The presence of a large number of lighting devices and many units of household appliances that consume electricity is a common occurrence in a city apartment. It is quite understandable that a modern person wants to live comfortably, interestingly and conveniently. But all these blessings of civilization are becoming more and more "voracious", while the resource itself is becoming more and more expensive. Monthly electricity bills are getting huge. After receiving the next bill, many have to think about how to save electricity in the apartment, so as not to give a significant part of their budget to the state. If you approach the solution of this problem responsibly, then it is quite possible to do so.
Pay attention to lighting if you want to save energy
To save electricity, start by converting old lighting fixtures and the interior of your apartment. By habit, most people use a central overhead light from large and bulky chandeliers that are powered by several light bulbs. At the same time, outdated incandescent spiral models are used. It gets dark early in the winter, which means you have to turn on the lights for a long time. As a result, monthly electricity bills increase.
And that is the reason to save light and replace ordinary light bulbs with energy-saving fluorescent or LED bulbs. They cost a lot more, but they differ in that they do not consume a lot of electricity for their work, and at the same time they are designed for a long service life. In this way, one-time procurement costs are converted into sustainable savings in the future.
Additionally, to reduce the total kilowatt hours:
- keep lamps, glass curtains and windows clean;
- make the most of natural light;
- paste the walls with bright wallpaper;
- turn off the light in the room when no one is around for a long time.
Use localized lighting and low-power lighting fixtures. If necessary, install motion sensors that will turn off the light in an empty room. This will help you save a lot of energy in your home.
Save energy for the most powerful consumers
The refrigerator is the most wasteful home appliance in terms of energy consumption, because it has to work 24 hours to save food. To save on electricity in the apartment, use one of the modern models with low energy consumption (manufacturers marked as class A). Given this, you should not buy the largest device. Choose the right amount of equipment according to the needs of the family.
With an old refrigerator, you can pay less if its replacement is not yet possible. For this:
- Defrost the freezer regularly (except for models with the "No Frost" system).
- Periodically check the door seals for leaks and tightness.
- Only place dishes and pots that have cooled to room temperature inside.
- Ventilate the kitchen if the temperature rises above 30 degrees.
- Place the refrigerator away from the heater.
- Ensure adequate and constant ventilation at the back of the appliance.
An electric stove is another powerful consumer of electricity, but in this case there are a few tricks that can help reduce costs. To save money:
- Preheat the oven strictly at the time specified in the recipe, not in advance.
- Turn off the stove a few minutes before the dish is ready, using the heat of the hob.
- Use flat-bottomed pans exactly the size of the heating element.
- Don’t use excess water to cook instant meals; cover the pots with lids.
- Use a kettle to make tea water.
By following these simple rules, the savings can be significant.
Bathrooms can consume less electricity
The washing machine is an indispensable electrical appliance in everyday life, but it also accounts for up to 20% of the electricity consumed. This is provided that all possibilities of the technique are used incorrectly. At the same time, it is quite possible to save electricity in the apartment, but it is quite possible to wash it not by hand. To do this, wash the stains first. Charge the hair clipper as much as possible, but do not overload it. Choose the washing method that suits the fabric:
- cotton;
- synthetics;
- wool.
Give preference to a fast and economical way of washing. Set the temperature control to 30-40 degrees if the laundry is not very dirty. This will help reduce energy consumption and thus the amount of payments.
The second device is an electric water heater. It allows you to always have hot water on hand, but for heating water to be truly economical, you need to install and install it properly. To do this, install the boiler as close to the bathroom as possible so that the liquid does not cool down when passing through a long water supply. Optimize boiler operation by setting the heating element on and off times. Clean the heating element of limescale from time to time, increasing its thermal power.
Don't pay for what you don't use
Today you can provide yourself with entertainment and fun even without leaving your own apartment. There are color TVs, personal computers, laptops, stereos and DVD players for that.
To save energy, turn them on only when necessary and turn them off when you are away from the room for a long time. A few hours of work is unnecessary - and in a month, depending on the model of the device, it can "jump out" a few dozen extra kW.
So turn off the TVs with the remote control and also put them in standby mode:
- all night;
- when going to work.
For longer absences, it is better to disconnect the cable completely.
Computers are a technique that can be found in almost every home. There are rules for saving electricity for this category of electrical devices. Powerful components such as a processor, graphics card, and widescreen monitor typically require a significant amount of power in a stationary device. In this regard, notebooks are much more economical.
To avoid overpaying and saving energy, set the desired value in your computer's power settings. If you do not want to turn off programs, put your computer to sleep. Turn on all peripherals connected to it via surge protection:
- printers;
- scanners;
- modems.
Turn them off after the session is over. Turn off your laptop or computer completely if you do not use it for a long time. Energy and money savings will be visible soon.
Not to heat, but to heat
Central heating in apartments has one feature. They turn it on according to the schedule, and the coolant does not always meet the required temperature. For that reason, many are used to using electric heaters, convectors, etc. Early onset of cold weather, old radiators and frames that are not glued for the winter can also force them to include additional heat sources.
All this contributes to the fact that the apartment becomes cold and uncomfortable. Heaters are practical in that with their small dimensions they allow you to quickly heat the air in the room to the required temperature, but at the same time the devices consume a lot of expensive electricity for their work. The power of one installation is measured in a few kilowatts, so it is not difficult to calculate how many rubles a month such heating of an apartment can cost.
Therefore, in order to save energy, it is more cost-effective to take measures to increase the energy efficiency of the house: change old frames and doors, insulate walls, wash or install new heating radiators. Of course, this requires a serious investment in the initial phase, but it is profitable in the long run, because you will have to pay less for light.
Install new energy saving meters
Saving electricity in an apartment with a meter is also possible thanks to metering devices. The old meters known to everyone are designed for one tariff, regardless of what time of day the resource is consumed. For those who have few connected consumers in the house and do not use it often, it does not matter. Owners of large apartments and a number of equipment can benefit from the installation of modern two-tariff metering devices.
Due to the lower price of 1 kilowatt at night, the use of powerful equipment is much cheaper. First of all, it includes installations with heating elements - washing machines and dishes, bread makers, water heaters. Such devices can be easily programmed to work at a convenient time, and you will have to pay less. Energy savings can be around 25% of the prepayment amount, which is undoubtedly useful.
