Paying utilities in these times can significantly affect the family budget. And most of these costs are electricity bills. So how can you reduce costs and save energy?
Taking care that everyone turns off the light behind them, it is good to cook on low heat, but it is not an exhaustive solution to the problem, because such measures do not bring tangible results. There are a few simple tips, following which will significantly reduce the "load" of your wallet.
First, you need to know which equipment is the "most voracious" - these are devices with heating coils and thermocouples: instantaneous water heaters, boilers and tanks with heated water, electric underfloor heating.
Also, there are: kettle, electric stove, oven, electric fireplace, all kinds of heaters, hair dryer and iron. Powerful motors that consume a lot of electricity effectively "help" in rewinding kilowatts. The leadership boasts: an air conditioning compressor, a drill and a drill, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, as well as a washing machine that has both an electric motor and heaters.
If you have not had time to install energy-saving lamps that consume 4, 5-5 times less electricity, then it's time to buy them. They are, of course, more valuable than ordinary ones, but their lifespan is several times longer than incandescent bulbs and they consume less electricity.
Remember: five 20-watt energy-saving lamps consume as much electricity as one traditional "hundred, " and each can produce the same, and sometimes brighter, light output.
A modern person, who cannot imagine himself without the blessings of civilization, cannot do without all kinds of devices, electric lights, hot batteries and household appliances that create the usual "comfort zone" for him. The issues of saving electricity and, in general, reducing the cost of maintaining your home for him are quite relevant. Therefore, it is useful to know about devices that help save money.
TV and multimedia devices. Modern "flat" devices - plasma and LCD - consume less energy, this also applies to computer monitors. A 17-inch kinescope monitor that is unnecessarily turned on can "wind" more than 190 kW / h per year. Using the "economy mode", which is equipped with all modern models, for a computer monitor allows you to save 130-135 kW / h during the year.
Computers. The latest generations of computers are equipped with an energy-saving function. It is worth activating (if it is not activated automatically). This will reduce the amount of power your computer consumes by about 50%.
Some computer hardware, such as a graphics or sound card, processor, consumes more power than other components. Therefore, when buying a new element for a computer, you must pay attention to its energy efficiency.
Vacuum cleaner. In order for the vacuum cleaner to work in the most energy efficient way, it is necessary to clean or replace the dust container in a timely manner. Remember to also change or clean the exhaust air filters.
Mobile devices. Keep in mind: the remaining "charge" in the socket consumes energy even after turning off the smartphone. When the charger is constantly on, up to 95% of energy is lost.
Copiers, printers, MFPs. Constantly turned on "copier" during the year can consume 1000 kWh more electricity. Copiers consume a lot of power when they are turned on for the first time and do not operate in on mode. To reduce energy consumption, it is worth starting devices only for copying large amounts of material and turning them off when finished.
Electric stove. Using cooking utensils, the dimensions of which do not correspond to the burner of the electric stove, 5-10% of energy is lost. To save energy when using electric stoves, use dishes with a bottom of the correct shape, which is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the heating surface. Close the pot with a lid when preparing the first dishes. Intensive evaporation of water prolongs cooking time by 20-30%, and consequently energy consumption increases by the same amount. Using an espresso pot will shorten the cooking time, and thick-walled dishes will allow the food to stay warm longer.
Washing machine. The main reasons for the inefficient operation of washing machines are the excess of the maximum load, as well as the opposite effect - incomplete charging. In the second case, excessive electricity consumption can be 10-15%. With the wrong washing program, excessive electricity consumption is up to 30%. Ultrasonic washing in some cases can greatly facilitate the work, and such devices consume about 15 watts (click on the image to enlarge).
Air conditioning. To prevent energy loss, the air conditioner must work with closed doors and windows. Otherwise, the split system will cool the street or adjacent rooms, and where cold air is really needed, it will be hot. In addition, when planning to buy such a device, remember that today there are modern models of inverter-type air conditioners, whose energy consumption can be 50% lower than that of traditional systems with similar performance.
Fridge. The refrigerator should be kept in a cool place, preferably away from sunlight. Also, it should not be placed next to an oven or other heat-emitting device. If the temperature in the place where the refrigerator is reached reaches 30 ° C, the electricity consumption can increase by 100%.
It is also important not to put hot food in the refrigerator, it is necessary to wait for their temperature to drop to at least room temperature. The freezer must be defrosted periodically. A thick layer of ice and frost makes it difficult to cool frozen food and increases energy costs.
Power consumption in standby mode
It is no secret that a jet of water from a broken or poorly closed tap is poured into tens, and sometimes hundreds of liters of water a day, with consequences in the form of receipts with a huge number of zeros. And figuratively speaking, in every apartment there are many such loosely closed "taps" through which electricity is constantly "leaking", and with it finances. These are household electrical appliances that consume energy even in "sleep" mode or in "standby" mode. And since every farm has up to a dozen such devices, then in a year a thin leak can turn into a rather significant "outflow" of funds from your own pocket.
The best illustration of the nonsense of spending electricity is the "turned off" TV, which can be seen in almost every family. You may think that if the screen does not display anything, then energy is not lost. However, this is not the case. Certain electronic circuits and the TV's power supply are under constant voltage to allow communication with the remote control. In this case, electricity is consumed in the form of heat from the power source. In winter, such "heating" can come in handy, but in summer, excess heat can become your headache.
Below is a list of devices, leave them on, you can't expect any energy savings. Equipment that "secretly" consumes electricity (means the amount for 1 hour)
- electric stove with electronic control - 3 watts;
- inkjet and laser printers - from 2 to 4 watts;
- cordless phones (consumer - base) - 1 watt;
- chargers of various types, primarily for mobile phones - 1 watt.
How to save electricity at home - you can find a lot of answers, tips and tricks online. It is also important to remember that reducing electricity 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 reduced;
- 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 efficient ways to save energy
1. Use energy efficient lighting
The most basic way to save light is to replace conventional incandescent bulbs with energy-saving ones. Recently, in addition to the usual fluorescents with reduced mercury content, new LED diodes have appeared on the market. They have some advantages - higher mechanical strength due to the absence of breakable glass bulbs and tungsten filaments, durability and independence from frequent switching. The only drawback of LED lamps is the high price, but over time they become much cheaper.
2. Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
Also one of the easiest methods to save energy, which for some reason we neglect. If you do not have a very good memory, then write a reminder and paste it in a prominent place at the exit. Over time, this will develop into a stable habit.
3. Follow the instructions that came with your home appliance and monitor its condition
For example, periodically remove scale from the electric kettle: solid layers of salt on the inner walls of the appliance create high thermal resistance, which significantly reduces the efficiency of the heating element and, consequently, increases its energy consumption.
Also, if you place the refrigerator next to a heat source, energy consumption may increase several times, as the appliance will have to operate in forced mode to maintain the set temperature. The freezer on the glazed balcony will bring more benefits than in a warm kitchen, where one refrigerator is enough, which, in turn, should be defrosted in time and cleaned of dust from the heat exchanger on the back wall.
4. Redecorate your home
A "simple" cosmetic repair will also help save energy. Simple manipulations, such as gluing bright wallpaper and painting the ceiling in bright colors, will allow your room to reflect up to eighty percent of the sun's rays. The darker the material, the less light it reflects, which means more electricity will be needed to illuminate a room with a dark interior. Also, make the most of natural light.
5. Wipe the bulbs of dust
One of the effective options for saving electricity in the apartment includes a simple procedure for cleaning light bulbs. Few people take this recommendation seriously, as it is much easier to change a dim light source to a brighter one. And in vain - because you have to keep in mind that dust can "absorb" up to 20% of the light from the lamp. In addition, do not forget to clean the shade of chandeliers and lamps.
6. Use heat reflectors (thermal mirrors)
Heating devices used in the cold season consume a large enough amount of electricity. To reduce unnecessary heat and energy losses, for example, heat-reflecting screens for polyethylene foam batteries (environmentally friendly polyethylene foam, duplicated with lavsan or polypropylene metallized foil) will help. This will help to raise the temperature in the room by a few degrees, and excess heat will not be radiated to the walls and through them to the street.
7. Use a dual-zone meter to pay for differentiated prices
The tariff for electricity at night (from 23. 00 to 07. 00) is twice lower than during the day. Therefore, those who work at night or simply prefer to sleep during the day, setting up a dual-tariff meter can not only save money on electricity bills, but also reduce the likelihood of emergency power outages. Unfortunately, the diphtheria system is not popular and many simply do not know about its existence.
8. Buy home appliances with energy consumption class "A" and higher
Energy efficiency is marked by classes - from A to G. Class A has the lowest energy consumption, G is the least efficient. Most modern household products, light bulb packaging and even cars must bear the EU energy efficiency label. More economical equipment is usually marked in green. Energy-saving devices consume much less energy than other devices. Moreover, the difference can sometimes be up to fifty percent. In addition, there is class A + and A ++ equipment today. Consequently, its energy saving potential is even greater.
9. Insulate the apartment / house / room
Also one of the most effective methods. In addition to all of the above, you can save energy by taking simple measures to heat the room. Insulate the windows first and seal any cracks, and it would be ideal to replace outdated double-glazed windows with better plastic, preferably energy-saving glass. It is known that up to 50% of heat can be lost through windows. Also, in winter, it is better to hang warm thick night curtains on the windows, as well as insulate the front door and balcony (loggia), and you should consider insulating the floors in the room.
Insulate the facade of your house or apartment. This will also significantly reduce the "load" on the electricity meter, because effectively increasing the thermal insulation capacity of the walls and eliminating the so-called "cold bridges" will not only consume less electricity for heating in winter, but also cool in summer. Mineral wool or foam plastic can be used as a thermal insulation material.
10. Apply smart technologies and renewable energy sources
In the modern construction industry, there is the concept of a "smart" house, which means a system that provides, above all, resource savings and security with the help of high-tech devices and automation. Of course, in the design phase, it is recommended to set "smart" features for your home. However, some elements of smart technologies can already be equipped with living space. For example, you can remotely control heating, air conditioning and lighting using special applications on your smartphone.
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 calculated on a case-by-case basis. However, it is unlikely that anyone will dispute the fact that the future of RES and their availability to ordinary users is a matter of the next few years - this is clearly evidenced by successful foreign experience.