Keeping your home "alight" during loadshedding

This recent bout of loadshedding has been some of the worst South Africans have had to endure since the country first started loadshedding in 2007. There are no signs that it will abate; instead, the consensus - among experts and those within Eskom's ranks is that we should be preparing for higher stages with greater frequency. 

Frequent higher stages of loadshedding also mean that you can't rely on temporary solutions; rather, you'll need permanent solutions that don't require a concerted effort to set up every time Eskom announces its latest loadshedding schedule.

Why Your Home Needs Lights During Loadshedding

When rolling blackouts begin, you can expect burglaries to increase. Thieves - whether sophisticated or not - can check the loadshedding schedule for affluent areas and strike during these hours. Thieves leverage the total darkness to move around undetected, often doing their reconnaissance during the day and striking when the sun goes down, and the lights go out.

The easiest - and cheapest - way to deter these criminals is to keep the lights on, as lighting up your home can also maintain neighbourhood safety during rolling blackouts.

5 Ways To Keep Your Home Functional During Loadshedding

Loadshedding has become the bane of every South African. Essentially, for the two to four hours when it's loadshedding, you can do very little in your home while having to contend with your family and your possessions being at risk because your security is compromised. Thankfully, your home doesn't need to be returned to the 19th century with these five simple upgrades you can make for less than R5,000. 

Replace Your Lightbulbs with Rechargeable Lightbulbs

The easiest way to keep the lights on inside your home during load shedding is to replace your current lightbulbs with rechargeable ones. This solution works well to keep each room well-lit during loadshedding.

The most beneficial about these lights is that they remain on while it's loadshedding, requiring no effort from you to keep the lights on when loadshedding starts.

You can get rechargeable lights on Takealot, Builders Warehouse, and Makro. The cost to replace your current lightbulbs with rechargeable ones should be under R1000 and removes the possibility of opportunists snatching your solar-powered torches from a balcony or garden while charging.

Purchase Solar Lights for Your Exterior

For your property's exterior, you can install solar lights to light up a pathway, garage, and garden, in addition to the areas around your home where you typically have exterior lights.

Similarly, to replacing your lightbulbs with rechargeable bulbs, you should consider replacing your exterior lights with solar-powered lights. 

Most of these solar-powered lights can be installed without the assistance of a professional; the only caveat is that you need to install these lights in areas that receive the most sunlight.

Also, consider getting a solar-powered motion-detecting light for entryways and the exterior of your property, as lights can be a deterrent for opportunistic burglars.

A motion sensor solar light, solar pathway lights, and solar exterior wall lights should cost less than R1000 to install across your home - regardless of the size of your home.

Purchase a UPS

A UPS - or uninterruptable power supply - is an excellent way to power sensitive systems during power outages. Security cameras, wi-fi, television, and mobile devices can be powered by a UPS.

Since a UPS is plugged in at all times, you don't need to fiddle with it when loadshedding starts. 

You can find a 2000VA/1200-watt UPS for less than R3,000. If you only intend to use your UPS for a PC or wi-fi, this cost drops to less than R800, which should keep your wi-fi and PC operational for about two to three hours.

Buy a Backup Battery for Electric Gates and Fences

A backup battery for your electric gates and fencing should supply them with power for eight to ten hours continuously with enough charge. A good backup battery doesn't need to cost more than R2,000.

Invest in Gas Appliances

Being able to cook during loadshedding means you won't be taken by surprise and need to order in whenever you're notified that Eskom is increasing the loadshedding stage. Gas appliances aren't limited to gas stoves. You can get a gas fridge and freezer to keep food fresh. Purchasing gas appliances is the most significant investment on this list and won't make much sense for the average homeowner. Instead, a practical solution you can use is a two-plate gas stove and gas cylinder for load shedding. This simple setup can cost about R700.

Of course, you could install solar panels to keep the lights on, but this isn't always feasible. Solar panels work best if you want to reduce your electricity bill, with protection against loadshedding secondary.

Instead, the options outlined above help you protect yourself, your family, and your belongings from loadshedding while allowing your life to go on relatively uninterrupted.