Paying for utilities in these times can significantly affect the family budget. And most of those costs are electricity bills. So how to cut costs and save energy?
Ensuring that everyone turns off the light after themselves, cooking over low heat is good, but it is not an exhaustive solution to the problem, since such measures do not bring tangible results. There are a few simple tips, following which you will significantly reduce the "load" on your wallet.
First of all, you need to find out 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 cooker, 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 the kilowatts. Leadership can boast of having: an air conditioner compressor, a hole punch and a drill, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, as well as a washing machine, which has both an electric motor and heating elements.
If you haven't had 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 valuable than ordinary lamps, 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 one is capable of producing the same light output, sometimes brighter.
A modern person, who cannot imagine himself without the advantages of civilization, cannot do without a variety of all kinds of gadgets, electric light, hot batteries and household appliances that create his "zone ofusual comfort. The issues of saving electricity and, in general, reducing the maintenance costs of your home are very relevant to him. Therefore, it is useful to know the devices that save money.
Televisions and multimedia devices. Modern "flat" devices - plasma and LCD - consume less energy, this also applies to computer monitors. A 17-inch kinescope monitor turned on unnecessarily is capable of "winding" more than 190 kWh per year. Using the "economy mode", which is equipped with all modern models, for a computer monitor allows you to save 130-135 kW / h over the year.
Computers. The latest generations of computers are equipped with a power saving function. It is worth activating it (if it does not activate automatically). Thus, the amount of energy consumed by the computer will decrease by about 50%.
Some computer hardware, such as a graphics or sound card, a processor, consumes more energy than other components. Therefore, when buying a new element for a computer, you should pay attention to its energy efficiency.
A vacuum. 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. We must not forget that the "recharge" left in the socket consumes energy even after turning off the smartphone. When the charger is permanently plugged in, up to 95% of energy is wasted.
Copiers, printers, MFPs. A "copier" permanently on during the year can consume 1000 kWh more electricity. Copiers consume a lot of electricity when turned on for the first time and when not running in on mode. To reduce energy consumption, it is worth starting the devices only to copy a large amount of materials and turning them off when finished.
Electric cooker. By using kitchen utensils whose dimensions do not correspond to the burner of the electric stove, 5-10% of energy is lost. To save energy when using electric cookers, use dishes with a properly shaped bottom, equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the heating surface. Close the pot with a lid when preparing the first dishes. Intensive evaporation of water increases cooking time by 20-30%, and therefore 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 exceeding the maximum load, as well as the opposite effect - incomplete loading. In the second case, the overconsumption of electricity can be 10 to 15%. With the wrong washing program, the electricity overrun can reach 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 conditioner. To avoid wasting energy, 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 cool air is really needed, it will be warm. In addition, when planning the purchase of such a device, remember that today there are modern models of inverter-type air conditioners, the power consumption of which can be 50% lower than that of systemstraditional ones with similar performance.
Fridge. The refrigerator should be placed in a cool place, preferably out of direct sunlight. In addition, it should not be placed next to a stove or other heat-emitting appliance. If the temperature where the refrigerator is placed reaches 30°C, the electricity consumption may increase by 100%.
It is also important not to put hot foods in the refrigerator, you need to wait until their temperature drops to at least room temperature. The freezer should 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's no secret that a trickle of water from a broken or poorly closed tap pours into tens or even hundreds of liters of water a day, with the ensuing consequences in the formof payment receipts with a large 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 "standby" or "sleep" mode. And given that each farm has up to a dozen such devices, a thin trickle can turn in a year into a fairly large "outflow" of funds from your own pocket.
The best illustration of the absurdity of wasting electricity is a "turned off" television, which can be seen in almost every family. You might think that if the screen isn't displaying anything, power isn't wasted. However, this is not the case. Certain electronic circuits and the TV's power supply are under constant voltage to enable communication with the remote control. In this case, electricity is consumed as 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 appliances, leaving them on you can't expect any energy savings. Equipment that "secretly" consumes electricity (i. e. the amount for 1 hour)
- electric stove with electronic control - 3 watts;
- inkjet and laser printers - from 2 to 4 watts;
- cordless telephones (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, including:
- Stimulate the development of new energy efficient technologies;
- The level of harmful emissions into 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 basic way to save light is to replace conventional incandescent lamps with energy-saving lamps. Recently, in addition to the more common fluorescent lamps with reduced mercury content, new LEDs have appeared on the market. They have certain advantages - higher mechanical strength due to the absence of a fragile glass bulb and tungsten filaments, durability and independence from frequent switching. The only drawback of LED lamps is their high price, but over time they become much cheaper.
2. Turn off the lights when leaving the room.
It is also one of the easiest methods to save energy, which we neglect for some reason. If you don't have a very good memory, write a reminder note and stick it prominently on the way out. Over time, this will become a stable habit.
3. Follow the instructions that come with appliances and monitor their condition
For example, periodically descale an electric kettle: solid layers of salts on the internal walls of the device create high thermal resistance, which significantly reduces the efficiency of the heating element and, as a result, increases its energy consumption. energy.
Also, if you place the refrigerator next to a heat source, the energy consumption may increase several times, since 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 dusted from the heat exchanger on the back wall.
4. Makeover your home
A "simple" cosmetic repair will also save energy. Simple manipulations, such as pasting 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 light it reflects, meaning more electricity will be needed to light up dark interior rooms. Also take advantage of natural light.
5. Wipe 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, because it is much easier to replace a dim light source with a more powerful one. And in vain - because you need to bear in mind that dust can "absorb" up to 20% of the light from the lamp. Also, do not forget to clean the shades of chandeliers and lamps.
6. Use heat reflectors (thermal mirrors)
A sufficiently large amount of electricity is taken by the heating devices used in the cold season. To reduce unnecessary heat and energy loss, for example, heat-reflecting screens for batteries made of expanded polyethylene (environmentally 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 transmitted to the walls and through them to the street.
7. Use a dual-zone meter to pay differentiated tariffs
The electricity rate at night (from 23: 00 to 07: 00) is twice 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 payment, but also reduce the risk of power outages. 'emergency. Unfortunately, the dual tariff system is not popular and many simply do not know 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. More economical equipment is usually marked with a green label. Energy-efficient devices consume much less energy than other devices. Moreover, the difference can sometimes be up to fifty percent. In addition, today there are class A + and A ++ equipment. As a result, its energy saving capabilities are even higher.
9. Isolate 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 warm the room. First, insulate windows and seal all cracks, and ideally, replace outdated double-glazed windows with better plastic windows, preferably with energy-saving glasses. It is known that up to 50% of heat can be lost through windows. In addition, in winter it is better to hang thick warm night curtains on the windows, as well as to 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. It 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 the so-called "cold bridges" will not only consume less electricity for heating in winter, but also keep cool in summer. Mineral wool or plastic foam can be used as thermal insulation material.
10. Apply smart technologies and renewable energy sources
In the modern construction industry there is the concept of a "smart" house, which implies a system that provides, above all, resource saving and security with the help of high-tech devices and automation. Of course, laying "smart" elements for your home is recommended at the design stage. However, some elements of smart technologies may already be equipped with housings. 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. Nevertheless, anyone is unlikely to argue with the fact that the future of RES and their availability for ordinary users is only for the next few years - this is clearly demonstrated by successful foreign experience.