With more South Africans working from home, the cost of energy bills for homeowners has risen. Heating and cooling costs contribute to a large proportion of monthly electricity bills. Keeping cool in summer and warm in winter, becomes a monthly expense many homeowners are experiencing as they work more in their home office.
If your personal budget has started to take a knock with rising energy costs, there are ways of keeping these expenses down. With advanced technology, air conditioning in SA has changed the way you can keep your home indoor climate comfortable without it costing you a fortune. And, there are other ways of saving on energy costs while working from home.
Read on to find out how you can bring the cost of electricity bills down while still making your home office environment comfortable.
Install a New Air Conditioning Unit
If you’re still using an air conditioner installed many years back, it may be time to switch to a modern unit that uses advanced, energy-saving technology. Energy efficient air conditioning units are designed to keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter without it becoming a costly experience.
With innovative energy efficient technology, air conditioning systems can be controlled to reduce consumption while different running modes save on costs. Features such as maintaining stable temperatures throughout the night help you keep your electricity bill down, so the end of the month doesn’t bring a shock.
Take Advantage of Smart Technology
By connecting your air conditioning unit to your home Wi-Fi or fibre network, you can manage your energy consumption even when you’re not sitting in your office. How often do you leave your home office to go out shopping only to remember you’ve left the AC running? With a smart control system, you can switch if off using your iOS or Android mobile no matter where you are.
The other advantage of installing a smart control system for your home climate system is you can access and review your energy consumption at any time. You can also control the temperature with a schedule and manage the thermostat remotely.
Look Out for Air Leakage in Your Home Office
Air leaking in and out of your home office will impact the functionality of your air conditioning unit. By reducing the flow of air moving in and out of your room, you’re optimising the way your air conditioner runs in a cost-effective way. You can do this by sealing any cracks or gaps in windows, doors, ceilings and walls.
If you have people walking in and out of your office often throughout the working day, it may be a good idea to install an automatic door closer. This way, you can be sure the door shuts once the person enters or exits the office, reducing the amount of air moving in and out through the doorway.
Final Thoughts
While South Africa has seen a decline in electricity generation in recent years, South Africans are encouraged to find ways of being energy-wise. Managing your AC is one solution!
Also, by installing energy efficient heating and cooling systems in your home, you’re reducing your carbon footprint. And as a bonus, you’re saving on rising monthly energy costs!
