Heating accounts for around 70 percent of energy consumption and around 60 percent of CO2 production in private households. Most consumers are not even aware of how much energy needs to be expended for heating – it is only when the heating bill arrives that questions often arise.
In fact, it is not at all easy to heat sensibly. Often it is either too cold or too warm in the house or apartment. Various factors can contribute to this: in addition to your own heating system, heat can also radiate from adjacent apartments or houses, and pipes running through walls or floors can also have an influence. This imbalance has an effect on energy consumption, as the heating is often turned up fully when it is cold, but turned down completely when it is too warm. Uniform, sustainable heating makes sense here, saving energy and costs. Practical aids can contribute to this.
Small measures, big effect
Some uncomplicated measures to make heating efficient and energy-saving are quickly implemented.
The insulation of the windows plays a major role here, as a lot of heat escapes. In concrete terms, this means that the windows should be kept closed while the heating is running and only opened for a short time for sudden ventilation. In addition, roller shutters offer additional insulation: if you close the shutters at night, you can reduce the heat loss through the windows by up to 20 percent. Drawn curtains further increase this effect.
Care should also be taken not to conceal heating systems with furniture or textiles, as this retains the warm air and prevents it from being distributed evenly throughout the room. Finding the right temperature is an advantage, as this reduces the need to turn the heating up and down. The Federal Environment Agency recommends temperatures of around 20 to 22 degrees Celsius in the living area, 17 to 18 degrees in the bedroom and around 18 degrees in the kitchen, while the bathroom may be around 22 degrees. At night the temperatures in the living area can be reduced by four to five degrees Celsius – this saves even more energy.These simple steps make it possible to heat evenly and effectively without much effort. There are also aids that can help to make heating in your own four walls even more sustainable and keep costs down.
Intelligent heating with smart thermostats
Smart heating thermostats offer a very convenient way to control the temperature in the house or apartment. The thermostats are connected to the heating system and then controlled from the smartphone via an app. In this app, heating phases can be set, for example for night and day. This way the temperature automatically adjusts to the needs. These thermostats can be integrated into a smart home system or operated individually. Those who are unable to access their heating system, for example because central heating is used, can still screw on a digital radiator thermostat instead of the old model and operate it via smartphone.When smart thermostats are connected to other smart home elements such as room air sensors or door and window sensors, they can exchange information with them and respond to changes in the indoor climate. For example, if the window or door is open, the temperature is adjusted accordingly. Some of these thermostats can also be operated by voice control. Overall, the temperature can thus be ideally regulated and energy consumption and the associated costs reduced.
Efficient circulation pumps
The circulation pump is an elementary component of every heating system, as it ensures that the heated water gets into the radiator or underfloor heating system, depending on the type of heating system. If the circulation pump is not regulated, it runs continuously at full power regardless of the heating requirement, which results in enormous energy consumption. Replacing the old heating pump with a new, efficient heating pump can mean energy savings of up to 80 percent. This is because the high-efficiency pumps only run when it is currently required for heating. It can therefore be worthwhile to install a new circulating pump in the heating system.
Insulating tapes and films seal windows and doors
A critical point in energy efficiency in connection with heating is rubber and foam seals on windows, doors, roofs and walls. When these are old and porous, a lot of heat can escape. However, these weak points are the easiest and cheapest to remedy. Self-adhesive window seals are quick and easy to apply, very cost-effective and can save a lot of energy. Old windows can also be energy guzzlers, as the glass can also let a lot of energy escape outside. This situation can be remedied with window insulation film. These are also simply attached and effectively insulate the windows.
As it turns out, no drastic measures are required to heat in an energy-conscious and efficient manner. Even small steps can lead to a reduction in energy consumption and the associated costs. It is also worthwhile making the odd purchase – because a glance at the next utility bill will make it clear that it pays off.
The first important step is to become aware of the dynamics of energy consumption for heating. This means treating heat as the valuable commodity it is and not treating it wastefully – especially since most of our heating energy is still obtained from fossil fuels. The availability of these resources such as coal, natural gas or oil is limited.
Further measures to save energy, as described in this guide, do not have to be rocket science.
