In South Africa, geysers account for a staggering 30–40% of residential electricity use. Traditional geysers, operating at 65°C and above without smart scheduling, result in substantial energy waste. With over 5 million geysers installed nationally, the opportunity for savings through smarter control is immense. This case study explores how Sensor Connect users are shifting their behaviour to save energy and money — at scale.
Smart Geyser Insights: Driving Behavioural Change with Data
1. The Opportunity: High Consumption, Low Visibility
South African homes rely heavily on electric geysers, with heating set to 65°C and above and no scheduling by default. This results in:
- 11.49 kWh/day usage (baseline)
- ~R1,035/month in heating costs (R3.00/kWh)
- Little to no user awareness of consumption patterns
2. User Energy Insights in Practice
To support these savings and help users improve further, Sensor Connect is launching an enhanced Insights experience across its smart geyser platform. This includes personalised usage reports, in-app notifications, and proactive alerts — all designed to encourage lower temperature settings, smarter schedules, and less overall consumption.
We aim to shift the curve by not just showing users how much they’re using, but by nudging them toward more efficient behaviours. Whether through gentle reminders, targeted savings tips, or usage comparisons, Insights is evolving from a reporting tool into a behavioural driver.
3. Why This Matters: What the Research Says
- Real-time energy feedback has been shown to reduce use by 5–15% on average.
- Users reduce energy more consistently and sustainably when given contextualised insights.
- A 2022 UK smart meter study found that personalised tips based on actual usage drove greater savings than general advice.
4. Our Users Are Doing It Too
From Sensor Connect’s April 2025 analytics, based on a sample data set across over 10,000 users:
| Configuration | Geysers | Avg kWh/day | Monthly Cost | Change vs Baseline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65°C and above No Schedule | 179 | 11.49 | R1,035.00 | — |
| 65°C and above With Schedule | 693 | 8.15 | R733.50 | ↓ 29% |
| 55°C and below With Schedule | 3,370 | 6.32 | R568.80 | ↓ 45% |
| All Scheduled Users | 5,208 | 6.84 | R615.60 | ↓ 41% |
5. Temperature Defaults and Behaviour Anchoring
Numerous studies confirm that water temperatures above 55°C are not typically required for safe or comfortable daily use. In most homes, water set to 55°C and below is sufficient for showers, dishwashing, and general use, while also reducing the risk of scalding and excessive heating costs. According to guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and energy authorities like the US Department of Energy, a storage water temperature of 55°C (131°F) is generally sufficient for domestic use and significantly lowers the risk of burns compared to higher settings.
All new Sensor Connect devices are installed with a default temperature of 55°C and below. Despite having the ability to increase the setting, the majority of users keep it there — a strong example of how energy-saving defaults can shift long-term behaviour.
6. What We’re Seeing in Engagement Data
- Avg. engagement per user per session: 1 min 23 sec
- DAU/MAU stickiness: 28.7%
- Insights and scheduling are among the most visited features
7. Projected Impact at Scale
If all users shift from 65°C and above no-schedule to 55°C and below scheduled use:
- Daily savings per geyser: 5.17 kWh
- Total = ~51.7 MWh/day
- Annual savings: ~18.9 GWh
- Annual financial impact: ~R56.7 million
That 18.9 GWh of energy savings could:
- Power ~3,150 households or ~3,780 electric vehicles for a year
- Run ~38 small factories, ~189 schools, or ~945 clinics
- Match the output of a 1.575 MW solar farm
- Avoid 9,450 metric tons of CO₂ — equivalent to taking ~2,000 cars off the road
8. Customer Feedback Matches the Data
Sensor Connect maintains a 4.75★ average rating across 300 verified reviews. The most frequently cited benefits include:
- “I love being able to schedule heating to only run when needed.”
- “It’s already saved me more than R300 a month.”
- “Switched to 55°C and still have enough hot water — great!”
Users consistently mention energy savings, ease of use, convenience, control, and excellent customer service.
Conclusion
Sensor Connect’s smart geyser network is showing that meaningful, measurable behaviour change is possible when users have access to data — and the ability to act on it. With default optimisation, transparent usage insights, and nudges toward smarter behaviour, households are saving money while reducing pressure on the national grid.
This is not just smart tech — it’s a blueprint for scalable energy efficiency in South Africa.