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Thread: Who's running an aircon while my electricity is out?

  1. #1
    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
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    Who's running an aircon while my electricity is out?

    Anyone have any idea what kind of an impact it would make if everyone just turned off their aircons?

    Hmmm...maybe we can have National No Aircon Day!
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    This got me thinking.......

    We haven't switched aircon on since 14th January and it has been HOT!
    We have switched TV's off at buttons as standby also eats power.
    We are switching our geyser off for approximately 8 hours a day.
    We have cut down on our wash cycle by manually controlling the machine.

    What else can we do and how many others are trying to help?
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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dsd View Post
    Anyone have any idea what kind of an impact it would make if everyone just turned off their aircons?
    In Durban - I'm not sure there is a strong enough deodorant.

    We're hot and humid. Very humid. Without aircon, my office is about 5 degrees warmer than outdoors when the sun is out. After a two hour load shed there is this ripe aroma in my office. I suspect it's me.

    Goodness only knows how it would go if I sweated it out for a whole day.

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    Platinum Member Chatmaster's Avatar
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    I was surprised to see how much power a tumbledrier uses, so we made some changes for use of our tumbledrier, it now only runs after 10pm. Our aircon is still at the shop so I am using a fan for the time being, but Krugersdorp is one of the coolest places I know of in summer so a fan is good enough. We also switch of the Geyser during the day, but it doesn't help much if no one else is doing the same...
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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    When it comes to geysers, insulating it properly would help. That aerolite stuff...

    The problem with just going "switch off the geyser" is for most people that is during the day. Now they come home after a sticky summer's day and the first thing they do is...

    Hmmm. Take a cold shower. But that has other possible side effects for the evening

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    Platinum Member SilverNodashi's Avatar
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    get a gas geyer & stove, or even fridge.

    The problem is, in spite of the fact that we need to focus on the global warming problem, we need to live. And let's face it, we need to store food,cook, wash cloths, work on PC's / tills / etc.

    Also, gas equipment is expensive, but an answer to the problem. Gas geysers are nice, they're hot instantly and running costs are less as well. Gas stoves also cook faster, with less running costs

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    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave A View Post
    Without aircon, my office is about 5 degrees warmer than outdoors when the sun is out. After a two hour load shed there is this ripe aroma in my office. I suspect it's me.
    I feel your pain. But let's consider the alternatives for a moment.

    Which would you rather have, no aircon and no electricity, or just no aircon?

    Another alternative would be to run your aircons only on dehumidify, or to make sure that you turn up the temperature as much as is tolerable.

    I realise that the concept of removing a comfort is a bit daunting, especially if it is only your office in the whole of Durbs sweating it out, but what are some alternatives? We've got to look at taking a massive load off of the grid. I reckon that aircons probably play a large enough role for us to seriously look at how we use them.

    It would be interesting if Eskom/government ran a large advertising campaign for people to turn off their aircons for just one day, what the effect for that day would be. Would we all be hotter, but have electricity? Seems a price that some people would be willing to pay (especially if they are deodorant manufacturers )
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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Ah. I was waiting for someone to get into settings and efficiencies.

    We set them for 24 degrees. It dehumidifies and takes the edge off, but certainly no fridge.

    We've also got insulated ceilings (both the ceiling material and aerolite on top), shopfitted insulated walls, and solar filmed windows.

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    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave A View Post
    We've also got insulated ceilings (both the ceiling material and aerolite on top), shopfitted insulated walls, and solar filmed windows.
    Nice! I wonder what else could be added to improve the aircons efficiency? What type of windows do you have? Anyone know anything about different types of glass for windows?
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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Well - you do get double glazing which would make a big difference - but it being rented property, I'm not running to that kind of irrecoverable expense.

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