Save heaps by reducing your outdoors energy use
Energy-saving options exist outside the home just as they do indoors, and by making the most of these opportunities homeowners can receive considerable benefits.
Learn how to make the most of your outdoor setup without using more power than necessary. Start by adapting landscaping to be more energy conscious, then change your outdoor activities and accessories to assist you in reducing your energy usage and so save on your electricity bill.
Plant trees to create shade Apart from being beautiful, trees attract birds and provide privacy for your garden. However, trees can also play an important role in lowering your overall energy costs. Planting shade trees around a home cools it down and thus reduces air-conditioning costs.
Choose the right outdoor lighting Security at home is a major concern and as a result, we often leave our outside and garden lights on all night to repel intruders – however, this could be more costly than necessary.
You can use smart outdoor lighting by installing energy-efficient motion sensor lights, which offer a simple and convenient way to light outside areas while reducing your electricity bill. Don’t forget to replace the bulbs in outside lights with light-emitting diode (LED) lights.
Keep your pool sparkling It’s important to make regular pool maintenance a priority, as this will optimise the electricity usage of your pool pump. Clean area corners with the least circulation by brushing the floor and walls of your pool at least once a week to remove debris missed by the cleaning device.
If an average household reduces its pool pump operating time by one hour per day, the annual demand reduction will be around 274kWh or a saving of about R680, depending on the electricity tariff.