South Africans are united in their continued battle with unexpected loadshedding as the national energy provider grapples with the timing of much-needed maintenance and escalating running costs.
Electricity is central to the homes of South Africans – it is used to power anything and everything from your toothbrush and mobile phone to your blinds and even your car. What do South Africans need to do in order to prepare their homes for an uninterrupted electric future?
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1. Consider alternative sources of electricity
The debate surrounding Eskom and its service delivery is endless; “load shedding” has become one of the most used terms in South Africa. So, consider other sources of electricity. One of the most popular options is the solar panel. But there are other options that will become available soon too – wind turbines, air source heat pumps and biomass heating systems, for instance. Yes, the initial costs can be high – but systems such as these can pay off in the long run.
George Mienie, AutoTrader CEO, reveals that he installed solar panels throughout his house. “Yes, it was a costly exercise. But solar panels do, in fact, pay for themselves in a relatively short period of time. I even utilised solar power to get a full charge out of the panels for an electric vehicle I had on test, namely the Volkswagen e-Golf. The experience gave me a glimpse into the future,” he points out.
2. Think about getting power from unconventional sources
While solar panels and wind turbines are logical alternative sources of electricity, have you ever thought about using your car to power your house? This idea is not as wacky as it seems. Thanks to its Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) system, the Nissan Leaf’s battery can also be used for electricity storage, providing backup for buildings and private homes in preparation for a power shortage and/or outage.
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The good news in this regard is that more and more South Africans will go the electric vehicle (EV) route in the future. According to Mienie, South Africa is still in the starting blocks when it comes to EV adoption – with only 2% of consumers owning an EV and 13% having driven one. “But this is all set to change; most South Africans expect to purchase an EV by 2027,” he reveals.
The Leaf isn’t the only car that can power your house. Recently, after storms hit Texas, the Ford F-150 (which isn’t currently available in South Africa) provided an alternative source of power. It’s equipped with a feature called Pro Power Onboard, which allows the bakkie to be used as a mobile generator. Texan resident Randy Jones used the generator to power lights, a coffee pot, television, toaster oven, heater and refrigerator.
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Given the fact that you will be needing more and more electricity in future, focus on energy savings. Your fridge can consume up to a third of all the power in your house. So, ensure that its door is always properly closed and defrost it regularly. There are lots of other ways to reduce electricity usage too. Hang your clothes outside in the South African sunshine to dry them instead of using your tumble drier, for instance.
4. Adopt new technology
Keep on the lookout for products that are more energy-efficient than others. LED light bulbs, for instance, are far superior to incandescent light bulbs. At the other end of the cost scale, consider the energy efficiency of major appliances before making a purchase.
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