5 energy saving life hacks for those who start living on their own

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

Few people worry about paying utility bills just by moving out from their parents. And it is completely in vain, because you still have to give up your hard-earned money for this. A team of experts from "" shared their tips on how to reduce electricity consumption so that the utility bill does not become an unpleasant surprise.

1. Take care of the refrigerator

The refrigerator should not be installed so that direct sunlight falls on it, as well as near a stove or heating radiator: in this case, electricity consumption can significantly increase. It is also necessary to leave some distance between the wall of the room and the back of the refrigerator to cool the radiator. This allows the compressor to run more efficiently and save electricity.

Hot food, such as freshly brewed soup, should be cooled to room temperature before refrigerating. This will reduce the electricity consumption of the refrigerator and prevent the formation of ice on the walls of the refrigerator compartment.

Also try to fill the freezer completely, this will prevent cold air from escaping when you open the door. You can use bags, ice cube trays, or newspapers to fill the freezer.

2. Unplug the power cord from the power outlet

Even if all gadgets are turned off, they still continue to consume electricity if they are plugged into an outlet. Professionals call such electronics energy vampires and advise to unplug appliances in order to save money.

The fact is that most modern technology saves a little electricity in order to work faster when turned on. By unplugging the power cord, household appliances can be prohibited from using electricity “without permission”.

3. Wash in cold water

Most of the dirt can be washed off perfectly even at a water temperature of 30 degrees. Studies show that a car spends 90% of electrical energy on heating water, so avoiding high-temperature modes will save a lot.

4. Reheat food properly

The stove and oven consume a significant amount of electricity, so if you just need to heat up food, we recommend using a microwave. The same applies to kettles: electric kettles consume less energy than a conventional kettle heated on the stove. And in order to save as much as possible, it is better to boil only the required amount of water at a time.

Do not forget about the problem of keeping the incandescent devices clean. The stove, kettle, and even a toaster need to be cleaned periodically. Dirty electrical appliances are less energy efficient and take longer to cook. How to clean? For example, you can get rid of the problem of limescale in an electric kettle by boiling water with lemon.

5. Replace bulbs

Light bulbs are one of the main consumers of electricity. The bulbs themselves consume a little electricity, but using a lot of them makes a difference. One way to save energy is to replace all incandescent bulbs with LEDs. Energy saving light bulbs have a lot of advantages: they save energy and work twice as long as usual.

Boris Semenenko Expert of PJSC GC "TNS energo"

Energy saving lamps should be installed in all lighting fixtures in the house. LED elements can be quite expensive, so you can start equipping your apartment with them gradually - from the corridor and kitchen, where the lights are turned on most often. The high cost of such lamps is absolutely justified: in the end, they will help to significantly save on lighting. They are also more environmentally friendly than fluorescent lamps.

It is also important to keep your lighting fixtures clean. A dusty light bulb in an open chandelier gives 50% less light than it could. The same situation is with indoor lamps. It is worth wiping them from time to time in order not to turn on other light sources and to avoid additional expenses.

Use these simple tips and your electricity consumption (as well as your electricity bill) will be significantly reduced.