Paying the overhead during these times can have a significant impact on your family budget. And much of that cost is the electricity bill. So how can you reduce costs and save energy?
If we make sure that everyone turns off the lights, it is good to cook on a low flame, but it is not an exhaustive solution to the problem, as such measures do not bring tangible results. Here are some simple tips you can follow to significantly reduce the "load" on your wallet.
First of all, you need to know which equipment is the most "gluttonous" - these are equipment with heating coils and thermocouples: instantaneous water heaters, boilers and storage tanks with heated water, electric underfloor heating.
These include: electric kettle, electric hob, oven, electric fireplace, all kinds of radiators, hairdryers and irons. Powerful, high-power motors effectively "help" rewind kilowatts. Driving boasts an air conditioning compressor, punch and drill, refrigerator, dishwasher, and washing machine with electric motor and heaters.
If you haven’t had time to install energy-saving lamps that consume 4, 5 to 5 times less electricity, then it’s time to buy them. Of course, they are more valuable than ordinary ones, but they last many times longer than incandescent bulbs and use less electricity.
Remember: five 20-watt energy-saving lamps consume as much power as a traditional "hundred, " and each is capable of emitting the same amount of light at times.
A modern man who cannot imagine himself without the benefits of civilization cannot do without all sorts of gadgets, electric lamps, warm batteries, and household appliances that create his usual "comfort zone. " Questions about saving electricity and reducing the cost of maintaining a home in generalIt is therefore useful to know about the tools that save you money.
TVs and multimedia devices. Modern "flat" devices - plasma and LCD - use less power, as do computer monitors. An unnecessarily turned on 17-inch kinescope monitor can "rewind" more than 190 kW / h per year. Using "save mode" on all modern models for a computer monitor saves 130-135 kW / h during the year.
Computers. The latest generations of computers are equipped with an energy-saving feature. It is worth activating (if it is not activated automatically). Thus, the amount of energy consumed by the computer is reduced by about 50%.
Some computer hardware, such as a graphics card or sound card, consumes more CPU power than other components. Therefore, when you buy a new battery for a computer, you need to pay attention to its energy efficiency.
Vacuum cleaner. In order for the vacuum cleaner to operate in the most energy-saving mode, the dust container must be cleaned or replaced in good time. Also remember to replace or clean the exhaust air filters.
Mobile devices. It should be recalled that the "recharging" left in the socket consumes energy even after the smartphone is switched off. If the charger is connected continuously, up to 95% of the energy will be lost.
Copiers, printers, MFPs. A "copier" permanently turned on in one year can consume 1000 kWh more power. Copiers consume a lot of power when they are turned on for the first time and when they are not in on mode. , turn off.
Electric oven. If you use pots for cooking that are not the size of an electric stove burner, 5-10% of the energy will go away. When using an electric stove, you can save energy and use cookware with a properly shaped bottom that is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the heating surface. When making the first dishes, close the pan with a lid. Intense evaporation of water increases cooking time by 20-30% and accordingly increases energy consumption by the same amount. Using a saucepan reduces cooking time, and thick-walled utensils allow food to stay warm longer.
Washing machine. The main reason for the inefficient operation of washing machines is that the maximum load is exceeded, as well as the opposite effect - incomplete loading. In the second case, the over-consumption of electricity can be 10-15%. With a bad washing program, you can use up to 30% more electricity. Ultrasonic washing can make the job much easier in some cases, and such devices consume about 15 watts (click on the image to enlarge).
Air conditioner. To avoid energy waste, the air conditioner should be operated with the doors and windows closed. Otherwise, the split system will cool the street or adjacent rooms and where really cold air is needed, it will be warm. Also, when planning to buy such a device, keep in mind that there are now modern inverter climate models that can consume 50% less energy than traditional systems with similar performance.
Refrigerator. The refrigerator should be in a cool place, preferably protected from sunlight. In addition, do not place near a stove or other heat-emitting appliance. If the temperature at the refrigerator location reaches 30 ° C, power consumption may increase by 100%.
It is also important not to put hot food in the refrigerator, you have to wait until their temperature drops to at least room temperature. The freezer must be defrosted regularly. A thick layer of ice and frost degrades the cooling of frozen foods and increases energy costs.
Standby power consumption
It is no secret to anyone that water flowing out of a broken or loosely sealed tap flows into tens, sometimes hundreds of liters of water a day, with the consequences in the form of plenty of zero vouchers. And figuratively speaking, every home has many of these loosely enclosed "faucets" that are constantly "leaking" electricity, and with it finances. We are talking about household electrical appliances that also consume power in "sleep" or "standby" mode. And given that there are no more than a dozen such devices in every farm, a thin drip in a year can become a "significant outflow" of funds from your own pocket.
The futility of wasting electricity is best illustrated by the "off" TV, which is seen in almost every family. You may think that if the screen shows nothing, energy is not wasted. However, this is not the case. Some electronic circuits and the TV's power supply are constant. it is energized to allow communication with the remote control, in which case the power is consumed in the form of heat from the power supply. In winter, such "heating" can come in handy, but in summer, overheating can cause headaches.
The devices are listed below, so you can't hope to save energy by leaving them turned on. "Secret" power consuming equipment (meaning: per hour)
- electric stove with electronic control - 3 watts;
- inkjet and laser printers - 2-4 watts;
- cordless phones (consumer - basic) - 1 watt;
- various types of chargers, mainly for mobile phones - 1 watt.
How to save electricity at home - this question can be found on the network many answers, tips and tricks. It is also important to note that reducing power consumption not only has a positive effect on your wallet, but also causes changes on a more global scale, especially:
- Encouraging the development of new energy-saving technologies;
- The level of harmful emissions into the environment is decreasing;
- Improves indoor comfort;
- The energy intensity of the country’s economy is declining;
- Saving energy resources and preserving the environment for future generations.
10 simple and effective ways to save energy
1. Use energy efficient lighting
The most basic way to save light is to replace traditional incandescent bulbs with energy efficient ones. Recently, in addition to the more common fluorescent lamps with reduced mercury content, new LEDs have appeared on the market. They have some advantages - greater mechanical strength due to the fragile glass envelope and lack of tungsten fibers, durability and independence from frequent changes. The only downside to LED lamps is the high price, but over time they become much cheaper.
2. Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
It is also one of the easiest ways to save energy, which we neglect for some reason. If your memory is not very good, write a reminder and stick it in a prominent place at the exit. Over time, this becomes a stable habit.
3. Follow the instructions that came with your home appliance and check its condition
For example, descale an electric kettle regularly: the solid salt layers on the inside wall of the appliance create a high thermal resistance, which significantly reduces the efficiency of the heating element and increases energy consumption accordingly.
In addition, placing the refrigerator next to a heat source can multiply the power consumption, as the appliance must operate in forced mode to maintain the set temperature. A freezer on a glazed balcony has more benefits than a warm kitchen, where a refrigerator is enough, which in turn must be defrosted in time and dusted off the heat exchanger on the back wall.
4. Give a remodel to your home
A "simple" cosmetic repair will also help you save energy. Simple manipulations such as gluing light wallpaper and painting the ceiling a light color allow your room to reflect up to eighty percent of the sun’s rays. The darker the material, the less it reflects light, which means more power will be needed to illuminate dark interiors. Also, make the most of natural light.
5. Wipe the dust bulbs
One effective way to save electricity in an apartment is to have a simple procedure for cleaning light bulbs. Few take this recommendation seriously because it is much easier to replace a dipped light source with a stronger one. And in vain - because you have to keep in mind that dust can "absorb" up to 20% of the lamp's light. Also, be sure to clean the blinds on the chandeliers and lamps.
6. Use heat reflectors (heat mirrors)
The heaters used in the cold season consume a sufficiently large amount of electricity. To reduce unnecessary heat and energy loss, heat-reflecting screens made of, for example, foamed polyethylene (eco-friendly polyethylene foam, duplicated with lava or polypropylene metallized foil) help batteries. This will help raise the room temperature by a few degrees and excess heat will not get on the walls and through them to the street.
7. Use a dual-zone meter to pay differentiated charges
The price of electricity at night (between 23: 00 and 07: 00) is twice lower than during the day. Therefore, those who work at night or simply prefer to sleep during the day can not only save money on electricity payments by installing a dual-tariff meter, but also reduce the likelihood of emergency power outages. Unfortunately, the diphtheria system is not popular and many are simply unaware of its existence.
8. Buy household appliances with energy consumption class "A" and higher
Energy efficiency is indicated by classes - A to G. Class A is the lowest and G is the least efficient. Most modern household products, light bulb packaging and even cars have to bear the EU energy efficiency label. More economical equipment is usually marked with a green label. Energy-saving devices use much less energy than other devices. Moreover, the difference can sometimes be as much as fifty percent. In addition, there are now A + and A ++ class devices. Accordingly, its energy-saving capabilities are even higher.
9. Insulate the apartment / house / room
Also one of the most effective methods. In addition to the above, you can save energy by taking simple steps to heat your room. First, insulate the windows and seal all cracks, and ideally replace obsolete double-glazed windows with better plastics, preferably energy-saving glass. It is known that up to 50% of heat can be lost through windows. In addition, in winter it is better to hang warm, thick night curtains on the windows, as well as insulate the front doors and the balcony (loggia), you should also think about insulating the floor.
Insulate the facade of your house or apartment. This will also significantly reduce the "load" on the electricity meter, as effectively increasing the thermal insulation capacity of the walls and eliminating so-called "cold bridges" will not only consume less electricity for winter heating, but will also be cool in summer. Mineral wool or foamed plastic can be used as the thermal insulation material.
10. Use of smart technologies and renewable energy sources
In the modern construction industry, there is the concept of a "smart" home, which is a system that primarily provides resource savings and security through high-tech devices and automation. Of course, in the design phase, it is recommended to install "smart" functions in your home. However, some elements of smart technologies can already be installed in the living room. For example, you can remotely control heating, air conditioning and lighting with special smartphone applications.
The most common alternative energy sources are the sun and wind. Therefore, solar and wind power plants are the most attractive for homeowners. There are many examples where, for example, solar panels have helped private households to save electricity and become energy independent, but the final economic impact of their installation must be considered separately in each case. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that anyone will dispute that the future and availability of renewable energy for ordinary users is a matter for the coming years - this is clearly demonstrated by successful foreign experience.