Paying for public services in these times can significantly affect the family budget. And most of this cost is electricity bills. So how can you cut costs and save energy?
Making sure that everyone turns off the light after themselves, slow cooking is good, but it is not a comprehensive solution to the problem, since such measures do not bring tangible results. There are some simple tips, after which you will significantly reduce the "burden" on your wallet.
First of all, you need to know which equipment is the most "gluttonous" - these are devices with heating coils and heating elements: instantaneous water heaters, boilers and storage tanks with heated water, electric underfloor heating.
Also, these include: an electric kettle, an electric stove, an oven, an electric fireplace, all kinds of heaters, a hair dryer and an iron. Powerful motors that consume a lot of electricity effectively "help" rewind kilowatts. The leadership can boast: an air conditioning compressor, a drilling machine and a drill, a refrigerator, a dishwasher and a washing machine, which has an electric motor and heating elements.
If you did not have time to install energy-saving lamps that consume 4. 5-5 times less electricity, then it's time to buy them. Of course, they are more valuable than ordinary ones, but their service life is several times longer than that of incandescent lamps, and they consume less current.
Remember: five 20-watt energy-saving lamps use as much electricity as a traditional "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 all kinds of gadgets, electric light, hot batteries and household appliances that create for him the usual "comfort zone". The topics of saving electricity and, in general, reducing the cost of maintaining his home are quite relevant to him. Therefore, it is useful to know about devices that help save money.
Televisions and multimedia devices. Modern "flat" devices (plasma and LCD) consume less power, 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 "saving mode", which is equipped with all modern models, for a computer monitor allows you to save 130-135 kW / h for the year.
computers. The latest generations of computers are equipped with a power saving function. It's worth turning it on (if it doesn't turn on automatically). Therefore, the amount of power consumed by the computer will decrease by about 50%.
Some computer equipment, such as a graphics or sound card, a processor, consume more power than other components. Therefore, when buying a new element for a computer, you should pay attention 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 must be remembered: the "recharge" left in the outlet consumes energy even after the smartphone is turned off. When the charger is plugged in all the time, up to 95% of the power is wasted.
Copiers, printers, multifunction. A "copier" permanently turned on during the year can consume an additional 1, 000 kWh of electricity. Copiers consume a lot of electricity when they are first turned on and when they are not running in power-on mode. To reduce power consumption, it is worth turning on devices only to copy a large number 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 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 you prepare the first dishes. Intensive evaporation of water increases the cooking time by 20-30% and, consequently, the energy consumption increases by the same amount. Using a pressure cooker will reduce cooking time, and thick-walled cookware will allow food to stay hot longer.
Washing machine. The main reasons for the inefficient operation of washing machines are excess of the maximum load, as well as the opposite effect - incomplete load. In the second case, the electricity surcharge can be 10-15%. With an incorrect washing program, the excessive consumption of electricity 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 avoid energy waste, the air conditioner should 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 hot. Also, when planning the purchase of such a device, remember that today there are modern models of inverter-type air conditioners, the energy consumption of which can be 50% less than that of traditional systems with similar performance.
Refrigerator. The refrigerator should be in a cool place, preferably away from sunlight. Also, it should not be placed next to a stove or other heat-emitting appliance. If the temperature in the place where the refrigerator is placed reaches 30°C, the power consumption may increase by 100%.
It is also important not to put hot food in the refrigerator, you need to wait for its 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 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 improperly closed tap spills into tens, and sometimes hundreds of liters of water a day, with the consequent consequences in the form of payment receipts with a huge number of zeros. And figuratively speaking, in each dwelling there are many poorly closed "taps" through which electricity constantly "leaks", and with it finances. We are talking about household appliances that consume energy even in "sleep" or "standby" mode. And since each farm has up to a dozen of these devices, in a year a small trickle can turn into a fairly significant "outflow" of funds from your own pocket.
The best illustration of the folly of wasting electricity is a "turned off" television, which can be seen in almost every family. You may think that if the screen shows nothing, then no power is wasted. However, this is not the case. Certain electronic circuits and the television'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, such "heating" can be useful, but in summer, excess heat can become your headache.
Below is a list of household appliances, leaving them on, you can not 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: 2 to 4 watts;
- cordless phones (consumer - base) - 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 many 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 into the environment is reduced;
- Improves interior comfort;
- The energy intensity of the country's economy is declining;
- Saving energy resources and preserving the environment for future generations.
10 simple and effective ways to save energy
1. Use energy efficient lighting
The most basic way to save light is to replace conventional incandescent lamps with low consumption ones. Recently, in addition to the most common fluorescents with a reduced mercury content, new LEDs have appeared on the market. They have some advantages: increased mechanical strength due to the absence of a brittle 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 easiest methods to save energy, which for some reason we neglect. If you don't have a very good memory, write a reminder note and post it in a conspicuous place on the way out. Over time, this will become a stable habit.
3. Follow the instructions that come with the appliances and check their status
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, consequently, increases its energy consumption.
Also, if you put the refrigerator next to a heat source, the electricity consumption can increase several times, since the appliance 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, must be defrosted in a timely manner and dust from the heat exchanger on the rear wall.
4. Give your home a makeover
A "simple" cosmetic repair will also help save energy. Simple manipulations, such as gluing light wallpaper 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 illuminate rooms with dark interiors. Also, 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, since it is much easier to change a dimmed light source to a more powerful one. And in vain, since you need to take into account that the dust can "absorb" up to 20% of the light from the lamp. Also, do not forget to clean the lampshades of the chandeliers and lamps.
6. Use heat reflectors (thermal mirrors)
Heating devices used in the cold season consume a sufficiently large amount of electricity. To reduce unnecessary heat and energy losses, for example, heat-reflecting screens for batteries made of polyethylene foam (eco-friendly polyethylene foam, doubled with lavsan or metallized polypropylene film) will help. This will help raise the temperature in the room by a few degrees, and excess heat will not be emitted to the walls, and through them to the street.
7. Use a dual-zone meter to pay differentiated rates
The electricity tariff at night (from 23: 00 to 07: 00) is two times lower than 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 money on electricity bills, but also reduce the likelihood of emergency blackouts. Unfortunately, the fare differentiation system is not popular, and many are simply not aware of its existence.
8. Buy household 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 are required to carry an EU energy efficiency label. The cheapest equipment is usually marked with a green label. Energy efficient appliances consume much less energy than other appliances. Also, the difference can sometimes be up to fifty percent. In addition, today there are A+ and A++ class equipment. Consequently, its power saving capabilities 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 efficient glass. It is known that up to 50% of heat can be lost through windows. Also, in winter, it is better to hang thick warm 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 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 maintain cool in summer. Mineral wool or plastic foam 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" home, which implies a system that provides, first of all, resource savings and safety with the help of high-tech devices and automation. Of course, putting in "smart" features for your home at the design stage is recommended. However, some elements of smart technologies can already be equipped with houses. 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 the 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 households 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 would question 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 experience abroad.