Electricity is a resource used in all spheres of civilization. The price of kilowatt hours is constantly increasing and the need to reduce consumption is becoming more and more acute. Energy saving implies a rational consumption of electricity, it includes a whole series of solutions: scientific, organizational, legal, economic and technical.
Saving electricity is not only a financial issue, but also a major environmental challenge. The world energy reserves are gradually running out, nature is suffering in the production process: the environment is polluted by the emissions of the products of the combustion of fuels. Therefore, energy saving is a measure that can minimize the negative impact on the environment and save money.
Where kilowatts flow and how to reduce consumption
Hardly anyone thinks about the fact that the charger left on the network continues to work in idle mode. It is available for all power supplies, pulses and transformers. Consumption depends on the power of the device. The amount of electricity wasted in a year can be surprising.
In addition, modern household appliances are equipped with displays, indicators, for example, a clock on a microwave oven or a flashing LED on a stereo. They also consume energy. The solution is to disconnect the memory and periodically used appliances from the mains.
The most "greedy" appliances.
The 10 appliances that consume the most energy that every home has:
- Fridge. It consumes about 40-60 kW per month. To reduce these numbers, doors need to be opened less often.
- Washing machine. Consumption 40-50 kW, the exact figure depends on the frequency of washing, the methods used.
- Computer. 35-40 kW. Most users only turn it off at night.
- Kettle. It consumes a record amount of energy in 1 hour, 28-30 kW goes out in a month.
- Hairdryer. 25 kW in daily use.
- Dishwasher. 22-25 kW, depending on the power of the device, the number of hours of operation.
- Microwave. It consumes 16-20 kW per month, if used 3 times a day, plus 2-3 hours per week for defrosting food.
- Television. 13 kW during working hours - up to 5 hours per day. Standby instead of switching off increases this figure.
- Vacuum cleaner and coffee maker. They spend the same amount of electricity - 10-12 kW, if the number of active hours does not exceed 2 per week.
- Iron. With moderate use - 7-8 kW.
In order not to get angry every time you receive an electricity bill, the appliances should initially be chosen according to needs. Buying a professional high-powered vacuum cleaner for a small apartment is not practical, just like a 10 kg washing machine for a family of two.
Each device has an energy saving class, you should take some time to study its features before purchasing.
Does standby mode help save equipment?
Manufacturers claim that the electricity consumption of household appliances in hibernation mode is minimized. This statement is partly true: consumption is significantly reduced. However, there are specific figures that cast actual savings into question.
It was empirically verified that a TV with a diagonal of 50 cm spends 9 kW per month in sleep mode, a stereo - 7-8 kW, a video player - 4-5 kW. If we add to this list a computer, a microwave oven with an always-on display, chargers forgotten in the sockets and other household appliances, then the total consumption reaches 370-420 kW per year.
This shows that for real savings it is still worthwhile to disconnect equipment from the network.
How to save electricity? A good counter is an effective way
The equipment for accounting for electricity consumption is installed in all apartments, houses, industrial plants. In addition to its direct purpose - to fix the indicators, this device helps to save significantly.
Modern electronic meters support a multi-tariff function, where energy-intensive activities can be scheduled for hours when the cost per kilowatt is low. The supply companies have introduced tariff distribution in order to reduce the load on the network during peak hours, encouraging subscribers to use electricity during less busy hours.
There are the following periods, which differ in the unit cost:
- T1 - daytime: from 7: 00 to 23: 00. The rate is standard.
- T2 - night phase: from 11. 00 pm to 7. 00 am The lowest price per kilowatt.
- T3 - peak period: in the morning - until 10, in the evening - from 20 to 23. Increase in unit cost.
At night, the price of electricity is reduced by up to 70%. Many users put their appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, in "delayed start" mode. The devices start running automatically at the specified time and consume a resource that is paid for at a reduced rate.
To reduce energy consumption it is not necessary to sacrifice comfort, just buy an electronic multi-tariff meter, with which savings will be simple and effective.