The South African Expat

As winter rolls in, everyone’s looking for ways to dodge sky-high gas bills while keeping their homes lekker warm. Here are some easy, practical tips to help South Africans save gas and keep a few extra bucks in the pocket this season.

1. Turn Down the Thermostat

Turn down your thermostat by just one degree from your usual setting. Each degree lower can save up to 8% on gas usage.

2. Drop the Thermostat Before You Sleep

An hour before you hit the hay, turn the thermostat down to 15 degrees. The house will still stay toasty for a bit. If you’ve got underfloor heating, try setting it to 17 degrees at night for a quicker warm-up in the morning.

3. Switch Off the Heat When You’re Out

When you’re out and about, set the thermostat to 15 degrees. No use warming an empty house!

4. Only Warm Up the Rooms You Use

Shut the doors of rooms you’re not using and only warm up where you spend most of your time.

5. Close Curtains to Keep the Heat In

Closing your curtains at night is a free way to keep the warm air inside where it belongs.

6. DIY Insulation

Try sticking up some radiator foil, adding draught strips to doors, or insulating pipes in colder parts of the house. You’ll keep the cold out and the warmth in!

7. Look Into Pro Insulation

If you want to invest a bit more, consider proper insulation for your walls, roof or floors. Upgrading to energy-saving windows can also make a massive difference, and you might be able to score a subsidy.

8. Use Extra Heating Sparingly

A radiator fan or infrared panel can help spread heat around without turning up the thermostat too high.

10. Get a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat will adjust the temperature for you, so you’re not wasting energy when you’re not at home. Let the tech do the heavy lifting.

11. Choose Energy-Saving Appliances

If you’re buying new stuff, go for energy-efficient options like modern boilers, which use way less gas.

12. Keep Up with Boiler Service

Make sure your boiler’s getting its regular TLC. This will keep it running smoothly and help save gas in the long run.

13. Consider Solar Panels

With sunny skies, solar panels can help power things like electric boilers and heat pumps, bringing your gas use down over time.

17. Go for Greener Heating Alternatives

Think about a heat pump or solar water heater if you’re ready for a bigger investment. These options can massively cut down on your gas bill in the long run.

18. Track Your Gas Usage

Using an energy monitoring app helps you keep tabs on your usage, giving you insights into where you can save. Many apps connect to your smart meter, so you’ll see exactly where your gas (and money) is going.