than 0.6cm thick, it?s time to defrost your frigde. Frost build up reduces your fridge?s cooling ability, so you use more electricity.
• Defrost your fridge regularly (once every 2 months)
• Remove all heavy wrapping from food before it goes into the fridge.  You?re wasting money cooling heavy packaging that will end up in the bin.
• Cover all liquids (especially in frost-free models).
• Regularly clean the exposed condenser coils/panels.  You?ll most likely find them at the back of the fridge.  (Clean ?em carefully to avoid damage)
• If your fridge is near the stove, or in direct sunlight, or against an un-insulated wall that faces the sun, move it to a cool spot, if possible.
• Allow adequate space around your fridge for free air circulation. You need to do this for your fridge to work properly.
• Check your fridge for an energy saving switch.  If you?ve got one, switch it on.  Go check right now.
• Don't open the door unnecessarily.  Take out all the ingredients you need when cooking or baking.  (And if you?re one of those people who go back to the fridge every hour or so to check out the contents, we?ve got news for you; food doesn?t materialize unless you?ve been shopping so quit the habit, OK?)
• Make sure the seals are intact. If your fridge isn?t closing properly, you?ve got a problem.  Try this: close your fridge door on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out easily, then you should replace the seal as fast as humanly possible.  Come on, give it a go!   Our nation needs you to save power.
• Empty your fridge and switch it off when you go away on holiday
• Always let hot food cool down before putting it into the fridge. 
• Store foods apart on the shelves, so that the cooling air can circulate freely. 

• Fill your freezer to the capacity recommended by the manufacturers for optimum use.
• Keep your freezer as full as possible to prevent heavy icing.
• Defrost chest type freezers twice a year. For upright models, defrost ?em every three months
• Don?t let frost build up exceed 0,6 cm.  If so, it?s time to defrost again! 
• Only one-tenth of your freezer's capacity should be used to freeze fresh food at any one time. Consider this: 28 litres (one cubic foot) will store 12 to 15 kg of frozen food and will freeze about 1,5 kg of fresh food at a time.
• Put your food parcels against those parts of your freezer that contain the refrigerant tubes.  (Usually the sides.)
• Regularly clean the exposed condenser coils/panels at the back of your freezer. (Clean ?em carefully to avoid damage)
• If you have more than one freezer, pack one to capacity before using the other.
• Don?t put hot food into your freezer.  Wait for it to cool down first. 

• Be sure your pots and pans completely cover the stove plates - Use small plates for small pots and pans and big plates for big pots and pans.
• Use cooking utensils with flat bottoms and tight fittings covers, so that heating is optimized.  Go test your pots and pans right now.  Wonky pans aren?t good for South Africa.
• Use a pressure cooker to conserve energy when you cook foods that take a long time, such as pot roasts, stews and steamed puddings.  Yummy!  If you don?t have one, get one.
• Try not to overcook foods, especially your vegetables.  Yes, overcooking destroys essential nutrients, but it also drives up your electricity bill.
• Use a timer, so that you don?t accidentally over cook your food.
  Bring foods to the boil quickly on the "high" setting, then turn the heat down to simmer to finish cooking.
• Make sure the stove plate reflectors (underneath the stove plates) are kept clean.
• Don?t use your stove for any purpose other than what it was intended.  That means no using the grill to make toast, light cigarettes, dry clothes or warm your slippers ? it?s just too darn expensive.
• Here?s another thing: don?t use your oven to heat the kitchen - it is very expensive and far less efficient than a heater.
• Don?t open the oven door unnecessarily whilst cooking or baking.  You see, every time the door is opened, the oven temperature drops, and the heat must be replaced. 
• Remember to plan meals that cook in the oven at the same temperature, so that you can cook ?em at the same time.
• Don?t let pans and containers touch each other or the sides of your oven.  It?s very important to allow free circulation of heat within the oven.
• Try not to have to keep food warm.  If you absolutely must keep food warm, place in a 66?C (150?F) or 82?C (180?F) oven.
• If you?re about to buy a brand new stove, choose one with a convection oven.  How come? 
• Well, this type of oven uses less energy than conventional ovens and cooking time is reduced substantially.  Also, look out for heat sensing controls.  This clever feature enables your stove plate to cut of the electricity supply occasionally while still cooking.
• If your modern stove is fitted with a heat sensing control, make sure you use it. 

• Defrost food in your fridge instead of your microwave oven.  Yes, it takes a little bit longer but it?s more economical. Plus, you?ll get that warm fuzzy feeling knowing you did the right thing.  And now that you know, you?ll feel guilty when you don?t and your food will taste just awful.
• Use your microwave oven to cook small to medium quantities of food.  You?ll save power and money (and that?s good!).  If you?re cooking larger portions of meat, it is better to use a conventional oven (but use it responsibly, OK?)
• As you probably know, some microwaves don?t heat up foods evenly.  Here?s what to do: Wrap the food in a microwave plastic bag to hold in the steam. This will help to heat your food evenly.  It really works!  But be very careful not to cover the food too well.  Steam can burn you badly when you open the packet.  To prevent this from happening to you, we suggest you leave a flap open for the steam to escape.
• Put this to the test: Compare cooking times when you cook the same food in the microwave, in the standard oven, on stove top elements or in a pressure cooker. You will easily see which method of cooking is more efficient depending on quantity, volume and food types.  You see, cooking time is an important factor when determining energy efficiency levels.  How much electricity do you think we?d save if every person living in South Africa cut back their cooking time by 10%, huh?
• Follow the cooking instructions on the packaging.  If it says: cook for 10 minutes, then cook for 10 minutes ? not 12.  Get it? 

You?ll be shocked to discover how much power you use in preparing and storing foods. The following tips will help you to conserve energy while meeting your daily food-related needs.

• Cook at a longer, lower temperature as opposed to a higher, shorter one. Slow cooking transfers less heat to the air around it - so you loose less heat energy and save more money in the long run. Slow cooking also retains more of the nutrients in food, so you stay healthier too.
• Follow the manufacturer's strict guidelines while heating and pre-heating your cooking equipment.
• Heat your equipment only to the highest temperature needed - do not heat higher to pre-heat quicker or cook food faster, it will only waste energy.
• Draw up a cooking schedule. In knowing what foods need the same cooking temperature in advance, you can do them at the same time.
• Fill your oven to capacity and save on time and electricity.
• Learn how to use your oven's thermostat and timer.  Do this and you can avoid opening your oven door all the time to see how your food is doing.  Every time you open the oven door, you lose heat, which means to have to use more power to reheat the oven. 
• Warming drawers and plates are not cooking appliances. Only use them as intended.  Alright?
• Keep your cooking equipment clean.  Experts agree, they?ll last longer and use less electricity if well maintained.

• Use small kitchen appliances instead of your stove.  Toasters, electric grills and skillets, slow cookers, electric coffee pots and bottle warmers usually require less energy than the stove when used correctly.  Take a trip to your nearest store and check out all the new models. 
• They are so stylish and advanced ? you won?t believe it!
• Use an electric kettle to boil water, not a sauce pan or a microwave.  And here?s something else; only boil the water you need.  There?s no point in using power to heat water that?s just going to cool down again.
• When vacuuming, empty or replace the dust bag frequently.  Why?  Because the harder your vacuum cleaner has to work to clean up, the more power and money you waste.
• A faulty appliance will not work efficiently and can waste energy.  If a faulty appliance in your cupboard just sprang to mind, repair or replace it promptly.  There are probably millions of faulty appliances being used in South Africa everyday.  If you?re not part of the solution, you?re part of the problem

How would you like to save energy, money and eye strain?  You can.  It?s easy.  Use proper lighting in your home.  Follow these guidelines:

• Watt for Watt, fluorescent lighting is more economical than incandescent bulbs. They use less energy, last about 10 times longer and give off 5 times the light.  Wow!  What are you waiting for, make a decision to start using fluorescent bulbs immediately!) Make a point of replacing every bulb in your house with a fluorescent bulb.  You can get them at most grocery stores for about R50.  If you don?t have the money to replace them all at once, set a goal to replace 1 or 2 each month.
• Try not to install multiple lights (lamps or lighting fixtures) on a single switch.  You know, the Christmas style lights some people put up to create a festive atmosphere.  Not so festive during a black out, eh?
• Clean your lamps and bulbs regularly because dirt decreases the amount of light given out, so you may be inclined to switch on another light.
• Install dimming switches wherever possible.  They allow you to regulate the light level and reduce electricity consumption to some extent.  They also create cozy atmospheres when you want to snuggle up on the sofa with someone special.
• Use lampshades with a white liner. Liners should be sufficiently dense to hide the bulb, but should transmit soft, even light.
• Avoid using lamp shades that direct light both up and down. They confine lighting to one part of the room, which often then needs more lighting.
• Use low energy lamps for exterior lighting.  (And only use them when you absolutely have to!  They may look pretty, but they are contributing to a national power crisis.)
• Above all, turn lights off whenever possible.  Why?  Because lights use electricity while they burn.  And we have got to reduce our electricity consumption to avoid black outs. 

• Clean and inspect the filter screens regularly (every 2 months). This will keep electricity consumption at its best, eliminate dust and pollen from conditioned air and help to save you money.
• Use light coloured curtains to reflect sun and heat outward.
• Set your air conditioning unit to re-circulate cool air instead of drawing in warmer outside air.
• Protect the outdoor cooling units from the sun.  If possible, place them on the south or shady side of your house or flat.
• You absolutely must turn your heating/cooling system off when the space in unoccupied.  If you can afford air con in your home then you can probably afford to install a time-clock to turn them on prior to occupancy.
• Don?t heat storage and unoccupied areas, like the basement or garage.

• If it?s time you bought a new washing machine, keep this in mind: A front loading washing machine uses less water and costs less to operate.  Yes, the purchase price may be slightly higher than a top loader, but you?ll save money in the long run. Another thing: buy a washing machine, which offers a variety of water temperature settings.  Especially cold and warm.
• Use cold and warm water setting as much as possible in order to cut down on energy needed to heat the water.
• Take advantage of special features on your washer that can save money. For example, soak cycles remove stubborn stains in one wash cycle.
• Your automatic washing machine uses the same amount of electricity for a full load as it does for a single item.  So, we strongly advise you to save dirty clothes until you have a full load of washing.  If you must, give hand washing a go.  It worked for thousands of years before General Electric appeared.

• Clean the lint filter on the dryer after each operation to maintain full air flow and maximise the drying efficiency.
• Dryers equipped with an electronic humidity control are the most efficient because they automatically shut off the drying cycle when the clothes are dry. Other models are equipped with electric timers which allow you to select the length of the drying cycle. Here it is important not to overestimate the length of the drying cycle.  Once again, if you don?t need to use the power, you?re just wasting it.
• A permanent press cycle with a "cool-down" period saves energy and dries efficiently.
• Compact dryers are economical provided that you only have small amounts of clothes to dry.
• Never overload your tumble dryer but avoid under-loading as well.
• Use the correct temperature settings to minimise the amount of electricity consumed.
• Over-drying your clothes makes ?em feel harsh (not to mention wastes power and money). Have some fun experimenting to find the right setting.  Believe it or not, some natural materials such as cotton and wool should retain some moisture to avoid wrinkling.
• Don?t put your clothes into the tumble dryer dripping with water.  Wring ?em out first.  Oh, by the way, don?t put folded clothes into the dryer. They?ll take longer to dry.
• Dry your clothes in consecutive loads where possible. The dryer will be warm already and will save on initial energy consumption.
• On sunny days take advantage of good weather and dry your clothes outside.  South Africa has the perfect climate for it!  Agreed?

Get this: Your iron consumes as much energy as ten 100 watt light bulbs.  Here?s what to do to increase ironing efficiency:

• Iron low temperature fabrics first to reduce warm up time.  Make sense?
• Iron large batches of clothing at one time to avoid wasting energy reheating the iron several times.
• Switch your iron off before you are finished and complete the ironing on stored energy.
• Don?t over heat your iron. You?ll prevent scorching your clothes and stop wasting energy
• Use only distilled water in steam irons.
• Be sure to turn your iron off if you are interrupted whilst ironing.
• Use the permanent press feature on your washer and dryer, if it is available.
• By removing clothing promptly from the dryer and folding them carefully, many items will require no ironing, or just a quick press.

• Infrared heaters are more electricity efficient than other space heating systems. These types of heaters can be used both for spot heating and area heating. They transfer energy directly by radiation, creating heat and comfort instantly without the use of air-circulation fans. An infrared heater will warm the people in the room rather than the space.  So, next time you?re in the market for a heater make sure you choose one that will help save South African from a power crisis OR if you?re loaded pop out and buy one right now.
• The oil filled heater is the safest type of heater for the bedroom. A thermostat control switches the unit on and off as required, but to save energy, only use on the lowest comfortable setting.   The hotter you make it, the more power you use.
• Switch on your electric blankets to the highest setting to make your beds nice and warm - then switch them off when you get into bed.  Hmmmmm, sleep tight!
• It may seem like common sense (which is not always so common), but close your doors and windows when using a heater, yeah?

Heating the rooms in your home during winter is most likely one of your largest sources of electricity consumption.  If you can afford it, we highly recommend you improve your home's thermal insulation.  No doubt, you?ll save hundreds of Rands each year in space heating costs ? not to mention improve your home's comfort tremendously.

• Insulate Your Ceiling: Insulating your ceiling will help make your home a comfortable, electricity efficient place. As much as 50% of heat losses in an average house can be attributed to a lack of ceilings and ceiling insulation. If your home's ceiling is well insulated, your heating and cooling expenses can be kept low. The effectiveness of ceiling insulation depends on the type of material from which it is made, its thickness and its density. If you?ve got the bucks, buy the best. Ceiling insulation in South Africa varies from fibre-glass insulation to a type of insulation prepared from a mixture of paper and other materials. The latter is blown into the ceiling, sealing the total roof area. Both of these methods are equally effective.  Speak to insulation suppliers ? they?ll be able to offer you reliable information about the best product for your house.
• Seal Air Gaps In The Home: The flow of air into and out of a home occurs inadvertently as infiltration / exfiltration and deliberately as ventilation. Air leakage into and out of the home is one of the contributors to high heating and cooling costs. Air infiltrating a house through leaks must be heated in winter and cooled in summer and this represents an additional load on your household's electricity consumption. This additional load can account for as much as 20% of heating and cooling costs. Air leakage also permits dust, noise, fumes and moisture to enter a home. Air leakage can occur wherever different materials or parts of the house meet. Caulking and weather-stripping are the ideal methods for closing the loopholes in your home through which heat escapes. Caulking simply means sealing cracks and holes in areas where air leakage can occur. It?s inexpensive and easy to apply with just a few tools. Weather-stripping is effective at eliminating air leakage when it fits tightly against closed windows and doors. Many types of weather stripping are available, including foam rubber, felt, flexible vinyl and spring metal or plastic tension strips.  Check out your local hardware store.
• Make The Most Use Of The Home's Thermal Mass: Thermal mass is a term used to describe any material that absorbs and releases significant amounts of heat when a temperature difference occurs between it and the surrounding air. Concrete, brick and tile contribute to the thermal mass of a home. You can take advantage of thermal mass to substantially reduce the use of heating and cooling appliances. As the air in a house cools and falls below the temperature of the thermal mass, the thermal mass slowly releases its stored heat, keeping the home warm for longer periods. This process of absorbing and releasing heat helps your home maintain a comfortable temperatures range. The value of thermal mass increases when it is exposed to room air, rather than covered by materials that hinder its heat absorbing and releasing effects. For example, a concrete floor covered by vinyl performs much better than a floor covered by carpeting. 

Swimming pools may be awesome for cooling you down in summer, but they could also be the reason you get hot and bothered when you see your electricity bill.  You see, your pool filter pump possibly accounts for 20% of your home's electricity consumption.  Ouch!  But don?t panic! Here?s what you can do about it:

• Simply reset the pump control clock to activate the pump less.  By reducing the operating time you can save significant amounts of electricity (and cash).  We recommend you put your pump to the test.  Keep cutting back until you establish the minimum amount of operating time required to keep your pool clean. 
• Cover your pool when it?s not in use.  You won?t have to clean it as frequently, so the pool pump will be operated less often.  Aim for 10% of the time, OK?  This will give you more time to watch sport on TV.
• Clean your pool's filter regularly - as recommended by the manufacturer - to obtain maximum efficiency. This will enable you to operate the pump for shorter periods. Also, use a wall brush and leaf skimmer regularly and remove foreign materials from the pool's strainer baskets.  These obstructions put a strain on the pump. And the harder your pump has to work, the more power it requires to keep your pool clean.
  

We?d like to thank the good folks at Eskom for supplying us with these practical power saving tips.  We?re behind you guys ? 100%

HELP US to broadcast this campaign message. 

Click here to see how YOU CAN get your company involved