How to read appliance energy labels:

Any manufacturer can claim that their appliance is ‘energy efficient’, but you should look for independent verification. The three most common energy labels on appliances in South Africa are better guides to help you choose truly economical models.

South African energy label:

Energy labels are optional for appliances manufactured in South Africa. Goods with no label could be inefficient appliances that will cost you more in the long run. If you don’t see a label, ask the sales person or try to find the rating by Googling the model. The current South African label gives a rating from A down to G – with A being the best – for refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and electric ovens. For most appliances, insist on an A-rated appliance, they are not difficult to find. (Old refrigerators in your house may be the inefficient equal of a G-rated fridge.) In addition to the letter rating, the label should carry an energy consumption number in kilowatt hours. It is often more useful to compare this number between models than to compare the letter rating.

How to use Energy Labels for particular appliances:

Refrigerators:

Energy labels are most useful for refrigerators. Don’t buy a refrigerator that does not have a South African or EU label. South African labels currently only go up to A, while EU labels go as high as A+++. But look beyond the letter; read the numbers, because you may find that a smaller fridge with an A uses less energy than a larger fridge with an A+. The estimated kWh/annum matters most. This is what you can expect the fridge to use in a year. If you know your R/kWh tariff – probably well over R1/kWh – you can quickly calculate your savings per year for choosing a more efficient fridge.

Washing machines:

South African and EU energy labels on washing machines only compare how much electricity they use on hot washes. So if you plan to save the most energy by running cold water washing cycles, the labels aren’t very useful. Any machine is quite efficient with cold water, so it is more important to make certain that the machine you choose has a 20° or cold-water setting. If you have a good reason to wash in hot water, such as cloth nappies, look for at least an A+ machine. If you use a tumble drier, a fast spin setting on the washing machine can reduce the amount of time and energy needed to dry your clothes.

Tumble driers:

Tumble driers are just not very energy efficient- sadly there is just no way around that fact. Energy Star doesn’t even bother testing them for the blue label. Most energy rated tumble driers get a C. The most efficient choice of tumble drier is no tumble drier. If you need one, however, make sure it at least has a moisture sensor and try to use it as little as possible.

Dishwashers:

The labels compare electricity consumption on the ‘standard’ temperature setting. An ‘A’ rating is now average, so aim for an A+ or higher dishwasher, if available. And look beyond the ratings too. An ‘Eco’ or 35° degree setting will help you save more energy. The power drying option wastes a lot of electricity, so a dishwasher without a ‘dry’ button is better – or you can just remember to leave it off.

Ovens:

EU and SA labels are available on ovens, but they are often not displayed. If you can find an EU label, in addition to the letter grade look for a kWh figure for the electricity used per ‘cycle’. This will show you how much electricity is required to heat up the oven. Generally, convection ovens use less electricity because the heat is better distributed by the fan, and self-cleaning ovens are often more efficient because they are better insulated. Smaller ovens also use less electricity than larger ones.

Televisions:

South Africa does not have energy labels for televisions, and EU or Energy Star labels are often not displayed, but don’t worry. An energy label is not essential to choose an efficient TV. Because an A-rated large TV will use more energy than an A-rated small TV, it is more important to check the wattage. Most TVs list their wattage at the back. And if you can’t find the wattage, as long as you avoid plasma TVs and buy an LED TV that is not larger than you need, it should be fairly energy efficient. Size matters. TVs are measured in inches on the diagonal, from corner to corner of the screen. For every 10 inches larger, an LED TV will use at least a third more electricity. LED TVs in the 40 to 50 inch range should use about 50 watts or less.

1.  Solar Helps You Save on Your Electric Bill

Probably the biggest advantage of solar energy is immediate electricity bill savings. No matter how small your installation, you begin receiving smaller monthly bills from your local utility company – from Day 1.

But how large are these electricity bill savings? Solar energy is a modular technology, meaning you can install as many or as few panels as you like – whenever you like. Each new kilowatt of installed solar capacity brings you bigger electricity bill savings.  With a large enough installation, it’s possible to reduce your energy bill completely. However large your installation, you can expect your electricity bill savings to grow with time. As utility rates increase, clean energy from the sun remains consistently free. Solar is an investment that pays increasingly large dividends with each passing year.

2.  Solar Energy and Higher Property Values

Because solar energy helps you save on your electricity bill, it’s an investment that pays for itself many times over the 25+ year lifetime of your installation.  But the advantages of solar energy extend well beyond electricity bill savings.  Solar energy can also fetch you a much higher asking price when it comes time to sell your home. An average sized installation on a property can add more to the retail value of your home – an amount that exceeds the average cost of most residential solar installations, meaning you could not only be reducing or eliminating your electricity bill but also getting 100% of your money back when and if you sell the home. By contrast, most kitchen remodeling projects only deliver returns of 60%.  If you’re going to make home improvements, solar energy is pretty difficult to top. You enjoy lower electricity bills for as long as you remain in your house. And when it comes time to sell, you recoup 100% of your investment thanks to your property’s higher asking price.

3. Solar Energy and the Environment

Solar’s economic dividends are easy to measure in rands in cents. By installing panels today, it’s possible to save on electric bills and boost your home’s property value. But solar’s environmental dividends are no less tangible.  As more homes and businesses across the country install solar panels, our nation moves farther away from fossil fuel consumption and closer to a clean economy powered by the sun. The benefits of this transition are enormous:

• Better health due to cleaner air, water, and soil
• Greater energy security due to reductions in imported fuel
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the main cause of catastrophic climate change, global weirding, and severe weather
  

Solar energy’s dividends don’t simply benefit you – the system owner. They benefit anyone who enjoys having a cleaner and more sustainable environment (which means everyone).