The rise in electricity prices has made more and more people wonder what can be done to reduce spending and manage to pay the bills at the end of the month.
There are basic things like turning off the light every time you leave a room. The hoax that it costs more to turn on the lamp in the room all the time is just that, a hoax.
But few people think about things like where to place the refrigerator, the appliance that consumes the most of the whole house.
Here we tell you the key points of energy saving at home.
Good home insulation
It may seem like a no-brainer, but having windows that close properly or good curtains can save you a lot on your household bill.
It must be taken into account that air conditioning (heating + air conditioning) in general represents the highest energy expenditure in homes.
“In an average home in Spain, and in other similar countries in terms of development, approximately 45%-47% of electricity consumption goes to air conditioning and light, especially in air conditioning,” Enrique explains to BBC Mundo García, from the Organization of Consumers and Users of Spain (OCU).
“If the air conditioning is electric, the important thing is to have good insulation in terms of housing. Have good curtains and windows that insulate well and thus achieve adequate insulation of the home to make it more efficient from an energy point of view. This is essential. Something as simple as weather stripping or adhesive tape that promote better insulation means saving energy”.
Adjust thermostats and close doors
From good insulation we move on to another basic one: having an adequate temperature inside.
Being in the middle of winter in a T-shirt it can be so expensive like putting on a sweater at home in summer. It is a waste of energy.
The key is to adjust the heating and air conditioning thermostats.
“The comfort temperature should not exceed 23ºC in winter. A temperature between 21 and 23 ºC is a suitable temperature. Each degree can mean an increase, depending on the equipment of each house, of between 7 and 10%, closer to 7%”, details the expert.
Likewise, closing the doors of the rooms can help you reduce the price of your bill.
If the door of a room that leads to a main corridor is closed, and the door of the living room, for example, is also closed, this gap acts as an intermediate air chamber that serves as insulation.
Keeping the rooms closed optimizes the heat generated.
As for the air conditionerIn addition to lowering the blinds and keeping the windows closed so that the house is as cool as possible, the OCU recommends turning on the air conditioning early instead of waiting until the house is very hot (when it would have to work more).
They also recommend regulating the device about 8 ºC less than the outside temperature.
For example, if it’s 90 degrees outside, try settling for 75 degrees instead of lowering your room temperature to 60 degrees.
Changing it from 20 degrees to 24 represents considerable savings, since for each degree colder (or warmer in winter) that you adjust the thermostat, you will add 10% to the cost of operating the equipment.
Efficient use of appliances
“The second part, which accounts for approximately 55% of consumption, are household appliances. Here it is very relevant to buy electrical appliances with a high level of energy efficiency”, indicates the expert.
Using class A electrical appliances and making optimal use of each of them at home is key if we want to start saving light in our homes.
If you have to change an appliance, choose those with more efficient energy labels, such as A+, A++ or A+++. Although they are usually more expensive, it’s cheaper in the long run.
“Regarding energy expenditure, the appliance that consumes the most is the refrigerator, because it is plugged in for a longer time. It is the appliance in which we have to focus the most on energy efficiency ”, recommends García.
so that the fridge For optimum performance, it is important to follow these recommendations:
- Prevents it from accumulating frost or ice.
- Keep its back ventilated by leaving a gap between the fridge and the wall so that air can circulate and dust free.
- Place it away from heat sources such as the oven and make sure it is out of direct sunlight.
- Avoid introducing hot foods that raise the temperature inside.
- Arrange the food well, with enough space between them for air to flow and facilitate cooling.
- Finally, something that may seem silly, but really isn’t: open it as little as possible to avoid cold loss.
If you don’t need very hot water, wash clothes at 40ºC instead of 60ºC It represents considerable savings on your electricity bill.
“I recommend using the longer eco programs, which consume less energy,” says the expert.
“Meanwhile, the dryer is an appliance that consumes a lot of energy and in certain areas it is not necessary.”
As for the dishwasherwhich consumes a lot and has a slightly more common use, a basic recommendation is to reduce the number of washes by placing the dishes properly and taking advantage of the full load.
“With this you can reduce washing up to half.”
It is recommended to turn off the electric plates or the oven a little before the time necessary for cooking.
“Taking advantage of the residual heat by turning off a little before the time of use and using that residual heat to finish cooking the food also helps to save. If you have food that needs to be baked for an hour and you turn it off ten minutes before, it consumes 15% less energy”, explains the expert.
Use pots and pans with the right diameter for each fire to avoid wasting heat. Another trick is to cover the pots to make better use of the heat.
Avoid “ghost consumption”
Confess, are you one of those who turn off the television with the remote control? The red luminous light gives you away.
Little by little, day by day, minute by minute the electricity is leaking.
A simple gesture such as unplugging the appliance or connecting the cable to a power strip with an on/off button can save considerable electricity at the end of the year.
The same happens with computers, printers, cell phone chargers, stereos, microwaves, and routers, among many other devices permanently connected to the electrical network of our homes in what is known as a false shutdown.
When you stop using an appliance, turn it off completely. don’t leave it in mode stand bybecause, although much less, continues to consume.
It must also be taken into account that the older the television, the more it consumes.
“It represents significant savings. We have estimated that phantom consumption can oscillate between 7 and 10% of the annual consumption of a home”, declares García.
replace bulbs
Traditional bulbs consume an excessive amount of electricity, so you have to replace them with others that are more efficient.
Halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and LED lights use 25-80% less electricity and last 3-25 times longer than traditional light bulbs.
Although they are more expensive, they are profitable in the long run.
short showers
Shower, don’t bathe, and install a water-saving showerhead.
A five-minute shower consumes about a third of the water in a bath.
Obviously, the less water used, the less energy it will take to heat it, and the lower your energy bills will be.
Keep the faucets in the cold water position.
This simple gesture saves money because if we keep the taps on hot water, every time we open a tap, even for two seconds and we don’t use hot water, the boiler will automatically turn on to heat the water.
The big question: how much can you save?
At this point, you may be wondering how much you can save by following these recommendations.
“We estimate that with energy efficiency, that is, adding all these measures, you can save up to 30% of the bill,” says the expert. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
