July - Aug Mag 2015.pdf

Ways to keep your lights up and your house functionalEskom’s load shedding is here to stay, but there are affordableways to make life easier when the electricity goes off.Eskom’s load shedding is here to stay. The Minister of Public Enterprisessaid that load shedding is expected to continue for at least three more years.The on-and-off strike action at the Medupi power station and continueddelays at Eskom’s build programs at Medupi and Kusilemay well extend the need for load shedding beyond 3 years.The best solution is obviously a solar installation coupled with ElonMusk’s new Tesla Power wall. However, not everyone has AntonRupert as a father.Advices like keeping your smartphone, laptop, and tablet chargedand planning your day around load shedding schedules also doeslittle to mitigate the impact of not having electricity.The good news is that there are many ways to lessen the pain of loadshedding without having to break the bank.Here are some of the affordable ways to make your life easier duringload shedding.Emergency lightsEmergency lights have built-in batteries, and switch on automaticallywhen the power goes off. There are many varieties,which are available from around R100 each.Power Inverter systemMany companies sell power inverter systems which offer enoughelectricity to power a few appliances during load shedding. Many ofthese systems are portable, which meansit can be used when and where the powergoes off. Pricing differs based on the qualityand capacity of the system.Diesel or petrol generatorIf you want to run many appliances for afew hours during a power outage, the most affordable option is a petrolor diesel generator. There are many options, including super-quietgenerators from manufacturers like Honda and Yamaha.The price is dependent on the generation capacity, brand, and the typeof generator.Solar power solutionThe price of solar power productshas declined rapidly in recent years, and you can get solar panels foras little as a few hundred rand. These solar panels can be combinedwith a battery and inverter system to provide power during load sheddingat night.For those looking for a solution whichuses solar energy, there is the optionof a solar emergency lamp.Power banks for your smartphone and tabletPortable power banks allow you to charge your smartphone and tabletvia a USB charger when the power goes off. Power bank pricesdiffer significantly based on capacity (measured in mAh) and brand,and start at around R100 for an entry-level productGas cookerRunning an electric stove on backup power during load sheddingis not sustainable. The best option is to move to gas. A simplegas stove can cost under R300, and allows you to fry some eggsand bacon and heat up some baked beans during load shedding.There are also cheaper solar kits available, suitable for lightingsolutions.BIZFEM MAGAZINEUninterruptible power supply (UPS)An uninterruptible power supply makes it possible for you to runsome of your electronic equipment like an ADSL router and laptopduring load shedding.This means you will stay connected duringa power outage. The price of a UPS dependson its capacity, measured in VA, and startsfrom a few hundred rand.14 July/Aug 2015 www.bizfem.co.za