Manages rising energy prices and environmental issues to save consumers electricity. Consumers may perceive the environment as whimsical or fraudulent, but if this becomes an additional expense, it must be taken into account.
Of course, energy will not go anywhere, consumption will increase, the number of sources will increase and the most harmful ones will be replaced. Savings are a limitation, not a wise use. Economically you can spend a hundred kilowatts and a hundred watts.
Energy savings are achieved through a reasonable (not irregular) organization of use, which is the result of planning activities. And the charlatan devices and "methods" advertised on the Internet sometimes have nothing to do with savings. These methods can only cause fire and electric shock.
Declining energy consumers
All electricity consumers can be classified according to the amount of energy consumed (energy intensity). For example, in descending order:
- Heating devices;
- Lighting devices;
- Electric motors;
- Computer Science;
- Electronic equipment and communication devices.
Even at the household level, this classification is justified: most of the electricity is consumed by kettles, various types of ovens - grills, toasts, electric ovens, then irons, dryers. Enough energy is used for lighting purposes. Lighting competes with refrigerators (compressor engine).
An ordinary home computer also consumes a lot, it is quite a competitor to the refrigerator. Against this background, TV, security and fire alarms and chargers for mobile devices consume the least.
The conversion of electricity into heat is the most "noticeable" result that can be achieved, but also with full efficiency. if such a conversion is required. The efficiency of iron is almost 100%. The situation is very bad for light sources - the efficiency for LED lamps is only about 15% (we can only talk about close to 100% for quantum events in the semiconductor crystal of LEDs, the rest is spent on heating wires and losses in additional equipment: drivers).
Savings on heating appliances
How can you save energy without denying yourself the benefits of civilization? As we have seen, heating devices receive the most "electricity", which is the most important source of savings. For them, energy saving methods in everyday life are indirect, but less important. First of all, the heat must be used completely. For example, it is extremely unwise to boil water in a metal tank that does not need to be heated in a cold room. It is best to do this where the heat spreads throughout the living space.
Due to the good thermal insulation of buildings, the heat must be retained completely and for as long as possible. For example, in European countries, such as Germany, they are fined for poor insulation.
With a multi-tariff payment for energy and the ability to store heat, the most appropriate water heaters and other heating devices will have a night mode of operation. The heat will remain at a sufficient level during the day. It is especially useful if residents are at work or at work during the day. In addition, consumers use night energy to equalize the load on the grid, which has a positive impact on serviceability and operating costs. This allows you to hope for cheaper prices.
Lighting savings
Let's start with a reminder to remember to turn off the lights where they are not needed. Even if there are utility rooms, consider the location of light sources in all rooms (preferably with the help of experts in this field). Then we turn to the light sources that exist today.
First of all, it should be noted that we live in a productive period of rejection of mixed, incandescent lamps, which are heated more than glow. Extensive use of fluorescent light sources (daylight) provides two to three times more significant energy savings.
Fluorescent lamps in the form of 40 and 80 W tubes were used earlier (since the 70s of the last century), but are widely used, mainly in public and industrial buildings.
Modern "energy-saving" home fluorescent lamps based on E27 are the same tubes that contain mercury vapor and phosphorus from the inner surface of the glass. However, they are wrapped in a round spiral and connected via a miniature electronic ballast located at the base and performing the same functions as the previously suppressed iron choke and gas discharge route.
However, fluorescent lamps are already being replaced by LED lamps, which consume two to three times less energy than fluorescent lamps with the same luminous flux. It is still a bit expensive compared to other lamps, but the market is not yet saturated with new products. Costs are paid quickly because of significant savings in usage.
Both fluorescent and LED lamps have a very wide spectrum that is close to daylight. The reason for this is the use of the primary source of ultraviolet in both cases - LED lamps also use luminescence, and ultraviolet rays are a mixture of all colors of visible light. In LED lamps alone, ultraviolet light is generated by a semiconductor crystal, not by mercury vapor atoms.
An additional way to save energy when solving lighting problems is to automate on and off. Man is forgetful, but not technique. The use of dimmers (brightness control devices), photo relays, timers and motion sensors will minimize unnecessary light costs.
All of these products are in stores, sold with warranties, certificates, and instructions, and have long ceased to be exceptional handicrafts that can only be obtained by skilled radio enthusiasts who prepare them for their homes.
Electric motors
Electric motors are found in everyday life, mainly in refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners. Pumps for heating systems and pumps for wells are also available. All other cases: coffee grinders, drills, etc. They do not deserve attention because they are rarely and quickly launched.
Reduction of energy consumption in the case of continuous operation of electric motors is achieved either by their periodic shutdown (refrigerators and air conditioners) or by the use of frequency converters for asynchronous motors.
The latter is sometimes used to drive pump motors for water supply and heating systems. Since the operation of electric motors is generally associated with heat (cold), the precautionary measures are reduced because there is less reason to open the motors: keep the doors, vents and doors of refrigerators and freezers closed.
The power consumed by electric motors in everyday life is relatively small - about a few hundred, even ten watts, you can ignore the infamous "cosine phi" because the consumer does not pay for reactive energy.
However, asynchronous motors have one feature: a large starting current, 5-7 times higher than nominal. This justifies how little such motors are run, which is better, and justifies the use of drivers with an acceptable frequency (refrigerators, especially air conditioners, are not included). Also, do not put hot pots in the refrigerator.
Electric motors used in household appliances can be classified by power and duty cycle (share of time during operation) as follows:
- Refrigerators, air conditioners (150-450 W, 20-50%);
- Heat pumps (60–200 W, 40–100%);
- Kitchen appliances (50-500 W, short-term);
- Fans (10-30 W, up to 100%).
Submersible drainage sump pumps are rarely used and have significant power. Used for wealthy owners in private homes and cottages. But even there, economic issues are not the last. Therefore, the operation of pumps in such systems is optimized by hydraulic accumulators, frequency converters and controllers that control the water supply. Everything happens automatically.
Computers, TVs and telephone chargers
Gaming computers can wash the shelves well not only thanks to a fast processor, but also thanks to a powerful video card that works 20 hours a day (game time flies fast and you will not see how retirement is approaching as a schoolboy). . . Some people also use video cards to make money.
A typical quiet office computer consumes about 200 W, a laptop - 40-60 W. It can be compared to a TV and it is not so important. However, it does not hurt to control the power supply of such devices, especially in modern smart electronics, such capabilities have long been provided.
When it comes to chargers for phones and other mobile devices, they can run on "alternative" energy sources: solar panels and small wind turbines with appropriate inverters (including, of course, 5, 12 and 20 VDC). The latter can be used to charge laptops. )
Alternative sources in everyday life are not yet widespread, their capacity is very modest and expensive. However, you need to start somewhere and the recommendations for saving energy in everyday life should take this into account.