#1 Get Savvy With These Tips To Reduce Your Water And Electricity Bills

Even if we don’t want to, South African homeowners are having to take more responsibility for the water and energy we need to run our homes.

You might assume that it’s too daunting and unaffordable to even think about. We’ll show you that it’s not. We've created a series of 13 articles that share practical, step-by-step things you can do to gain some independence and lower your monthly water and electricity costs.

Most of us can’t do everything at once, but once you know what your options are, you can plan over the short, medium and long-term.

But first, let’s get some perspective (and urgency) into this endeavour. If you’re still sitting on the fence (or couch), the figures and trends below should motivate you to take charge of your energy usage, and elements of its supply.

Electricity is going to cost (much) more

The cost of electricity has increased at a rate five and a half times higher than inflation over the past 15 years!

It’s predicted to get worse. If you look at the trend graph below, Eskom’s runaway tariff increases started in 2008, when the red line steepens and leaves the blue line (inflation) behind. The dotted red line indicates further steep tariff increases in the future.

Here’s how to lower your electricity bill

Savvy homeowners are finding ways to cut their energy consumption. The easiest way to reduce your electricity is to switch off equipment, for example, lights, when they are not needed. Another way is to swop old inefficient technology for new energy-efficient technology.

In the next article in the series, we’ll look at the compelling numbers behind the move to modern lightbulbs. Yes, simply changing your lightbulbs can cut your energy consumption and save you money.

Ready to invest in a power or water saving solution for your home? If you’re an SA Home Loans client, we'll help you finance it through your home loan.