Load shedding – we can’t escape it, but we can learn to beat it.
By now we are all too familiar with the feeling – you’re working on that 50 page document and the lights go off.
Here’s a useful guide on how to beat load shedding:
- Get Solar – solar lamps, solar geysers, solar panels for your roof. Solar powered chargers will go a long way to help you through the two-to-four hour struggle of darkness, it’s more affordable than replacing your devices with batteries.
- Get Gassed – no, not what you are thinking but rather gas stoves are the way to go. If load shedding hit your suburb and there’s nothing to eat but last week’s cold pasta – you’ll be grateful you’re cooking with gas.
- Get Generating – yes, this might be the more pricey option but the look on your neighbour’s face when he/she sees that your lights are still on will be worth it. However, there are smaller and more affordable units available that will keep your low energy, essential household items powered e.g. fridge, TV, WIFI, computer, WIFI, WIFI, WIFI.
- Fill Up – every time you finish that 5L soda, keep the bottle, fill it up with water and pop it in the freezer. You now have cold water and ice packs to keep your fridge food cold, not to mention this’ll come in handy when you bump your knee against the table whilst stumbling around in the dark.
- App Up – be ready with any of a number of apps that you can download to warn you ahead of time when load shedding is scheduled for your suburb.
- Pack Up On Power – keep a small, portable back-up power source in your car, handbag or briefcase to ensure you can always re-charge wherever you are and whatever Eskom has planned. One worth noting is Red-E’s RC60, for R499.00, which can charge most smart phone up to three times!
