A survey by IBRiS for the Polish Electric Energy Committee showed that for 86% of Poles, the best argument for reducing electricity consumption is the desire to lower their bills. However, there's no indication that this will happen. On the contrary, we can expect bad news about further energy price increases.
In this situation, the only way to avoid financial disaster is to save on electricity, among other things, to balance our household budget. This can be helped by changing daily habits when using home electronics and appliances.
Remember…
...that reducing energy consumption shouldn't negatively impact safety, health, and daily comfort. Avoiding turning on lights and staying in dark rooms can cause vision problems or worsen your well-being. It's also easier to have accidents in dark rooms.
Here are a few simple ways to reduce energy consumption in our homes…
Energy Vampires
So-called energy vampires include:
- Induction cooktop
- Electric water heater
- Audio systems
- Router
- Laptop charger
- Robot vacuum
- Printer
- Coffee maker
- TV decoder
- Gaming console
- Microwave
Although they are used sporadically, they are usually always plugged in for convenience. This gives them their "vampire" properties. If you don't use these devices, unplug them – especially when you plan to be away for a while. Let this be the beginning of our battle with high bills.
Household Appliances
Use the full capacity of the dishwasher. Avoid delayed start and standby mode. Do the same with the washing machine (washing at lower temperatures – 30-40 degrees – can save you up to 40% energy).
Descale the kettle and regulate its temperature, which can result in 20% and 9% savings, respectively.
Heat food in the microwave (avoid standby mode) instead of the oven or induction cooktop. This can reduce energy consumption by up to 80%.
Separate the refrigerator from heat sources like radiators. Don’t put hot food in it. Try to open it less often and increase the temperature by one degree above the manufacturer’s recommendations. This simple step can save you up to 6% energy.
Dry laundry only with a full load in the dryer. Before using a hairdryer, try towel-drying your hair a bit. This will shorten the time you use the device.
Avoid using appliances during peak energy hours, between 5 PM and 8-9 PM, to prevent contributing to a blackout.
Find out when your electricity provider offers lower rates.
Lighting
Replace traditional bulbs with LEDs. This can reduce energy consumption by several dozen percent.
Don’t leave lights on in empty rooms.
Don’t block radiators with furniture, and lower the heating when you leave home.
Distribute temperature optimally, heating the bathroom the most and the kitchen the least. To effectively control it, invest in "smart thermostats."
Laptops and Smartphones
A laptop is an essential tool for remote work but also one of the biggest energy consumers.
To save energy, put it in sleep mode whenever possible. Once the battery is charged, disconnect the charger immediately.
Close unused tabs and programs, and use the night light feature when working in the evening.
By reducing screen time by just an hour a day, you can save up to 13% energy.
Choose a monitor with a smaller screen size and reduce its brightness. Lowering this function to 70% can result in up to 20% energy savings.
For your phone, turn off the energy-consuming location service. Reduce the volume and screen brightness. Keep the phone’s charge level between 40-80%.
Remember that malfunctioning or old devices can generate higher electricity bills.
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