Electricity is expensive – make no bones about it. The secret is to save wherever you can without it costing you anything. It is time to think smart and to think out of the box so that you can put money back into your bank account instead of forking out more each month. 

Here are fifteen smart (and small), inexpensive ways to save on your power bill 

• Turn off those unnecessary lights – switching off lights an extra couple of hours a day can save you over the long haul – it is time to switch to LED lighting 
• Use task lighting – using side and table lamps, track lighting and under-counter lights instead of ceiling lights will go a long way to saving power 
• Hot water costs money – cutting shower and bath time will save you substantially 
• Always switch off taps when brushing teeth, washing hands or shaving – by reducing your hot water usage you can cut costs  
• Always unplug unused electrical devices – did you know that standby power can account for up to 10% of an average household’s annual electricity use? Always unplug unused electronics  
• You don’t need the air conditioner to run while you are not in the room or not at home. Switch this off always 
• Recycle or donate your old desktop computer and invest in a more energy-efficient laptop model 
• It is time to declutter – start off by getting rid of your old TV – a huge energy consumer 
• Switch off your geyser when you are not using it and only switch in on an hour before you need to bath or shower, and by lowering your thermostat by as little as two degrees you will save up to 5% on your electricity bill 
• Block the sun from windows during the hot summer months – choose sun-filtered blinds in very hot climates 
• During the hot summer months choose to make a barbeque (braai), salads and other fresh meals. Not only will you be a lot healthier, but will save you considerably in power bills 
• Ensure your washing machine loads are always full and washed in cold water 
• Using a tumble dryer is a huge energy devourer – not only will your clothes smell delightful when hung out in the sunshine, it will save you plenty of electricity. A tumble dryer is one of the biggest energy eaters in the home 
• Your fridge and freezer should always be at the right temperature. During very hot spells try not to open the fridge unnecessarily 
• Instead of using the oven, choose to use a griller, electric frying pan, toaster, rotisserie and microwave; a microwave takes 15 minutes to do the same job as 1 hour in an oven. Use a microwave instead of your oven at least four times a week 

There are many ways to save money in the home – the small things will save big in the long haul. 

Electricity moves from areas of high electric potential to areas of low electric potential, travelling from one end of a wire to the opposite end. 

There is one vital job that a surge protector needs to perform, and that is to detect any excess voltage and to then divert the excess electricity into a grounding wire; the very reason why all surge protectors are equipped with a grounding pin (the third prong on an electrical plug). Additionally, all surge protectors must be plugged into a properly grounded outlet for them to work. 

The main culprit of electrical surges are electrical devices that require plenty of power to operate, and all depending on the wiring of your home or office, you may notice at times that the lights flicker when powerful devices are turned on and off– such as air conditioning units. 

If these devices are switched on, they demand plenty of power which puts a strain on the grid and can cause surges. 

Why use a surge protector and why surge protection is necessary 

• A surge protector should be used all the time 
• What matters most is which types of devices should be connected to a surge protector – these include costly electrical devices such as computers, music systems, computers and media centres 
• It is often difficult to find good quality surge protection for your individual requirements, but shopping around and asking professional advice will put you in good stead 

It is important to know that surge protectors only have a limited lifespan depending on how often they are put to work. Even when the surge protector diverts a surge correctly to prevent damage to your electrical devices, the protector itself can be damaged when this process takes place. 

One of the most important features of a surge protector is an indicator light; an indicator light will let you know that your surge protector is in good working condition and if the light no longer works, then it is time to replace your surge protector. 

Surge protection is vital when it comes to protecting electrical devices as it could save your expensive equipment from damage in the long run. 

Power is pivotal in the lives of everyone in South Africa; suffice to say – this is becoming increasingly challenging for all concerned. Whether you are a private individual or run a small or large business; little can be achieved without power. Load shedding– has become a bugbear for everyone, and solutions to our power problems are perhaps the number one challenge that we, as South Africans, are facing daily. 

PHD Powerhouse is exhibiting at this year’s Solar Show in Sandton at the Convention Centre, and if you as an individual or business take power issues seriously, a visit to their exhibit is an absolute must. 

With over 8 000 attendees, more than 800 VIP’s attending the show, 250 sponsors and exhibitors, more than 250 speakers from more than 40 African countries, the Solar Show is one that everyone should attend. 

There are over 250 speakers sharing their insights across six first-class conference tracks, with an eye-watering line-up of experts from The World Bank, National Grid, African Development Bank, Fossil Fuel Foundation, Development Bank of Southern Africa, South African Photovoltaic Industry Association, Acciona, Access-Power, Aldwych International and Africa Finance Corporation, to name a few. 

Come and see the latest technology in everything to do with power, energy and electricity. 

When is this exhibition held and where? 

• There are over 200 free-to-attend sessions in the Seminar Theatres across smart electricity, generation, installing renewables, solar tech, energy for commerce and much more held at the Sandton Convention Centre 
• Visit the Solar Show Africa from the 26 to the 27 March 
• Opening times are: 

Tuesday 26 March from 10 am to 5 pm 

Wednesday 27 March from 10 am to 5 pm 

What you can expect by attending the Solar Show 

How to Access Power Projects 

• Everything you ever needed to know about the latest power projects happening across Africa  

Skills Development  

• This is the perfect place to find out how to bridge the skills gap in the power and electricity world 

Finding Local Partners 

• There is a distinct focus on finding the right partnerships for your business 

 Launch Innovative Products 

•  Experience the latest energy technologies and solutions disrupting the industry.  

The Solar Show Africa is the longest running, leading power and electricity exhibition and conference for utilities, large energy users, government and the power industry in Africa. 

The exhibitors boast having more than 20 years’ experience bringing communities together and are delighted to bring and share the 2019 event preview to the public. 

Book your seat for this exclusive solar show experience today: Solar Show 2019 Bookings

Being energy efficient has a positive impact on socio-economic upliftment

Energy efficiency offers opportunities for socio–economic upliftment through creating jobs. One of the needs for the national support of energy efficiency programmes such as 49M is South Africa’s leading energy saving movement calling on all South Africans to avoid wasting energy. 

The campaign, which is becoming trendy, challenges individuals and businesses to live energy efficient lives and to run energy efficient enterprises.  

49M seeks to mobilise all South Africans to embark on a common goal to make a difference and to save energy through behavioural change with a short-term goal to educate South Africans about the benefits of saving energy not only in their everyday lives but also in the economy.  

At present, South Africa has a triple challenge of unemployment, inequality and poverty. Employment growth relies on the aggressive investment in innovative job-creating facilities across the country; energy efficiency is one such opportunity with numerous renewable technologies that are applicable in a wide variety of environment, unlimited by weather, readily available skills and economic scales. 

There is a hugely positive socio-economic impact stemming from energy efficiency activities. These vary and include health benefits, gender equality and education equality. 

The 49M initiative creates awareness across all social demographics encouraging each South Africans to value having access to electricity. 

There is still a huge backlog of unconnected households in South Africa which could be a direct result of the slow economic development. 

Over the years numerous off-the-grid electrification programmes have been created aimed at supplying solar in areas where municipal power is not financially or physically feasible. Sadly, due to a lack of funds and lack of infrastructure, there has not been significant growth in this sector. 

Renewable energy cannot be discussed in isolation from job creation, economic development and social upliftment. 

Calculate UPS runtime

Calculate UPS runtime accurately so that you never lose valuable work. UPS systems have been designed to keep your computer up and running regardless of whether the lights remain on or not. 

By and large, a UPS system is a battery supply that has been designed to keep your equipment functioning when the power goes out – this is a good option when you are faced with challenges related to power supplied by your utility supply as they continue to face their own challenges. 

How long can you expect your UPS to keep running for? 

• Each UPS is given a VA rating (this is a Voltage-Amp rating) 
• This will tell you how much hardware you will be able to connect to your electrical devices 
• Furthermore, the VA rating will be able to tell you more or less how long it will keep running when the power goes out 
• For most UPS systems you can multiply it by .6 – this will give you an amount in Watts 
• Translated, a 1000 VA UPS will give users a 600-Watt load 
• Bear in mind that a 1500 VA UPS will be incapable of keeping your PC running for more than an hour, though  
• We need to be realistic and know the facts regarding the run-time that we can get from our UPS systems 
• Practicality will win hands-down every time, and larger businesses have come to the realisation that power generators are the real way to go when it comes to keeping their lights on and their systems functioning at optimum speed and power 
• Bear in mind that a UPS system is NOT a generator and trying to ride out the blackout is not going to cut it. Instead, use this time to save everything that is important to you before the UPS runs out of time 
• Save all your work first, then shut down your systems to ensure your sensitive equipment does not get damaged if the power surges 
• Did you know that some UPS systems can be plugged in directly to your PC by means of a USB? 
• This method is user-friendly as your UPS will then automatically switch over when the power goes out or when the utility is unstable 

Think out of the box to power-proof your business. Calculate UPS runtime accurately to ensure you never lose vital information.