In light of the recent power outages being experienced in the country, Jumia House Ghana has compiled a list of efficient ways of saving energy at home:

Turn off appliances when not in use

Whilst people may be somehow tired of hearing this particular piece of advice, most people refuse to turn off appliances when they are not in use. Certain devices are known to consume a lot of energy, therefore it is important that  people make sure these are turned off when they are not using them. For example, the electric cooker, the pressing iron and air conditioners. However, do not forget smaller gadgets, like mobile phone chargers, blenders and toasters, which are known not to consume quite so much energy, but that most users do not turn off. This builds up and the costs accumulate. Pull the strip board, mobile phone chargers and other plugs out of the socket when they are not in use.

Wash and iron full loads of clothes

Instead of washing your clothes in bits, pile them up and wash them all together. Do the same when ironing your clothes. Do not iron one cloth at time; pile and iron them at the same time to save from using the washer and iron as often. Air-dry your clothes when you wash them – this helps save energy.

If possible, eliminate the use of air conditioners

Air conditioners use a lot of energy to power themselves. When possible, open the windows instead of turning on the air conditioning to allow fresh air into your property.If you are now having a house built, incorporate sustainable features; instead of the sliding windows and doors, use glazed windows. Plant trees around the building, which will provide shade and improve aeration.

Check to see all windows and doors are closed before turning air conditioners on

One tip a lot of people keep ignoring – shutting all windows before turning air conditioners on. Hot air circulating in the room means the air conditioner will take a longer time to cool the room. If there is space underneath your doors and windows, ensure you seal them to prevent hot air from coming in.

Refrigeration

Freezers should be located away from the wall, the sun and other appliances which heat up very fast. Keeping the freezer away from the wall, sun and other appliances allow them to freeze faster.  Also, make sure hot food and liquids are cool before putting them in the fridge. Put enough items in your freezer to allow efficient use of appliance.

Cooking

To reduce cooking time – and therefore save electricity- make sure you defrost items before cooking them. When baking, do not open oven frequently; this allows cool air to enter the oven, extending the cooking time and increasing the amount of energy being used.

Let’s help solve the energy challenge the country is facing, starting at home. Share the different ways you save energy in your home via our Facebook and Twitter pages!