At this time, the payment of utilities can have a significant impact on the family budget. And most of these costs are electricity costs. So how do you reduce costs and save energy?
It is good to make sure that everyone turns off the lights, cook on low heat, but this is not a complete solution to the problem, because such measures do not give noticeable results. Here are some simple tips that will significantly reduce the "burden" on your wallet.
First, you need to know which equipment is the most "glutton" - these are devices with heating batteries and thermocouples: instantaneous water heaters, boilers and storage tanks with heated water, electric floor heating.
Also included: electric kettle, electric stove, oven, electric fireplace, all kinds of heaters, hair dryer and iron. Powerful motors that consume a lot of electricity effectively "help" to convert kilowatts. Management can boast: air conditioning compressor, puncher and drilling machine, refrigerator, dishwasher, as well as a washing machine with both an electric motor and heating elements.
If you do not have time to install energy-saving lamps that consume 4, 5-5 times less electricity, it's time to buy them. They are, of course, more expensive than conventional ones, but their service life is several times longer than incandescent lamps, and they consume less current.
Remember: five 20-watt energy-saving lamps consume as much electricity as a traditional "hundred", and each of them is able to produce the same, sometimes brighter light output.
A modern man who cannot imagine himself without the advantages of civilization cannot do without any gadgets, electric lights, hot batteries and household appliances that create an ordinary "comfort zone" for him. The issues of saving electricity and, in general, reducing the cost of maintaining your home are very important for him. Therefore, it is useful to know about devices that help save money.
TVs and multimedia devices. Modern "flat" devices - plasma and LCD - consume less energy, as do computer monitors. Unnecessarily turned on, the 17-inch kinescope monitor has a "winding" capacity of more than 190 kW / h per year. Using the "saving mode" equipped with all modern models, it allows you to save 130-135 kWh per year for a computer monitor.
Computers. The latest generation of computers are equipped with an energy-saving function. It is worth activating it (if it is not activated automatically). Thus, the amount of energy consumed by the computer will be reduced by about 50%.
Some computer equipment, such as a graphics or sound card or processor, consumes more power than other components. Therefore, when buying a new element for a computer, it is necessary to pay attention to its energy efficiency.
Vacuum cleaner. In order for the vacuum cleaner to operate in the most energy-saving mode, the dust container must be cleaned or replaced in a timely manner. Also remember to replace or clean used exhaust filters.
Mobile devices. Remember: the "charge" left in the socket consumes energy even after turning off the smartphone. Up to 95% of energy is wasted.
Copywriters, printers, MFP. A permanent "copier" can consume more than 1000 kWh of electricity per year. Copywriters consume a lot of electricity when they are first started and do not work in startup mode. To reduce energy consumption, it is worthwhile to use the devices only to copy a large amount of material and turn them off when finished.
Electric oven. 5-10% of energy is lost by using cookware whose dimensions do not match the size of the electric oven. To save energy when using electric ovens, use cookware with a properly shaped bottom that is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the heating surface. When preparing the first dishes, close the pot with a lid. Intensive evaporation of water increases the cooking time by 20-30% and, accordingly, increases energy consumption by the same amount. The use of a pressure cooker will reduce cooking time and thick-walled cookware will allow you to keep food warmer for longer.
Washing machine. The main reasons for inefficient operation of washing machines are overload, as well as the opposite effect - incomplete loading. In the second case, the excessive consumption of electricity can be 10-15%. Excessive power consumption with the wrong washing program is up to 30%. In some cases, ultrasonic washing can make the job much easier, and such devices consume about 15 watts (click on the image to enlarge).
Conditioners. To prevent energy wastage, air conditioning doors and windows must be operated closed. Otherwise, the split system will cool the street or adjoining rooms and keep warm where cool air is really needed. In addition, when planning the purchase of such a device, keep in mind that today there are modern models of inverter-type air conditioners, whose energy consumption can be 50% lower than traditional systems with similar performance.
Refrigerator. The refrigerator should be in a cool place, preferably away from sunlight. It should also not be placed near an oven or other heat-generating device. If the temperature at the location of the refrigerator reaches 30 ° C, electricity consumption can increase by 100%.
It is also important not to put hot food in the refrigerator, wait for their temperature to drop to at least room temperature. The freezer should be cleaned of ice from time to time. A thick layer of ice and frost disrupts the cooling of frozen foods and increases energy costs.
Power consumption in standby mode
It is no secret that a drop of water from a broken or loose tap is poured into tens, sometimes hundreds of liters of water a day, resulting in a large number of zero receipts. And figuratively speaking, every home has a lot of empty "taps" where electricity is constantly "leaking" and thus financed. We are talking about household appliances that consume energy even in "sleep" mode or "standby" mode. Given that every household has dozens of such devices, after a year, a thin drop can turn into a fairly significant "flow" from your own pocket.
The best example of the futility of wasting electricity is the "off" TV that is seen in almost every household. You may think that if the screen does not show anything, then no energy is wasted. But this is not the case. Some electronic circuits and the power supply of the TV are under constant voltage to connect to the remote control. In this case, electricity is consumed in the form of heat from the power supply. This kind of "heat" can be helpful in the winter, but overheating in the summer can turn into a headache.
Below is a list of devices that leave them, you can't expect any energy savings. Equipment that "secretly" consumes electricity (estimated at 1 hour)
- electric oven with electronic control - 3 watts;
- inkjet and laser printers - between 2 and 4 watts;
- wireless phones (consumer - base) - 1 watt;
- different types of chargers, primarily for mobile phones - 1 watt.
How to save electricity at home - you will find many answers, tips and tricks in the network to this question. It is important to remember that the reduction in electricity consumption has not only had a positive effect on the wallet, but also led to changes on a more global scale, in particular:
- Stimulating the development of new energy-saving technologies;
- The level of harmful emissions into the environment is decreasing;
- Increases internal comfort;
- The energy capacity of the country's economy is declining;
- Saving energy resources and protecting 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 bulbs with energy-saving bulbs. Recently, in addition to the more common fluorescence with reduced mercury content, new LEDs have appeared on the market. They have some advantages - higher mechanical strength, durability and independence from frequent switching due to the absence of brittle glass bulbs and tungsten filaments. The only disadvantage of LED lamps is the high price, but over time they become cheaper.
2. Turn off the lights when leaving the room.
It is also one of the easiest ways to save energy that we are neglecting for some reason. If you do not have a very good memory, then write a reminder note and paste it in a prominent place in the speech. Over time, this will become a habit.
3. Follow the instructions that came with the appliances and monitor their condition
For example, periodically clean the electric kettle of lime: solid layers of salts on the inner walls of the device create a high thermal resistance, which significantly reduces the efficiency of the heating element and, accordingly, increases its energy consumption.
Also, if you place the refrigerator near a heat source, energy consumption may increase several times, as the device will have to operate in forced mode to maintain the set temperature. A freezer on a glass balcony will do more good than a hot kitchen, where a refrigerator is enough, which in turn must be thawed in time and cleaned of dust from the heat exchanger on the back wall.
4. Renovate your home
"Simple" cosmetic repairs will also help save energy. Simple manipulations, such as pasting light wallpaper and painting the 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 light it reflects, which means more electricity will be needed to illuminate rooms with dark interiors. Also, make the most of natural light.
5. Dust the lamps
One of the most effective options to save electricity in an apartment involves a simple procedure for cleaning light bulbs. Very few people take this advice seriously, because it is easier to replace the dim light source with a stronger one. And in vain - it is necessary to take into account that the dust "absorbs" up to 20% of the light from the lamp. In addition, do not forget to clean the shadows of chandeliers and lamps.
6. Use heat reflectors (thermal mirrors)
Quite a large amount of electricity is generated by heating devices used in the cold season. To reduce unnecessary heat and energy losses, for example, heat-reflecting screens for batteries made of foamed polyethylene (environmentally friendly polyethylene foam, repeating with lavsan or polypropylene metallized film) will help. This will help to raise the temperature in the room by a few degrees, and no more heat will be transferred to the walls and through them to the street.
7. Use a two-zone meter to pay different rates
At night (from 23: 00 to 07: 00) electricity tariffs are twice lower than during the day. Therefore, those who work at night or simply prefer to sleep during the day, installing a dual-tariff meter can not only save on electricity bills, but also reduce the likelihood of accidents. Unfortunately, the diftariff system is not popular, and many simply do not know about its existence.
8. Get 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 bear the EU's energy efficiency label. More economical equipment is usually marked with a green label. Energy-saving devices use less energy than other devices. Moreover, the difference can sometimes reach fifty percent. In addition, today there is A + and A ++ class equipment. Accordingly, its energy saving capacity is even higher.
9. Insulate the apartment / house / room
It is also one of the most effective methods. In addition to all of the above, you can save energy by taking simple measures to heat the room. First, insulate the windows and seal all cracks, and ideally replace worn double-glazed windows with better plastic, preferably energy-saving glass. It is known that up to 50% of heat is lost through windows. It is also better to hang warm thick curtains on the windows in winter, as well as to insulate the front doors and balcony (loggia), it is necessary to think about the insulation of the floors in the room.
Insulate the facade of your house or apartment. This will also significantly reduce the "load" on the electricity meter, as the effective increase in the thermal insulation capacity of the walls and the removal of "cold bridges" will not only consume less electricity for heating in winter, but also keep cool in summer. Mineral wool or foam plastic can be used as a heat insulating material.
10. Use smart technologies and renewable energy sources
In the modern construction industry, there is a concept of "smart" home, which means a system that saves resources and security, primarily with the help of high-tech devices and automation. Of course, at the design stage, it is recommended to install "smart" features for your home. However, some elements of smart technology can 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 solar and wind. Therefore, solar and wind power plants are the most attractive for homeowners. For example, there are many examples of solar panels that help individual households save energy and become energy independent, but the final economic effect of their installation must be calculated separately in each case. However, it is unlikely that anyone will argue that the future of RES and their accessibility to ordinary users will be a matter of the next few years - as evidenced by successful foreign experience.