The payment of utilities in these times can significantly affect the family budget. And most of this cost is the electricity bills. So how can you cut costs and save energy?
Making everyone turn off the lights after themselves, cooking over low heat is fine, but it is not a comprehensive solution to the problem, as such precautions do not bring tangible results. There are a few simple tips, following which you will greatly reduce the "load" on your wallet.
First of all, it is necessary to know which equipment is the most "greedy": these are devices with heating coils and thermoelements: instant water heaters, boilers and storage tanks with heated water, electric underfloor heating.
In addition, these include: an electric kettle, an electric stove, an oven, an electric fireplace, all kinds of stoves, a hair dryer and an iron. Powerful motors that consume a lot of electricity will effectively "assist" the rewinding of the kilowatts. Leadership can boast: an air conditioner compressor, a perforator and a drill, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, as well as a washing machine, which has both an electric motor and heating elements.
If you haven't 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 service life is several times longer than incandescent lamps, and they consume less power.
Remember: five 20-watt energy-saving lamps consume the same amount of electricity as a traditional "one hundred" and each is capable of producing the same, and sometimes brighter, light output.
A modern person, who cannot imagine himself without the benefits of civilization, cannot do without a variety of gadgets of all kinds, electric lights, hot batteries and appliances that create the usual "comfort zone" for him. The issues of saving electricity and, in general, reducing the cost of house maintenance are quite relevant to him. Therefore, it is useful to know the devices that help save money.
TV and multimedia devices. Modern "flat" devices - plasma and LCD - consume less energy, this also applies to computer monitors. An unnecessarily turned on 17-inch kinescope monitor is capable of "winding" more than 190 kW / h per year. Using the "economy mode", which is equipped with all modern models, for a computer monitor it is possible to save 130-135 kW / h during the year.
Computer. The latest generation of computers are equipped with an energy saving function. It's worth activating it (if it doesn't activate automatically). Therefore, the amount of power consumed by the computer will decrease by approximately 50%.
Some computer hardware components, such as a graphics or sound card, a processor, consume more power than other components. Therefore, when buying a new element for a computer, attention should be paid to its energy efficiency.
A vacuum cleaner. In order for the vacuum cleaner to work in the most energy-efficient mode, it is necessary to clean or replace the dust container in a timely manner. Don't forget to change or clean the exhaust air filters as well.
Mobile devices. It should be remembered: the "recharge" left in the socket consumes energy even after turning off the smartphone. When the charger is always connected, up to 95% of the energy is wasted.
Photocopiers, printers, multifunctional. A "copier" always on during the year can consume 1000 kWh more of electricity. Copiers consume a lot of electricity when they are first turned on and when they are not operating in power-on mode. To reduce energy consumption, it is worth starting devices only to copy a large amount of materials and turn them off when finished.
Electric stove. Using cooking utensils, whose dimensions do not correspond to the burner of the electric stove, 5-10% of energy is lost. To save energy when using electric hobs, use cookware with a properly shaped bottom, equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the heating surface. Close the pot with a lid when preparing the first courses. Intensive evaporation of water increases the cooking time by 20-30% and, as a result, energy consumption increases by the same amount. Using a pressure cooker will reduce cooking times, and thick-walled pans will allow food to stay hot longer.
Washing machine. The main reasons for inefficient operation of washing machines are the excess of the maximum load, as well as the opposite effect - incomplete load. In the second case, the excessive expenditure of electricity can be 10-15%. With the wrong washing program, the excessive expenditure of electricity reaches 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).
Conditioner. To avoid wasting energy, the air conditioner must be operated with closed doors and windows. Otherwise, the split system will cool the street or neighboring rooms and, where fresh air is really needed, it will be warm. Also, when planning the purchase of such a device, remember that today there are modern models of inverter-type air conditioners, the power consumption of which can be 50% less than that of traditional systems with similar performance.
Fridge. The refrigerator must be in a cool place, preferably away from sunlight. Also, it should not be placed next to stoves or other appliances that emit heat. If the temperature in the place where the refrigerator is placed 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 until their temperature drops to at least room temperature. The freezer must be defrosted periodically. A thick layer of ice and frost impairs the cooling of frozen foods and increases energy costs.
Power consumption in standby mode
It is no secret to anyone that a trickle of water from a broken or tightly closed tap spills into tens, and sometimes hundreds of liters of water per day, with the consequent consequences in the form of payment receipts with a huge number of zeros. And figuratively speaking, in every home there are many of these loosely closed "taps" through which electricity "constantly leaks" and with it finances. These are household appliances that consume energy even in "sleep" or "standby" mode. And since each farm has up to a dozen such devices, a thin trickle can turn into a rather significant "runoff" of funds from your own pockets in a year.
The best illustration of the nonsense of wasting electricity is a "off" TV, which can be seen in almost any household. You may think that if the screen shows nothing, energy is not wasted. However, this is not the case. Some electronic circuits and the power supply of the TV are under constant voltage to allow communication with the remote control. In this case, electricity is consumed in the form of heat from the electrical network. In the winter, such "heating" can come in handy, but in the summer the excess heat can become your headache.
Below is a list of household appliances, leaving them on, no energy savings can be hoped for. Equipment that "secretly" consumes electricity (ie the amount for 1 hour)
- electric cooker with electronic control - 3 watts;
- inkjet and laser printers - from 2 to 4 watts;
- cordless phones (consumer - basic) - 1 watt;
- chargers of various types, mainly for mobile phones - 1 watt.
How to save electricity at home - this question can be found on the network with a lot of answers, tips and tricks. It is also important to remember that reducing electricity consumption not only has a positive effect on the portfolio, but also causes changes on a more global scale, in particular:
- Stimulate the development of new energy saving technologies;
- The level of harmful emissions into the environment is reduced;
- Improve internal comfort;
- The energy intensity of the country's economy is decreasing;
- Saving energy resources and preserving the environment for future generations.
10 simple and effective ways to save energy
1. Use energy-saving lighting
The most basic way to save light is to replace traditional incandescent lamps with energy-saving ones. Recently, in addition to the more common low-mercury fluorescents, new LEDs have appeared on the market. They have some advantages: greater mechanical strength due to the absence of a fragile glass bulb and tungsten filaments, durability and independence from frequent changes. 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 simplest methods of saving energy, which for some reason we neglect. If you don't have a good memory, write a reminder note and stick it in a prominent spot at the exit. Over time, this will develop into a stable habit.
3. Follow the instructions provided with the appliances and monitor their condition
For example, periodically descaling an electric kettle: solid layers of salts on the internal walls of the device create a high thermal resistance, which greatly reduces the efficiency of the heating element and, consequently, increases its energy consumption.
Also, if you put the refrigerator near a heat source, the power consumption can increase several times, as the device will have to work in forced mode to maintain the set temperature. A freezer on a glazed balcony will bring more advantages than in a warm kitchen, where a refrigerator is enough, which, in turn, must be timely defrosted and dusted by the heat exchanger on the back wall.
4. Give your home a new look
A "simple" cosmetic repair will also help save energy. Simple manipulations, such as gluing light wallpapers and painting ceilings in light colors, will 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 electricity will be needed to light rooms with dark interiors. Plus, make the most of natural light.
5. Clean the bulbs from dust
One of the effective options for saving electricity in an apartment includes a simple procedure for cleaning light bulbs. Few people take this recommendation seriously, as it is much easier to change a soft light source to a more powerful one. And in vain, since it must be borne in mind that dust can "absorb" up to 20% of the light from the lamp. Also, don't forget to clean the shades of chandeliers and lamps.
6. Use heat reflectors (thermal mirrors)
A sufficiently large amount of electricity is absorbed by heating devices used in the cold season. To reduce unnecessary heat and energy losses, for example, heat-reflective battery screens made of expanded polyethylene (environmentally friendly polyethylene foam, duplicated with metallized film of lavsan or polypropylene) will help. This will help raise the temperature in the room by a few degrees, and excess heat will not be given off to the walls and through them to the street.
7. Use a two-zone meter to pay differentiated rates
The rate for electricity at night (from 11pm to 7am) is twice as low as during the day. Therefore, those who work at night or simply prefer to sleep during the day, installing a two-tariff meter can not only save on paying for electricity, but also reduce the likelihood of an emergency blackout. Unfortunately, the tariff system is not popular and many simply do not know about its existence.
8. Buy appliances with energy class "A" and higher
Energy efficiency is indicated by classes - 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 need to carry an EU energy efficiency label. Cheaper equipment is usually marked with a green label. Energy-saving appliances consume much less energy than other appliances. Also, the difference can sometimes be as much as fifty percent. In addition, today there are equipment of class A + and A ++. As a result, its energy saving capabilities are even higher.
9. Isolate 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 steps to heat the room. First, insulate the windows and seal all gaps and, ideally, replace outdated double-glazed windows with better plastic ones, preferably with energy-saving glazing. It is known that up to 50% of the 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 entrance doors and the balcony (loggia), you should also think about 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, since an effective increase in the thermal insulation capacity of the walls and the elimination of so-called "cold bridges" will not only consume less electricity for heating in winter, but keep cool even in summer. Mineral wool or foam plastic can be used as a heat insulating material.
10. Apply smart technologies and renewable energy sources
In the modern building sector there is the concept of "smart" home, which implies a system that provides, first of all, saving resources and safety with the help of high-tech devices and automation. Of course, it is recommended that you have "smart" features for your home at the design stage. However, some elements of smart technologies may already be equipped with housing. 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, for homeowners, solar and wind power plants are the most attractive. There are many examples where, for example, solar panels have helped private homes to save electricity and become energy independent, but the final economic effect of their installation has to be calculated separately on a case-by-case basis. However, anyone is unlikely to question the fact that the future of RES and their availability for ordinary users will be a matter of the next few years - this is clearly demonstrated by a successful foreign experience.