How to Save Energy: 25 Simple But Working Tips

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It is absolutely possible to reduce electricity consumption by at least a quarter. Turn off the lights, wash the windows, do not overload the washing machine, replace the incandescent bulbs … Calculations have shown that this is really beneficial.

Don't waste light

1. Turn off the light as you move from room to room. Install thermal motion sensors that turn off the lights for you.
2. Use local lighting: lights, floor lamps, sconces. For example, in order not to turn on the main light sources every time, it is better to install an LED strip backlight in the room.
3. Remember cleanliness is the key to savings. Dirty windows and dusty shades reduce the level of illumination in the room by up to 35%.
4. When renovating, keep in mind that light walls and furniture will reflect up to 80% of the luminous flux, and dark ones - only about 12%.
5. Replace incandescent bulbs with energy efficient and LED bulbs. Replacing just one lamp will save about 1,000 rubles a year.

Take Moscow, for example. 1 kWh in the capital costs 5.38 rubles. Imagine that in three apartments three bulbs are on for eight hours a day: LED, energy-saving and incandescent. For a more objective picture, we will choose lamps of such power that they give approximately the same level of illumination. And this is what we get.

Lamp type	LED	Energy saving	Incandescent
Power consumption, kW	0, 013	0, 025	0, 1
Lamp resource, hours	50 000	8 000	1 000
Lamp cost, rub.	248	200	11
Operating hour cost Operating hour cost = tariff × power + lamp cost ⁄ resource, rub.	0, 0749	0, 1595	0, 549
Hourly savings Hourly savings = the cost of operating an incandescent lamp - the cost of operating the compared lamp, rub.	0, 4741	0, 3895	-
Payback period Payback period in hours = (lamp cost - incandescent lamp cost) ⁄ hour savings, hours	499, 89	485, 24	-
Payback period Payback period in days = payback period in hours ⁄ 8, days	62, 49	60, 65	-
Annual savings Annual savings = (8 × 365 - payback period in hours) × hour savings, rub.	1147, 37	948, 34	-

It turns out that in two months one energy-saving lamp will allow you to save 40 kopecks per hour, and 10 bulbs - 4 rubles.

Use electrical appliances correctly

1. In the absence of a two-tariff electricity meter, turn off all non-main electrical appliances at night, and the chargers after fully recharging the equipment.
2. The refrigerator must be defrosting regularly if it does not have a special No Frost system. Make sure that the device is located as far as possible from the heaters and that natural ventilation is provided on the rear wall. Put only cooled dishes in it!
3. Monitor the efficiency of the electric hob burners and place only pans of a suitable size with a flat bottom on them.
4. Covering pots and pans with lids will reduce heat loss by up to three times.
5. Try not to overload the washing machine (overloading increases electricity consumption by up to 10%) and use a medium temperature setting. Washing at 30 degrees uses 35% less energy than washing at 40 degrees.
6. Use an electric kettle instead of an electric stove to heat water. It will be much more economical this way. Boil only the amount of liquid that is needed at the moment.
7. Clean the air conditioner fans and filters regularly.
8. Iron items that require a low temperature after turning off the iron.
9. Do not leave appliances, including microwaves, televisions, computers, scanners, printers, modems, in standby mode. This will save over 200 kWh per year.
10. Use timed electrical outlets.

Buy energy efficient home appliances

1. All electrical appliances are labeled with Latin letters from A +++ to G. Choose appliances with a low energy efficiency class, labeled A and B.
2. Buy appliances that use the latest energy saving technologies. For example, induction hobs are becoming more and more popular, heating only the bottom of the cookware and not wasting energy. The efficiency of such plates reaches 95%!

Install a two-rate meter

A two-rate meter allows you to save at night. Such counters are beneficial to those who can use energy-intensive household appliances: dishwasher and washing machine, bread maker - from 23.00 to 7.00. On average, the counter pays for itself in a year

Don't waste heat

1. Use an air conditioner set for heating mode instead of a conventional heater. If the manufacturer allows it, of course. Many air conditioners cannot be used in subzero temperatures.
2. An infrared heater is 30–80% more economical than the others.
3. If your home has electric batteries, try to keep them clean so that dust does not absorb some of the heat, and you do not have to increase the temperature.
4. Using a water heater, reduce the water heating temperature.
5. Replace the storage water heater with an instantaneous one. So you will not waste electricity to constantly maintain a certain temperature of the water.
6. Heat the water only when necessary. Unplug the boiler from the mains when you leave the house and at night.

7. Once every three months, clean the water heater from scale, which increases energy consumption by 15–20%.

   • Unplug the machine and turn off the water supply.
   • Drain the water completely.
   • Remove the boiler cover, carefully disconnect the wires and unscrew the thermostat.
   • Loosen the nuts holding the flange. Push the flange up, twist and pull out.
   • The heating element can now be cleaned with a wire brush. A solution of acetic acid and hot water (1: 5) will also help get rid of plaque. Just place the heating element in it for 30 minutes and make sure that the sealing rubber does not come into contact with the acid.