Today, hardly anyone can imagine their life without a refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, TV, computer, hair dryer, electric kettle, mixer and other things. All these objects surround us in everyday life and in many ways make our lives easier.
However, it is impossible to discount the fact that electricity tariffs are constantly increasing. Along with them, the schedule of expenses for electricity payments in the family budget is increasing. What to do? The answer to this question is one and lies on the surface - to start saving.
Electricity used in excess of the established standard is paid at higher rates. At the same time, the standard does not depend on the number or area of people living in the apartment.
Energy saving methods
Consumption of household appliances depends on the service life and characteristics, which are usually specified in the instructions or on the manufacturer's website. Many modern devices have special "Eco" or "Economy" special operating modes that consume the least energy. Therefore, when operating the devices, it is worth determining the economic modes of operation. Experts recommend purchasing only electrical appliances with high energy efficiency classes (A, A + and higher).
We save on lighting the apartment
Today, the cheapest and most common incandescent lamps for lighting an apartment. They are easy to manage, but have very low efficiency. Up to 95% of energy is used for heating, only 5% for lighting. Another disadvantage of these lamps is that they often burn out.
The life of halogen lamps is two to four times the life of incandescent lamps. However, they do not save energy and have one major drawback: when the lamp is turned off and it is cold, it is impossible to touch by hand. Fingerprints cause it to burn.
Fluorescent lamps are more efficient. This 20W lamp provides the same lighting as the 100W incandescent lamp. The service life of fluorescent lamps can reach 20, 000 hours, and incandescent lamps - no more than 1, 000 hours. However, fluorescent lamps contain mercury. Phosphorus decomposes over time. This reduces light and impairs light transmission.
LED lamps are the most environmentally friendly and versatile. They are superior to incandescent and fluorescent lamps in terms of energy efficiency, durability, safety and lighting. The service life of LED lamps is between 50 thousand and 100 thousand hours. Their significant drawback is the high prices.
We save on refrigerators and kitchen appliances
Refrigerators should be installed in the darkest and coolest places in the kitchen. This saves energy to cool their rear grille.
Do not place the refrigerator near a window, radiator or stove. If there are two compressors and one camera is not used, it is better to turn it off.
If the kitchen is equipped with a gas stove, it is better to heat the water on the stove, not in an electric kettle. This will help save energy consumption.
If you use an electric kettle, fill it with as much water as you use at one time. Your loved ones will reheat the water and you will have extra energy consumption.
When using an electric oven, switch off the hot plate 1-2 minutes before the end of cooking. Choose dishes that fit the size of the oven, otherwise you will lose up to 5-10% of your energy. A pot with a curved bottom consumes up to 40-60% of energy.
Select the correct setting when using the microwave to heat or defrost food. Shown in the instructions.
Prefer a hand mill to more than one food processor. This will not only save energy, but also help you chop better.
Make money in the washing machine
Carefully read the instructions for the "washing machine". As a rule, the more water the machine draws, the higher its temperature, the more energy is used for washing. At low loads, the machine consumes about 15% of energy. If the program is installed incorrectly, the power consumption is about 30%.
We save on iron work
Try ironing wet laundry. If you dry, you will need to heat the iron more to iron and therefore use more electricity.
We save on cleaning buildings
When vacuuming, empty dust bags frequently or change them when using disposable bags. The accumulation of large amounts of debris in the bag causes the vacuum cleaner to overheat and consume significant energy.
We save devices in standby mode
The remaining devices on the network do not consume much electricity. But you can save it too. If you decide to save energy, be sure to unplug your TV, stereo or video player. In addition, electronic devices left in the mains often burn out during thunderstorms or accidents.
Save on computers and the Internet
Try to use your computer for a longer period of time. Turn it off when you leave the house. This will extend the life of expensive equipment and save electricity.
Note that an LCD monitor or laptop uses less power than an old monitor or desktop computer.
Mobile phone "chargers" that stay on the network for a long time do not consume much electricity. But they are changing the sources of power. In the network, they can overheat and deteriorate. God forbid there is a fire in the apartment. Unfortunately, there are such cases.
We save on common areas
In addition to the appliances in your apartment, in the common areas of an apartment - lamps, elevators, video surveillance, fire alarms, forced ventilation, etc. also pay attention to the consumption of electrical appliances. Energy efficiency and frugal use guidelines can help reduce the cost of maintaining your home.