Saving Electricity at Home: How to Use Less and Cut Costs

The quickest way to save electricity at home is to tackle the biggest users first: heat your water more efficiently, switch to LED lighting, cook smarter, and stop devices drawing power when you are not using them. Each change is small, but together they can noticeably lower your monthly bill.

Why saving electricity matters

Electricity is one of the biggest ongoing costs of running a home. Saving electricity helps you in three ways:

• Lower bills: every unit you do not use is money you keep.
• Lower environmental impact: less demand means fewer emissions.
• A more attractive home: an energy-efficient home appeals to buyers.

How to save electricity at home: everyday habits

Changing habits can feel like a chore, and a single small change may seem pointless. But real savings come from many small actions repeated daily. Start with these:

• Switch off lights and electronics when you are not using them.
• Unplug chargers and idle devices. Many devices keep drawing standby power even when switched off. This is known as a phantom load.
• Protect your appliances too. Unplugging devices before a power cut protects your laptop, TV and appliances from the power surge that can happen when electricity is restored.
• Use natural light whenever possible.
• Wash clothes in cold water and run the washing machine only when it is full.
• Dry clothes on the washing line instead of using a tumble dryer.
• Keep your geyser thermostat at about 60°C. Do not set it higher than you need (see the geyser section below).
• Take a quick shower instead of running a bath.
• Track your usage. If you are on a prepaid meter, checking it regularly shows how quickly units are being used and which habits make a difference. Read our complete prepaid electricity meter guide to get the most from yours. 

How to use less electricity throughout your home

Is your home EDGE certified?

EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is an international green building certification system, supported in South Africa by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). It shows that a home has been designed and built to use less energy and water. EDGE-certified homes are designed to use at least 20% less energy and water than a conventional home, and the tips below can increase your savings further.

Insulate and weatherproof your home

Good insulation reduces the electricity you need for heating and cooling. You can:

• Fit a geyser blanket to keep stored water hot for longer.
• Insulate the hot water pipes leading from the geyser.
• Use thermal curtains to reduce heat transfer through windows.
• Seal gaps around doors and windows to stop draughts.

Lighting

Lighting is a surprisingly large part of a home's electricity use. To cut it:

• Replace lightbulbs with LEDs. LEDs use up to 80% less electricity than incandescent bulbs and last much longer.
• Use motion sensors or timers so lights switch off automatically.
• Install dimmer switches where full brightness is not always needed.

Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most energy-hungry rooms in the house. You can lower its consumption by:

• Choosing energy-efficient appliances. Look for the energy efficiency label and choose the highest rating you can afford (A or better using an A - G scale).
• Considering smart appliances that let you monitor and control power use.
• Not overpacking your fridge. Air needs to circulate, so keep it full but not crammed.
• Using an air fryer or microwave for small meals instead of the oven.
• Cooking with good pots that hold and spread heat well, and keeping lids on.
• Boiling only the water you need.

Heating and cooling for affordable comfort

Heating and cooling can use a lot of electricity, especially in the cold winter months.

Cooling

• Install ceiling fans rather than air conditioning.
• Install a programmable thermostat if you do have air conditioning.

Heating

Heat only the rooms you are using, not the whole house. There are many heating options, each with advantages and disadvantages.

Geysers and hot water

Heating water is usually one of the largest uses of electricity in a home. To reduce it:

• Install a low-flow showerhead to use less water and less hot water.
• Set the geyser thermostat to about 60°C, and consider a geyser timer so it heats only when you need it.
• Fix leaks promptly. A dripping hot tap wastes both water and electricity.

See Solar Powered Geyser Tips for more on your solar geyser system.

Frequently asked questions

How can I save electricity at home?

Focus on the biggest users first: your geyser, lighting, cooking and standby devices. Insulate your geyser, switch to LED bulbs, unplug idle devices, wash in cold water, dry clothes on the line and use ceiling fans instead of air conditioning where you can.

How can I use less electricity every day?

Switch off lights and electronics when you are not using them, use natural light, take short showers, run appliances only with full loads, and unplug chargers when they are not in use. Simple daily habits add up over a month.

What uses the most electricity in a home?

Water heating is usually one of the biggest uses, followed by heating and cooling, cooking and lighting. Reducing your geyser's electricity use usually gives the biggest saving.

What is a phantom load?

A phantom load (or standby power) is electricity that devices draw even when they are switched off but still plugged in, such as chargers, TVs and game consoles. Unplugging them or using a switched power strip stops this waste.

Do LED bulbs really save electricity?

Yes. LED bulbs use up to 80% less electricity than incandescent bulbs and last much longer, so they lower your bill and reduce how often you replace bulbs.

What temperature should I set my geyser to?

About 60°C is generally recommended for storage. Setting it much lower can allow harmful bacteria to grow and setting it higher wastes electricity.

Conclusion

Saving electricity does not need big renovations. Small actions, from switching to LEDs and insulating your geyser to changing everyday habits, add up to real savings and a lower bill over time. Start with one or two changes this week and build from there.