8 ways to reduce energy consumption - ENGO

8 ways to reduce energy consumption

11/06/24

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Electricity charges make up a large percentage of all household expenses. It’s worth finding out how to save electricity to pay less for it. By making even small changes, you’re sure to see the results in lower bills after a while. Find out how to effectively save electricity in your household and business.

Saving energy – which devices use the most energy?

Before you find out how to save electricity, could you check which appliances in your home or business consume the most energy? This will allow you to optimize their use. Changing your daily habits can help to reduce your bills. These will not be spectacular changes, but on an annual basis, they will allow you to save a little.

Below you will find an overview of examples of electrical appliances with their average power consumption per year:

  • Induction hob (daily use for 30 minutes of two 2300 W fields and one 1800 W field) – 1168 kWh,
  • oven (2,500 Watt daily use for one hour) – 365 kWh,
  • refrigerator – 252 kWh,
  • dishwasher (used 5 times a week) – 210 kWh.

These are a few appliances that can be found in virtually every home. However, these are not all the appliances that consume electricity. You must also take into account the hoover, electric kettle, computer, and lighting, among others. You can’t forget about heating appliances and air conditioning either.

How do you save energy at home?

Once you know which appliances are the most energy-intensive, it’s essential to find out how to save electricity in your business and at home. Below you will find practical tips on how to do this so that you can feel it through lower electricity bills.

1. Choose appliances with a high energy rating

It is worth thinking carefully about the purchase of individual electrical appliances, which will translate into lower electricity bills. First of all, check the energy efficiency class. The higher it is, the lower the electricity consumption. In 2021, new labels were introduced, according to which the most economical appliances are class “A” appliances. On the other hand, those with the “G” symbol consume the most electricity.

Also, think about the parameters of household appliances and electronics. Consider whether you need a TV with a 65-inch screen or whether a smaller one will do. When buying a washing machine, if possible, go for a model with a lower load capacity. This will not only save you money on your electricity bill but also your water bill. These are seemingly insignificant measures, but they can help you to reduce your expenses.

2. Use electrical appliances wisely

If you are wondering how to save money on electricity, you should start by changing your daily habits. First of all, always switch off the lights in the rooms you leave. Unplug chargers that you don’t need at the moment. Only run electrical appliances when you need them, e.g. don’t run the washing machine or clothes dryer unless they are full. Only use the iron when you have more things to iron. Instead of using the tumble dryer, put your laundry outside in the summer. Little things like this can make a big difference to keeping your electricity bill a little lower.

3. Replace incandescent bulbs with LED lighting

Saving energy also means replacing traditional light bulbs with modern LED lighting. The former consumes a lot of electricity, so if you have a lot of them in your home, you will certainly feel it in your bills. LED bulbs consume far less energy and last longer. They will therefore help you to save a lot, so it is worth investing in them.

4. Choose intelligent lighting control systems

One effective way to find out how to save electricity is to use modern timers and motion sensors. The former allows you to program your lighting to start at specific times. This way, it will operate when you are home and switch off when you leave the house. In this way, you optimize energy consumption. On the other hand, it is a good idea to use motion detectors together with exterior lighting. It will switch on when the sensors detect movement.

5. Make use of natural sunlight

If possible, try to make the most of natural light during the day. Open curtains and raise blinds to allow as much sunlight in as possible. Ensure that your children’s work or study area is positioned in a place with access to light. This will reduce the need for additional lighting using lamps. The sun’s rays will also naturally warm the rooms, which is especially useful in autumn and winter. If you are just planning to build a house, plan the interior so that as many rooms as possible have access to light. This applies especially to the living room, kitchen, or study. The bedroom and bathroom, on the other hand, can be located on the north or east side of the building.

6. Optimise your heating system

Regardless of the type of heating, it is a good idea to use special regulators to control the boiler and the central heating pump. With them, you will control the current temperature and thus positively influence their operation and optimize energy consumption. You will find devices for this in the offer of ENGO Controls. You can use them to program the heating according to a schedule so that it starts up when the temperature in the rooms falls below a certain level. In this way, the rooms will remain comfortable and the device will only operate when necessary.

7. Install room temperature sensors

For the mentioned controllers to work as intended, temperature sensors must be installed in individual rooms. These devices are also available from ENGO Control. They monitor the conditions in individual rooms and the heating device adjusts its operating parameters based on this data. This makes the whole system more efficient and effective, and you will feel this in the form of lower bills.

8. Carry out thermal modernization of your home

This is especially advisable for buildings that were constructed using older technologies. It is very often the case that heat escapes through leaking windows or doors, for example, which means that the heating system has to work harder to provide adequate thermal comfort. This in turn generates higher costs. It is therefore worth carrying out an energy audit to identify the most problematic areas. Carrying out a thermal renovation will improve the comfort of the occupants and also reduce costs.

Additional ways to save energy – this is what you need to bear in mind if you want to pay less for electricity

You have already learned about effective ways to save electricity. However, these are not the only methods you should implement in your everyday life. Below you will find a handful of additional practical tips. Find out which of them will also be useful for you.

  • Increase the temperature in the fridge by 1-2 degrees. This way, the appliance will need less electricity and the contents will still have optimal storage conditions.
  • Turn off the standby mode on electrical appliances. It is best to unplug them when you are not using them.
  • Do not open the oven door while cooking. Otherwise, it will lead to a drop in the temperature inside the appliance. The oven will have to work with more power to bring it back to the optimum level.
  • Take care of the technical condition of electrical appliances. Any damage or problems with their proper functioning can lead to higher energy consumption. Also remember to decalcify your washing machine, coffee machine, kettle, etc. regularly. Sediment build-up can also lead to higher electricity consumption.
  • When cooking on an induction cooker, use lids. This will speed up the process and shorten the life of the appliance.
  • Choose shorter showers instead of long baths. This will reduce the costs associated with hot water preparation.
  • Use splitters and connect your appliances to them. Use a switch to quickly and conveniently cut off access to electricity when you are not using it.
  • Don’t overheat your flat or house. The optimum temperature in the living room or dining room should be around 20-22°C. In the bedroom, it should be much cooler, around 16-18°C. In the bathroom, it is a good idea to keep the temperature at 22-24°C.
  • For the outside of the building, choose solar-powered lighting. Such lamps will store energy throughout the day, which they will use after dark. In this way, you will enjoy lighting without unnecessary expense.
  • When using a dishwasher or washing machine, choose eco-friendly programs. More often than not, they take less time and need a lower temperature. This will translate into reducing the amount of energy they need.
  • If you have the heating on, do not open the windows. Before you do, switch off the heating and only turn it on when you close them. This will prevent the furnace or heat pump from having to run at increased power to provide the optimum room temperature.
  • Ensure that radiators are not covered by curtains, for example. This will ensure that the heat is properly distributed around the room.
  • If you are planning underfloor heating, find out what type of flooring you can put on it. It needs to be a permeable surface that will give off heat.
  • As you can see, there are many ways to reduce your energy consumption that are worth applying daily. With these, you will make your electricity expenses significantly lower.

Why is saving electricity important?

Saving electricity is both economically and environmentally important. Reducing electricity consumption benefits the environment as well as the wallets of users. As part of the energy price freeze, annual limits have been introduced, beyond which the price of electricity increases. As of 1 October, the threshold is as follows:

  • 3,000 kWh – standard,
  • 3 600 kWh – increased for persons with disabilities,
  • 4 000 kWh – increased for seniors and people with a Large Family Card.

If a particular household does not exceed a certain limit, it will pay the same rate in the following year as in 2023. However, if more energy is consumed, it will be charged at a higher rate. It is therefore worth applying ways to save electricity to avoid this situation.

How to save electricity? Opt for renewable energy sources

A great solution to effectively reduce your electricity expenses is to use renewable energy sources. This applies in particular to photovoltaic installations that convert solar radiation into electricity. The energy thus generated can be used to power various electrical appliances.

A photovoltaic installation will work well for both new and older buildings. The panels are most often mounted on roofs, but they can also be installed on special ground structures or even on the façade. It is an excellent idea to supplement the installation with energy storage facilities. These can store surplus energy and be used when the panels are not in operation, e.g. at night. This optimizes energy consumption.

Photovoltaic panels can also be combined with a heat pump. In this way, you will not only enjoy electricity in your home but also the thermal comfort provided by renewable energy sources. This combination is not only economical but also ecological.

Saving energy is something that everyone who wants to pay less for electricity should pay attention to. This is possible if you change your habits and implement specific measures. By applying the ways mentioned above, you will make your bills slightly smaller. Find out that it is not that difficult and that it is worth implementing these methods into your life.