All powered up
Whether your business is just starting out or still growing, saving energy helps lift the demand on our power supply, and in turn, saves money. One of the most effective ways for any business to save energy is to invest in energy-efficient technology. By switching to energy-efficient lighting, appliances and other equipment, businesses can cut their energy usage significantly and save money now and in the future. The added value is that using less energy is better for the environment.
Click yes for an energy audit
Carry out an energy walk around.
Conduct regular housekeeping walk-arounds – you’ll spot possible energy-sapping problems and avoid expensive solutions.
Bright Idea
If it’s not in your budget, plan ahead for a professional energy audit. Eskom Energy Advisory Service offers free expert advice to businesses on how to improve your energy usage. They’ll also help you identify further ways to save energy. Contact the advisory team here.
Click off energy-sapping office equipment
Plug in office equipment to match working hours.
Unplug computers, printers and other non-essential office equipment when not in use. Even when they're turned off, they still draw power.
Bright Idea
If they’re not essential, encourage staff to click off all office lights if you’re the last person out.
Click off hot water hassles
Boil water by cup count.
Encourage staff to fill the kettle by cup count before boiling. Use energy-efficient appliances.
Bright Idea
Lighten your load by encouraging staff to wash their hands with cold water. Even better, turn off geysers supplying bathrooms.
Click for energy smarts
Empower staff to save energy.
Educating staff on energy-saving measures is key to ensuring that your energy-saving efforts are successful. Encourage staff to click off computers when they’re not in use, and to use natural light whenever possible.
Bright Idea
Do an energy audit of appliances in common areas and share the ‘Click-to-Save’ message with staff.
Click for not too hot, not too cold
Invest in smart tech for space heating and cooling.
Using temperatures adjusted by season can save a lot of energy. Install programmable thermostats which adjust the temperature in your office based on the time of day or occupancy – when your business is closed or there are fewer people in the office.
Bright Idea
Set air-conditioning to match the season.
Click for smart lighting
Invest in energy-efficient lighting.
Too much or too little light can waste energy and money. Switch to energy-efficient lighting systems, with motion sensors that trigger only when a space is occupied. They also turn off automatically when the space is empty. Replace your old incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs. These use less energy and last longer, so you’ll save money in the long run.
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Use CFLs in common areas like kitchens and bathrooms if your budget only allows for a slow transition to LEDs. CFLS use less energy than traditional bulbs so you can start saving until you can switch to longer-lasting LEDS.
Click for smart heating
Reduce geyser temperature to 60 °C.
Once you’ve had a professional energy audit, work with your team to develop and implement an energy-management policy and strategy. Track usage and set targets to optimise energy usage.
Bright Idea
Regularly review this plan to ensure you’re implementing energy management best practices. These practices are designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.
Click-to-Save and get paid
Get paid to reduce your electricity consumption.
Once you have identified your energy needs and decided how much you can save, the next step is to check out Eskom’s Distribution Demand Management Programme. If you can reduce your usage by a certain percentage and sustain this over a period, you could be paid for saving. Find out more about Energy Efficiency.
You can also send an email to LoadManagement@eskom.co.za for more information. An Eskom service agent will get in touch to answer your questions about how the initiative works.
Bright Idea
Maximise your savings and earnings by switching to energy-efficient lighting and using energy-smart equipment.
Click for smart choices
Conduct an energy audit to identify areas where energy can be saved.
Once you’ve had a professional energy audit, work with your team to develop and implement an energy-management policy and strategy. Track usage and set targets to optimise energy usage.
Bright Idea
Regularly review this plan to ensure you’re implementing energy management best practices. These practices are designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.
Click for solar
Install solar and save, earn, save.
Big or small, there’s never been a better time for businesses to go solar in South Africa. Going solar will help ensure a reliable electricity supply for your business. By installing solar panels and a battery backup system, businesses can reduce their dependence on the national grid and keep their operations running, even during load shedding. Yes, it does cost but the long-term savings make sense. And, as an added benefit, you could sell any surplus power you generate back to Eskom or your municipality.
Bright Idea
Check out the 25% tax incentives from government and the revised bounce-back loan-guarantee scheme for small businesses’ renewable energy projects. Government will guarantee solar-related loans on a 20% first-loss basis to encourage commercial banks to finance more projects. Find out more about the bounce-back scheme.
Buy energy-efficient equipment when it’s time to replace less efficient ones. They may cost more now but the savings you’ll make will be worth the investment.
Regular maintenance of equipment will optimise their efficiency and performance.
Click for smart drives
Install variable speed drives on motors.
Switch to variable speed drives for devices, like aircons, that could be run at slower speeds. Variable speed drives save energy by allowing motors to run at the speed that is needed, rather than at a constant speed. By slowing them down, less power is needed to run them.
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Replace energy-sapping motors with high-efficiency motors for continued saving.
Click for smart heating
Insulate all water heating systems and pipes.
Proper insulation will help to keep the water hot for longer, which will save energy. To minimise heat loss ensure that every water heating system, including pipes, meet the minimum energy performance-based practices and green building standards.
Bright Idea
Replace geysers with solar water heaters to improve heating efficiency.
Click yes to better heating and cooling
Install energy-efficient HVAC systems.
Energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems save money by using less energy to heat and cool buildings. Keep yours in top shape to keep saving energy. Seal air leaks and insulate your building to help keep the cool air in during summer and the warm air in during winter. Air leaks also force your HVAC system to work harder, which wastes energy by using more power than it needed.
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Install a programmable thermostat which will let you set different temperatures for different times of day. You should adjust your thermostat seasonally. In the summer, set your thermostat a few degrees higher than usual. In the winter, set it a few degrees lower.
Taking charge. Working together.
The Energy Action plan covers government’s take-charge actions to fix our energy problems and end load shedding as quickly as possible. Our Click-to-Save tips will help you take charge and kick off your business’s energy-savings journey, with free easy-to-do actions, smaller budget-for expenses and larger spending-to-save investments.