Get off the grid, home improvements you should make

Load shedding is here to stay and while Cape Town was the first city in the world to beat "Day Zero" in terms of the water crisis, with little in the way of new dams being built, the challenge is likely to return.

Given the realities of service failures, resources infrastructure problems and the spiraling costs of basic services, improvements which will enable homes to reduce reliance on energy and water are no longer "nice to haves", but have become essential home improvements.

By getting off the grid, you are not just reducing your carbon footprint and helping to reduce the impact of climate change, but locally it is has become an imperative for most households.

Buyers are increasingly looking for features that offer self-sufficiency and these are among the best ways that you can improve your home and add value right now, according to Seeff.

Already, we are seeing new builds coming out with features such as solar heating, energy efficient lighting and water storage and saving measures. New houses also increasingly offer a level of energy and resource efficient finishes while super luxury homes often come with costly and sophisticated off-the-grid features.

The options are varied and while a sophisticated off-the-grid solution can be very costly, there are many accessible options. Aside from living smarter by reducing water usage, you should focus on "switching off" when it comes to the big energy and resource guzzlers.

The five top improvements you should consider are:

1. Solar heating. Heating of water for household purposes uses a significant amount of electricity. Installing solar panels for your hot water needs is one of the easiest ways to reduce some of that reliance on electricity. You can start with a basic system and build up from there. You could also use it to heat your swimming pool which will add further value. A solar geyser is another investment which will not only reduce your power usage, but add value.

2. Backup power system. Given that power failures are here to stay for the foreseeable future, some form of backup power has become a necessity for households, especially if you work from home. While there are sophisticated systems which can be installed and plugged directly into your distribution system, there are many more affordable options. Generally, systems range a basic inverter system which can power your laptop and television for a few hours to a sophisticated 3000-5000 watt system, fully integrated with your home distribution system.

3. Energy efficient lighting. LED lighting is now a must for homes as they use significantly less power. Given the power outages, there is an increase in demand for homes with lighting which use rechargeable globes so that the lights can stay on during a power outage and reduce electricity usage at the same time.

4. Switch to gas cooking. To reduce reliance on electricity, you may want to think about installing a gas stove as part of your cooking or at least as a back-up. Instead of electrical heaters, instal woodburning fireplaces. Ceiling insulation can also help keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter, thereby reducing reliance on electricity for air-conditioning or heaters.

5. Rainwater harvesting. This water can then be used for all non-potable needs such as watering the garden, washing cars and outside cleaning. It is easy enough to update your home's guttering to direct rainwater into tanks and for use in the swimming pool or directly to the garden and lawn. You could also instal a feed to your toilets for flushing as toilets can use quite a lot of water, but be sure to instal a filter so that there is no damage to your sanitaryware. Remember to treat the water, so do your homework.

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