Paying for utilities in these times can significantly affect the family budget. And most of that cost is electricity bills. So how can you cut costs and save energy?
Making sure everyone turns off the light after themselves, low heat cooking is fine, but it is not an exhaustive solution to the problem, as such measures do not bring any tangible results. There are a few simple tips, following which, you will significantly reduce the "burden" on your wallet.
First of all, you need to know which equipment is the most "greedy" - these are devices with heating coils and thermoelements: instantaneous 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 heaters, a hairdryer and an iron. Powerful motors that consume a lot of electricity "help" effectively rewind kilowatts. The lead can boast: an air conditioning compressor, a drill and a drill, a refrigerator, a dishwasher and a washing machine, which has an electric motor and heating elements.
If you didn't have time to install energy efficient light bulbs that consume 4, 5 to 5 times less electricity, it's time to buy them. They are, of course, more valuable than ordinary light bulbs, but their lifespan is several times longer than incandescent light bulbs and they consume less current.
Remember: five 20-watt energy-saving bulbs consume as much electricity as a traditional "hundred" and each is capable of producing the same light output, and sometimes brighter.
A modern person, who cannot imagine himself without the benefits of civilization, cannot do without a variety of all kinds of gadgets, electric light, warm batteries and household appliances that create for him the usual "comfort zone". The issues of saving electricity and, in general, reducing the cost of maintaining your home are quite relevant to him. Therefore, it is useful to know about devices that help you save money.
TVs and multimedia devices. Modern "flat" devices - plasma and LCD - consume less power, this also applies to computer monitors. A 17-inch kinescope monitor turned on unnecessarily 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, you save 130-135 kW / h for the year.
Computers. The latest generations of computers are equipped with a power saving feature. It is worth activating it (if it is not activated automatically). Thus, the amount of energy that the computer consumes will decrease by about 50%.
Some computer hardware, such as a graphics or sound card, processor, consume more power than other components. Therefore, when buying a new element for a computer, you need to pay attention to its energy efficiency.
A vacuum cleaner. In order for the vacuum cleaner to operate in the most energy-efficient mode, it is necessary to clean or replace the dust container in a timely manner. Don't forget to also change or clean the exhaust air filters.
Mobile devices. It is worth remembering: "recharging" left in the socket consumes energy even after turning off the smartphone. When the charger is plugged in all the time, up to 95% of the energy is wasted.
Copiers, printers, all-in-ones. A "copier" permanently switched on throughout the year can consume 1000 kWh more electricity. Copiers consume a lot of electricity when they are turned on for the first time and when they are not running in power on mode. To reduce power consumption, it is worth starting devices just to copy a large amount of materials 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 plates with a correctly shaped bottom that is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the heating surface. Close the pan with a lid when preparing the first courses. Intensive water evaporation increases the cooking time by 20-30% and consequently energy consumption increases by the same amount. Using a pressure cooker will reduce cooking time and thick-walled pans will allow food to stay hot 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 loading. In the second case, the excessive expenditure of electricity can be 10-15%. With the wrong washing program, the excessive consumption of electricity is up to 30%. Ultrasonic washing in some cases can make the job much easier, and such appliances consume about 15 watts (click on the image to enlarge).
Air conditioning. To avoid wasting energy, the air conditioner must be operated with the doors and windows closed. Otherwise, the split system will cool the street or neighboring rooms, and where cold air is really needed, it will be warm. Also, when planning the purchase of such an appliance, keep in mind 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 in a cool place, preferably away from sunlight. In addition, it should not be placed near a stove or other appliance that emits 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 foods in the fridge, you need 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 impairs the cooling of frozen foods and increases energy costs.
Power consumption in standby mode
It is no secret that a trickle of water from a broken or loosely closed faucet pours out tens, and sometimes hundreds, of gallons of water a day, with the consequences ensuing in the form of pay slips with a large number of zeros. And figuratively speaking, in every dwelling there are many such loosely closed "faucets" through which electricity constantly "leaks" and with it finances. We are talking about appliances that consume energy even in "sleep" or "standby" mode. And since each farm has up to a dozen such devices, in a year a small wire can turn into a pretty significant "output" of funds out of your own pocket.
The best illustration of the folly of wasting electricity is an "off" TV, which can be seen in almost every household. You might think that if the screen doesn't show anything, energy isn't wasted. 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 supply. In winter, this "warming up" can be helpful, but in summer, excess heat can become your headache.
Below is a list of appliances, leaving them on, you can't expect any energy savings. Equipment that "secretly" consumes electricity (i. e. the amount per 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, mainly for cell phones - 1 watt.
How to save electricity at home - this question can be found on the net 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 your wallet, but also causes changes on a more global scale, in particular:
- Stimulate the development of new energy-saving technologies;
- The level of harmful emissions to the environment is reduced;
- Improves interior comfort;
- The energy intensity of the country's economy is decreasing;
- Save energy resources and preserve the environment for future generations.
10 simple and effective ways to save energy
1. Use energy efficient lighting
The most elementary way to save light is to replace conventional incandescent light bulbs 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 disadvantage of LED lamps is the high price, but over time they become much cheaper.
2. Turn off lights when leaving the room.
Also one of the easiest methods to save energy, which for some reason we neglected. If you don't have a very good memory, then write a memo and stick it in a visible place at the exit. Over time, this will become a stable habit.
3. Follow the instructions that come with the appliances and monitor their condition.
For example, periodically descale an electric kettle: solid layers of salts on the inner walls of the device create high thermal resistance, which significantly reduces the efficiency of the heating element and, accordingly, increases its energy consumption.
Also, if you place the refrigerator close to a heat source, the power consumption may 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 benefits than in a warm kitchen, where a refrigerator is enough, which, in turn, needs to be defrosted in a timely manner and sprinkled from the heat exchanger on the back wall.
4. Give your house a makeover
A "simple" cosmetic repair will also help to save energy. Simple manipulations such as placing 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 that more electricity will be needed to light a dark interior. Also, make the most of natural light.
5. Clean the dust bulbs
One of the effective options for saving electricity in an apartment includes a simple procedure for cleaning the light bulbs. Few people take this recommendation seriously, as it is much easier to change a dim light source to a more powerful one. And in vain - since you need to keep in mind that dust can "absorb" up to 20% of the lamp's light. Also, don't forget to clean the shadows from the chandeliers and lamps.
6. Use heat reflectors (thermal mirrors)
A sufficiently large amount of electricity is consumed by heating devices used in the cold season. To reduce unnecessary heat and energy losses, for example, heat-reflecting screens for batteries made of polyethylene foam (eco-friendly polyethylene foam, duplicated with lavsan or metallized polypropylene film) will help. This will help to increase the temperature of the room by a few degrees, and excess heat will not be released to the walls and through them to the street.
7. Use a dual zone meter to pay premium rates
The electricity tariff at night (from 23: 00 to 07: 00) is twice as low as during the day. So for those who work at night or simply prefer to sleep during the day, installing a dual-fare taximeter can not only save money on electric bills, but also reduce the likelihood of emergency blackouts. Unfortunately, the diffraction system is not popular, and many are simply unaware of its existence.
8. Buy home appliances with energy consumption class "A" and above
Energy efficiency is indicated 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 carry an EU energy efficiency label. More economical equipment is usually marked with a green label. Energy saving appliances consume much less energy than other appliances. Also, sometimes the difference can reach fifty percent. In addition, today there are class A + and A ++ equipment. Thus, its energy saving abilities are 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 steps to heat the room. First, insulate the windows and seal any cracks, and ideally replace outdated double-glazed windows with better plastic ones, preferably with energy-saving glass. It is known that up to 50% of the heat can be lost through the windows. Also, in winter it is better to hang thick, warm night curtains on the windows, in addition to insulating the front doors and the balcony (loggia), you should also think about insulating the floor of the room.
Insulate the facade of your house or apartment. This will also significantly reduce the "load" on the electric 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 also to cool down in summer. . Mineral wool or plastic foam can be used as a heat insulating material.
10. Apply smart technologies and renewable energy sources
In the modern construction industry, there is the concept of "smart" house, which implies a system that provides, above all, resource savings and safety with the help of high-tech devices and automation. Of course, it is recommended to put "smart" features for your home at the design stage. However, some elements of smart technologies can already be equipped with housing. For example, you can remotely control heating, air conditioning and lighting using special apps 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 must be calculated in each case separately. 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 the successful foreign experience.