As temperatures plunge across South Africa, many households focus on the obvious costs of staying warm: electricity bills, gas refills and the price of heaters.
But some of the biggest winter heating expenses have little to do with which heating appliance you use. South African households could be wasting more than R1,200 a month on winter heating without realising it.
From forgotten office heaters and unused bedrooms to draughty windows and open-plan living spaces, some of the biggest heating costs have little to do with the price of electricity or gas itself.
Using a model of a typical 150m² three-bedroom home, we found that common sources of heat loss and unnecessary heating could collectively add more than R1,200 a month to a winter energy bill.
The house consists of a 30m² open-plan lounge and dining room, a 13.5m² main bedroom, two 9.5m² bedrooms and a 9.5m² home office. The figure is illustrative and actual costs will vary depending on house size, weather conditions, occupancy and heating habits.
