Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa September 2013 | Page 37

RESIDENTIAL
easy to know which ones are legit. Gawne offers
the following tips on what to look for.

Understanding energy-efficient
ratings
South Africa doesn’t have its own energy
label, so your best bet would be to look out for
the European Union (EU) energy label. This
label is found on a selection of white goods
and other products, and they are designed
to help consumers understand how energy
efficient an appliance is. Says Gawne: “The
EU energy- efficiency label clearly displays the
energy-efficiency of the appliance and rates it in
terms of a set of energy-efficiency classes – from
A to G, with A being the most energy efficient,
and G the least efficient. The labels also provide
other handy information that consumers can use
to make comparisons between various makes
and models.” He explains that in an attempt to
keep up with advances in energy efficiency, A+,
A++ and A+++ grades have been introduced for
various products.

Consider the carbon footprint
A truly green appliance however, is not just
about its energy-efficiency ratings – you also
need to consider the sustainable practices of
the manufacturer, as well as the overall carbon
footprint of the appliance in question.

Energy-efficient refrigerators
“If there is one appliance that you would like
to upgrade to a more energy-efficient model,
then the fridge should be the first port of call.
Since refrigerators run 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, they tend to use up a lot of energy
– in fact, it is estimated that they account for
around 10% of our homes’ total energy use,”
explains Gawne. Of course, he says that when
selecting a fridge you should look at its energy
efficiency label first: “If it is an energy efficient
refrigerator that you are after – the fridge
you choose should boast a minimum of an A
energy rating.”

Energy-efficient hobs
The hob is the only kitchen appliance that
offers a fuel option – electricity or gas. Both
options have their pros and cons:
• Standard electrical hobs are much less
energy efficient than gas hobs – they take some
time to heat up and cool down, and a lot of the
heat generated is not transferred to the food
at all. However, if this is all you can afford,
www.reimag.co.za

then be sure to opt for the hobs with a ceramic
surface, as they do a better job of transferring
the heat to your food.
• Gas hobs are considerably more energy
eff icient – they boast a much better heattransfer ration, and the heat generation is
instantaneous. Gas hobs are also considerably
less expensive to run when compared to
electrical hobs. However, if you opt for a
gas hob, it is imperative that you choose an
efficient extractor, which will be needed to
remove the combustive by-products that the
gas will introduce into your home.
• Induction hobs are the hobs of the future – if
green is what you are after, then induction is the
answer. In an induction hob, heat is transferred
directly to the pan through high-tech magnetic
fields, leading to very little heat wastage. Heat
is generated incredibly quickly, and it is quick
and easy to adjust. Also, since the heat needs
a metallic surface for conduction, when the
pot is removed, then the surface immediately
becomes cool to the touch – making it safer as
well. The only drawback to induction hobs is
the fact that they are comparatively new to the
market, and therefore only high-end models are
available. They also require the use of specific
cookware made from stainless steel, cast iron
or enamelled iron – so you will most probably
require a whole new set of pots and pans as well.

Energy-efficient ovens
The energy efficiency of an oven is largely dictated
by its size, so it is wise to choose a smaller unit that
will meet your needs. If you have the occasional
need for larger oven capacity – it is a far better
solution to opt for two smaller ovens, rather than
one large oven. In this way, you will save electricity
by using the small oven most often, and you can
use both small ovens when you require larger oven
capacity.
When making your oven selection, be sure
to choose a convection oven, in which a fan
continuously circulates the heated air around the
food. In this way, the temperature and cooking
times are reduced, and in so doing, so is the
amount of energy that is required. Also, look for
ovens with a self-cleaning feature, as these models
are better insulated, which means that they are
more efficient at maintaining oven temperatures.

calculates the energy efficiency of a dishwasher
according to the number of place settings
it can hold. Miele’s Edition 3D Eco model
boasts an incredible A+++ energy rating, and
an impressive water consumption of only seven
litres per cycle. There are a number of other
features present in many modern dishwashers
that further add to the energy efficiency of the
model in question. Quick-rinse cycles are also
useful, especially if you are on metered water
use.

Energy-efficient washing machines
Energy-efficient washing machines use the
least amount of electricity possible, and they
are able to considerably cut water consumption
as well. Although energy efficient models may
cost a little more from the outset – their energy
efficiency means that they pay themselves off
a number of times during their life cycle. He
notes that it is also important that a machine
boasts an eco-programme for lightly soiled
laundry: “Colder washes mean less electricity
is used – for example a 20°C wash is 75% more
energy efficient than a 60°C wash.
Another way to save is to use green products in
your home. But what makes a green product?
Truly sustainable products are those that not
only do not damage, but also positively support
the health of people and nature on which all
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