Dishwasher

Dishwasher energy consumption can be reduced by turning off the dishwasher after the final rinse and before the drying cycle. The clean dishes can then be wiped with a dry cloth. Fill the dishwasher completely before operating. Partial loads waste electricity and water. Short wash cycles, rinse-only cycles, mid-cycle turn-off, and other features are designed for energy conservation as well as convenience. Connect your dishwasher to COLD water supply unless otherwise directed. Normally only one wash and one final rinse cycle requires hot water which is heated by an element in the dishwasher. The dishwasher filters must be kept clear of debris. A blocked filter reduces efficiency and wastes energy. Proper loading is important for the dishwasher to work efficiently.

Freezer

Freezers and refrigerators operate most efficiently when filled to the capacity recommended by the manufacturers. Never forget that only one-tenth of a freezer's capacity should be used for freezing of fresh food at any one time. The freezer must work harder to remove heat, and uses more power. Example, 28 litres (one cubic foot) will store 12,5 to 15 kg (25-30 lbs.) of frozen food and will freeze about 1,5 kg (3 lbs.) of fresh food at a time. Food to be frozen should be placed in contact with those parts of the freezer that contain the refrigerant tubes, usually the sides of chest models. Defrosting of chest type freezers should be done once or twice a year. For upright models, defrosting should be done two or three times a year. NEVER allow frost build up to exceed 0,6 to 1,3 cm. By keeping a list of the location of foods in the freezers, the freezer can be kept open for a minimum of time, preventing the loss of cold air.

Refrigerator

Choose a refrigerator of a size based on the needs of your family - a refrigerator operates at peak efficiency when filled. Do not overload your fridge, excessive products in your fridge will lower the quality of the food and use more electricity - as much as 10-20% more for each extra product. Do not set freezing temperatures lower than necessary, it wastes as much electricity as excessive heat. Thick frost on chilling panels reduces cooling ability. If you do no t have a frost-free model, defrost your refrigerator when frost is between 0,6 to 1,3 cm thick. By getting into the habit of removing and replacing several articles at once, you will reduce the loss of cold air. Let hot foods cool down before placing them in the refrigerator. (To prevent bacterial growth allow about 20 minutes standing time). Remove all heavy wrapping from food before storing it in the refrigerator. Foods should be placed slightly apart on refrigerator shelves to allow the cooling air to circulate.

Microwave Ovens

Defrost your food in the refrigerator instead of the microwave oven: it is more economical. Use your microwave oven to cook small to medium quantities of food. To cook larger portions of meat, it is better to use a conventional oven. Wrap foods in plastic to hold in the steam, this will help to give even heating. Cooking time is an important factor when determining energy efficiency levels. 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. Follow the Manufacturers instructions to ensure that food is cooked correctly.

Electric Stove

Use cooking utensils with flat bottoms and tight fittings covers. Be sure pots and pans completely cover the stove plates. Take advantage of the heat sensing control for stove plates. It allows the stove plate to cut off the electricity supply occasionally while still cooking. It does not affect the food, only your bill. Use a pressure cooker to conserve energy when cooking foods that take a long time, such as pot roasts, stews and steamed puddings. Bring foods to the boil quickly on the "high" setting, then turn the heat down to simmer to finish cooking. Keep oven doors completely closed until food is cooked. Every time the door is opened, the oven temperature drops, and the heat must be replaced. Use the oven to prepare an entire meal - main course, vegetables and dessert. Remember to plan meals that cook in the oven at the same temperature. Allow free circulation of heat within the oven. Place pans and containers so that they do not touch each other, or the sides of the oven.

Lighting

The wattage of a bulb is not a measure of the amount of light it gives, but rather the energy it uses. For instance, a 100 watt bulb gives 50% more light than four 25 watt bulbs. Fluorescent lamps give five times the light and last up to 10 times as long as ordinary bulbs. Fluorescent lighting is more economical - Watt for Watt than incandescent bulbs. They use less energy and can last about 10 times longer. Never confine lighting to one part of the room. Avoid heavy contrast by using lamp shades that direct light both up and down. Try not to install multiple lights) on a single switch. Above all, turn lights off whenever possible because, they use electricity while they burn. Clean your lamps and bulbs regularly, because dirt decreases the amount of light given out. Dimming switches allow you to regulate the light level and reduce electricity consumption to some extent. Use lampshades with a white liner. Liners should be sufficiently dense to hide the bulb but should transmit soft, even light. Use low energy lamps for exterior lighting.

Air Conditioning

Clean and inspect filter screens regularly. This will keep electricity consumption at its best and eliminate dust and pollen from conditioned air. Use light coloured curtains to reflect sun and heat outward. Set the air conditioning unit to re-circulate cool air instead of drawing in warmer outside air. Protect the outdoor cooling units from the sun. Place them on the south or shady side of your house. Be sure your television, radio and stereo are off when no one is watching or listening. Generally, you should turn your heating/cooling system off when the space in unoccupied. You can use a time-clock to turn them on prior to occupancy again if you like. Do not heat storage and unoccupied areas, like the basement or garage.

Washing Machine

Clean and inspect filter screens regularly. This will keep electricity consumption at its best and eliminate dust and pollen from conditioned air. Use light coloured curtains to reflect sun and heat outward. Set the air conditioning unit to re-circulate cool air instead of drawing in warmer outside air. Protect the outdoor cooling units from the sun. Place them on the south or shady side of your house. Be sure your television, radio and stereo are off when no one is watching or listening. Generally, you should turn your heating/cooling system off when the space in unoccupied. You can use a time-clock to turn them on prior to occupancy again if you like. Do not heat storage and unoccupied areas, like the basement or garage.

Tumble Dryer

Clean the lint filter on the dryer after each operation to maintain full air flow and to 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. 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 a tumble dryer but avoid under-loading as well. Use correct temperature settings to minimise the amount of electricity consumed. On sunny days take advantage of good weather and dry your clothes outside.

Heaters

Infrared heaters are more electricity efficient than other space heating systems. An infrared heater will warm the people in the room rather than the space. Infra-red heaters often use metal-sheated infrared radiation elements, reflector lamps or quartz tubes. 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. Electric blankets consume little electricity, however the correct method of use is to switch them on to the highest setting and warm the bed just before climbing in - then switch them off.

Geysers

In order to ensure that cold air outside the geyser does not increase the heat lost by the water inside, installing a geyser blanket can be very effective. A geyser blanket may cost in the region of R150, but the pay-back in electricity efficiency and electricity savings make it a good investment. It should take less than an hour to install a geyser blanket and over twenty years it may save you over R2 500. To optimize electricity efficiency, geysers should be located as close as possible to the points where hot water is being used. Insulated hot water pipes maintain their temperature at constant levels and prevent heat loss. Pay special attention to the insulation of the first 1.5 to two meters of hot water pipes nearest the geyser. Water pipes can be insulated with ceiling insulation material, or through the use of pipe insulators that wrap around the pipes.

Swimming Pool

For houses with swimming pools, the swimming pool filter pump is likely to be amongst the largest consumers of electricity, possibly accounting for 20% of the home's electricity consumption. Reduce The Pool Pump Operating Time. Reducing the swimming pool filter pump operating time can save significant amounts of electricity. The pool pump operating time can be reduced by resetting the pump control clock to activate the pump for only those necessary for keeping the pool clean. Covering your pool when it is not in use will reduce its water losses. A cover will also ensure that the pool need not be cleaned as frequently and the pool pump can be operated less often, for example 10% of the time. The pool's filter should be cleaned as recommended by the manufacturer to obtain maximum efficiency. This will enable you to operate the pump for shorter periods.