Which measures help to save energy in the household and reduce the ecological footprint? In this guide, we provide helpful tips that anyone can easily implement. The energy turnaround is currently the subject of political and social discussion almost every day. It is also about the contribution that each individual can make to it. After all, even small changes in behaviour can add up to big results in the long term.
Reducing energy consumption for heating
Heating accounts for the largest share of energy consumption in private households – between 50 and 75 percent depending on the basis of calculation. Often a change can be brought about with just small measures. It is therefore worthwhile to start at this point. Without having to invest in additional aids, behavioural changes such as opening the window fully for a short time help instead of leaving the window just a little open over a longer period of time. In addition, the temperature in living rooms should be kept constant if possible. This is more energy-saving than constantly reheating a cooled room.
Even with small investments in the insulation of houses or apartments, you can easily reduce heating costs. For example, adhesive tapes seal doors, special roller shutters limit heat loss through windows.
Smart solutions for energy-saving heating
Additional energy can be saved by attaching smart thermostats, which are simply screwed on instead of the conventional heating controllers. By creating heating profiles for the individual rooms, demand-oriented heating is possible. For example, the temperature in the bathroom may be a few degrees colder at night than during the day. Even a heating system that you have forgotten to turn down can be turned down remotely via an app.
The purchase costs often pay for themselves within a year through the energy savings achieved, depending on the size of the living space and the number of thermostats used. You can find more ways to reduce energy consumption for heating here.
Providing lighting according to requirements
Even when lighting living spaces, it already helps to become aware of where energy may be wasted. For example, one should get into the habit of turning off the light in rooms that are not currently in use. For dark areas that are not used permanently, such as basements and corridors, it can be useful to install a motion detector.Saving energy simply by using LEDs for lighting
Since 2009, the production of light bulbs has been prohibited by law. The last examples still in use in households should be replaced by LED lamps or energy-saving lamps. This is because much of the electricity consumed by light bulbs is lost as thermal energy. In addition, the energy-saving versions offer a significantly longer service life.
If smart LEDs are installed, consumers can control the light via apps and thus also ensure lower electricity costs. For example, some devices can be dimmed or switched off remotely if they are accidentally left on.
Using electrical appliances efficiently
In addition to heating and lighting, a significant proportion of the electricity bill is attributable to the energy consumption of household appliances. If these are used sensibly and purchased with a view to energy efficiency, additional energy can be saved here.For example, care should be taken to ensure that battery-operated devices such as mobile phones are only plugged into the socket when they really need to be charged. This also applies to power guzzlers such as large televisions or desktop PCs that run in standby mode for long periods of time.
In addition, when using household appliances, one should resort to more energy-efficient alternatives if possible. For example, a kettle consumes much less energy than boiling water in a pot on the stove. Similarly, food can be heated in the microwave oven rather than in the stove.
Regular defrosting of the freezer compartment can also pay off, as even a 0.5 cm layer of ice can increase power consumption by 30 percent. When using the washing machine, make sure the drum is completely full, turn down the washing temperature and, if possible, air-dry laundry instead of tumble-drying.
Buy energy-saving household appliances
Power guzzlers in the household can be identified with a measuring device. Although the initial investment is high, as in the case of a refrigerator or washing machine, in the long term it can be worthwhile to replace energy-intensive appliances with more energy-efficient versions.
In general, energy efficiency should be taken into account when purchasing new household appliances. Products with direct mains connection tend to consume less energy than battery-powered ones. Moreover, appliances should only be purchased in the required size. A refrigerator with a slightly larger volume may not cost much more than a smaller one, but in the long run it consumes more energy and drives up electricity costs. It may also be possible to avoid buying an air conditioner by installing shutters that insulate the room from heat.
Forgotten plugged in devices can be switched off while on the move using smart sockets that can be controlled via an app. In this way, the smart helpers also offer added safety for products that can cause a fire due to heat generation. In addition, electrical devices with high power consumption such as printers or copiers in the home office can be automatically switched on and off through the smart socket.
Rethinking the power source
As described in the guide, even many small measures and behavioural changes help to reduce energy consumption – without having to invest additional money. Around 60 percent of household electricity still consists of nuclear power and energy from burning fossil fuels. So if you want to do something extra for the environment, you can buy your electricity through labels that promote the expansion of renewable energies. By contrast, green electricity tariffs of regular electricity providers often have no added value for the environmental balance. In any case, you should obtain sufficient information before switching.
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