Pull the plug on high electricity bills!
How to save electricity - and help the climate and your wallet
CONTENTS
1. It's not hard to make a start
2. Power consumption on the back burner 3. Power savings in the fridge
4. Savings that wear well
5. Boot up the computer – power down consumption 6. Adjust your set – and save power
7. Electricity down the drain
8. Less power to the heating pumps 9. How to save even more
INTRODUCTION
Lots of ideas for a good cause
We all use electricity, and we all know a trick or two for saving it. But why not use a whole bag of tricks at once? This is what housemates Lissy, Felix and Paul have done. They show each other their energy-saving ideas for cutting electricity costs and protecting the environment. Now they are passing on their tips to the rest of us. Read this brochure to find out more and give their ideas a go.
1. IT'S NOT HARD TO MAKE A START
The ABC of saving
Appliances like washing machines, fridges, ovens, televisions and computers account for around half the electricity consumption in the household. So always check the energy
consumption when buying a new one. The EU energy label indicates the energy efficiency in the form of coloured bars. The top bar represents the most efficient appliances in a product group – e.g. A+++ for washing machines. You should also compare annual power consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Websites with recommendations for energy-efficient appliances include
www.ecotopten.de, www.blauer-engel-produktwelt.de and Stiftung Warentest's www.test.de.
Bye bye to standby
Are they humming, or giving off light or heat, even though they are off? Some appliances, such as computers, uplights and espresso machines, still draw power when switched off – and no small amount. The best way to counter this is to use a power strip with switch. A flick of the switch disconnects the power to several appliances at once. Power strips can be bought for under ten euros, and can even be remote controlled for less accessible plugs. In this way, you can turn off supply to high-consumption appliances like computers, which often still draw electricity after being powered down even when not lit up.
Switch to automatic cut out
Too much trouble to turn off all standby appliances separately? Have the work done for you by a master-slave power strip. This works well with several interconnected pieces of equipment, such as computer, modem and printer, or television, receiver and DVD player. The power strip makes the main appliance the master. When the master is switched off, it disconnects the slave appliances from the power supply. Three master-slave power strips cost just 45 euros.
Depending on the type of appliances and how they are used, a master-slave device can save a two-person household around 140 euros per year on standby costs.
Don't be over-charged
How many people are actually aware that mobile phone, laptop and camera chargers still consume power when not charging? You can tell this from the heat or continuous hum they emit. So always disconnect the charger from the mains once the battery is full. Even if a connected charger only draws a small amount of electricity, over a year this can still mount up to as much as 8,760 kWh.
Shed light on electricity usage
If you have your lights on for an average of at least one hour a day, investing in modern lighting systems will soon pay off. The first thing to do is to replace conventional incandescent and halogen light bulbs with energy-saving or LED bulbs. This will keep the purchase costs down but still noticeably reduce electricity consumption. A two-person household can save around 80 euros per year by switching to more efficient lighting. Energy-efficient bulbs often last more than ten times longer than conventional lighting. Energy-saving bulbs and LEDs come in many different shapes and colours, for instance warm white.
2. POWER CONSUMPTION ON THE BACK BURNER
Too much hot air
Always use the pot or pan that fits the hob. Up to 20 percent of heat is wasted if the hob is larger than the saucepan. That means you use more electricity.
Put a lid on it
Got a lid for every pot? A good thing too, because cooking is much quicker with the right-sized lid, as well as more energy-efficient. A lid on the saucepan means that the food can be
simmered on a lower heat, and the stove uses up to 30 percent less electricity. If you boil around one and a half litres a day, this can save you around 60 euros per year. A pressure cooker is particularly efficient. The shorter cooking time lowers the power consumption of an electric hob by as much as 50 percent.
Hotheads use more
"Place in the pre-heated oven…" is a common instruction in recipes or on packaging. But you don't always need to preheat. Generally it is perfectly all right to only switch on the oven when your gratin, pizza or cake is ready to go in. While this extends the cooking time a little, it can save up to 20 percent on electricity. And if you switch off the oven or electric hob 10 to 15 minutes before the end of the cooking time, you can save up to a quarter on power
consumption. The residual heat stored in the appliance is often enough to complete the cooking process.
Energy efficiency is in the air
Do you have a fan-assisted oven? Using it can save energy. The fan function nearly always uses less power than conventional ovens, needing a temperature around 20 degrees Celsius lower for the same cooking time. A lower temperature means less power is consumed. Another tip is to crisp up bread rolls using a toaster with a suitable attachment. This can cut electricity consumption by 70 percent compared to putting them in the oven.
Hard-boiled power savers
Kettles are true specialists. They can boil water using less than half the electricity which the hob would need. The saving is particularly high compared to cast-iron hotplates, but there is also a noticeable power saving compared to ceramic hobs. Of course, it is best to only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need. A kettle can be purchased for under 20 euros. Incidentally, electric egg cookers also use only half as much power as it takes to boil eggs in a saucepan.
3. POWER SAVINGS IN THE FRIDGE
Keep it cool
Fridges and freezers consume around 16 percent of electricity in the home. If you want to save electricity, don't put them next to the stove or the radiator, but in as cool a place as possible. Also make sure that the back of the appliance is well ventilated. As for the temperature - 7 degrees Celsius is enough to cool food and drink, freezers should be set at minus 18 degrees. Each degree lower uses around 10 percent more electricity. Perishables like meat and fish belong on the bottom shelf, where it is always coldest. A thermometer for checking and setting the temperature can be bought for under 10 euros.
Electricity consumption melting away
Defrosting the fridge and freezer regularly saves electricity. An ice layer of just 5 millimetres raises electricity consumption by up to 30 percent. The best time for defrosting is a cold winter's day – then you can temporarily store the frozen food outside!
Take leave of your old deep freeze
Do you still have an old chest freezer in the house which no one uses? Perhaps one that is totally outdated or much too large? These appliances often remain plugged in, ratcheting up your electricity bill. So ask yourself how many refrigerators and freezers you really need. It is much better to disconnect superfluous appliances or dispose of them appropriately.
Disconnecting an old oversized chest freezer can save up to 600 kWh a year – and cut more than 170 euros from your bill.
Give power guzzlers the cold shoulder
Is your old fridge or freezer a power guzzler? Just compare the consumption with that of an efficient modern appliance. Even those which once had the highest A+ efficiency rating now seem obsolete compared to the latest A+++ appliances. Since July 2012 all new appliances must have a minimum efficiency rating of A+. Many really old B, C and D appliances are still in use. Even if your old one still works it is worth exchanging it for a more efficient model. You can save even more if you carefully select your new appliance to match your needs. For one or two people a 70 to 90 litre appliance is usually sufficient, a larger household needs around 40 to 50 litres per person. Replacing the freezer can save a two-person household around 50 euros per year.
Make some cool calculations
Of course a new appliance costs money. But the investment will pay off over the years. For instance, a fridge that costs 450 euros and consumes around 320 kilowatt hours a year is more expensive over its lifetime than a new fridge costing 630 euros which uses only 150 kilowatt hours per year. The total saving over a decade is around 310 euros!
4. SAVINGS THAT WEAR WELL
No half measures
Filling the drum to capacity means you use the washing machine less frequently. And the fewer washing cycles you need the more electricity, wastewater and detergent you save. So try and fill the machine every time you use it. While modern machines have a setting for smaller quantities, at half capacity they can still use well over half the detergent, water and power that a full
machine needs. As a general rule, washing machines should always only be operated when full. The same rule applies to dishwashers, which are also designed to be used at full load - so that they run less frequently and use less power.
Cooler washing
Modern washing detergents get your laundry clean at low temperatures too. You can virtually do without the 90 degree setting altogether. 60 degrees is enough to clean even very soiled
laundry, and 30 or 40 degrees is sufficient for normal soiling. This is not only kinder to your favourite clothes, it is also good for your wallet. Washing at 40 instead of 60 degrees can save as much as 50 percent on electricity. And 30 degrees instead of 60 consumes around two thirds less power. Do without the pre-wash as well and save another tenth on energy and detergent. An energy-saving programme
Practically every new washing machine and dishwasher has an economy or ecological programme at which the appliance operates most efficiently. Such a programme takes longer because it needs a longer soaking phase to remove dirt. But it noticeably reduces electricity and water consumption compared to the normal programmes. Rapid or short wash options do not save energy, often using far more water and energy than a normal or economy programme. The most economical dryer is the sun
The wind and sun dry washing quickly and free of charge. If you can dry outdoors or have space in a well-ventilated room for a clothes horse, rotary dryer or washing line you can reduce your electricity consumption even further. One load in the dryer uses around three times as much power as one washing load and costs around 90 cents. Especially the less efficient B and C rated dryers should be operated as little as possible - or preferably replaced altogether. The same applies to drying as it does to washing: run one cycle at capacity rather than operating the appliance two times only half-full. Also bear in mind that if you spin the washing first at the highest speed the dryer will need less electricity.
BOOT UP THE COMPUTER - POWER DOWN CONSUMPTION
The PC saves in its sleep
In this day and age, life without a computer is inconceivable. Small wonder, then, that computer, communication and entertainment technology accounts for a growing share of our electricity consumption – around one quarter in an average household. A few simple tricks can help save electricity. For instance, with the energy saving mode you can set your PC to reduce brightness or switch to hibernate mode at a particular time. Optimum settings cut power consumption by up to 90 percent and enable laptops to run longer on one charging. Depending on the appliance features and how it is used, this can save up to 60 euros a year in electricity costs.
Switch off after surfing
What happens to the modem, router, splitter and other equipment when the computer is turned off? If these appliances remain connected to the mains they can consume as much electricity as a modern fridge. So when you've finished surfing, disconnect as many of these appliances as possible. If this cannot be done, for instance because the internet and telephone are linked, at least some components such as the wireless connection can usually be deactivated. Depending on the appliance types and how they are used, you will have 20 to 40 euros a year more in your pocket by ensuring equipment really is off when not in use. And did you know that a single search with conventional search engines needs the same electricity as a four-watt energy saving bulb uses in one hour?
Downgrade your computer
No one wants to be too big for their boots, but when it comes to computers, a lot of us get carried away by technology. There is no need for a high-performance computer if all you want to do is write texts, use the internet and send emails. An economical multimedia PC consumes nearly 90 percent less electricity per year than a large PC for complex games. That can easily save around 200 euros a year. A laptop not only takes up less space, it also needs less electricity. On average, a laptop uses around 70 percent less power than a similarly equipped desktop computer and monitor.
6. ADJUST YOUR SET – AND SAVE POWER
Don't be dazzled
Televisions are getting flatter and bigger. Unfortunately, their electricity consumption generally expands along with the size. Sometimes, brightness and contrast can be unnecessarily high on these appliances, and on a large set especially, slightly reducing these settings will save
electricity without compromising picture quality. The same is true for computer monitors. Many television sets are equipped with a home mode or economy setting.
Big TVs are power hungry
Small television sets tend to use less electricity than large ones. So when buying a new set, walk past the 127cm plasma TV which consumes 190 kWh a year and opt instead for an 80cm LCV set with an annual consumption of 44 kWh. This can trim your electricity bill by around 42 euros a year. But whatever size television you are looking for, it always pays to compare the consumption of different models before making a purchase. An average 140cm flatscreen TV uses around 178 kWh per year, whereas a particularly energy-efficient model needs only 93 kWh – saving around 25 euros a year.
7. ELECTRICITY DOWN THE DRAIN
Fine-tuning for a hot shower
How does water actually get hot? Unfortunately, it is often heated by electricity, for example hot water tanks or continuous-flow water heaters. These are expensive, and that makes saving electricity in this area all the more worthwhile. Water-efficient shower heads only cost around 25 euros each, but have many advantages. They mix air with the water or have smaller openings. This means that less hot water is used but the jet is still as powerful as ever. This can save a two-person household up to 130 euros per year. It works for taps in general too – simply attach a flow restrictor to the faucet. Such devices only cost a few euros and are also worth using for a gas or oil heated water supply.
Pour cold water on night-time costs
That chunky box with the little lights under the basin is an electrically heated hot water tank. You can even save electricity here too. First test to see if the water is still hot enough on a lower setting. Then consider whether you really need hot water all the time. Why not save electricity and money by switching off the hot water tank at night or when you go on holiday? A timer switch can be bought for as little as 5 euros and will turn the tank on and off automatically.
8. LESS POWER TO THE HEATING PUMPS
Keeping warm doesn't have to make you poor
A lot of people don't realise that oil and gas heating systems also use electricity. Electric pumps transport hot water from the boiler to the radiators and water supply. Many older pumps operate around the clock, even when heating and hot water are not being used. Modern, intelligent heating pumps, on the other hand, only come on when they are needed, saving up to 70 percent on electricity. What's more, modern pumps can be set individually. That means that they can be adjusted to suit the building, and hot water and circulation pumps can be set in line with the times of use.
However, this is more a job for the experts. Do not try to readjust the pumps yourself. Ask the maintenance firm or your building's caretaker if the pumps are set to optimum efficiency or whether they could be replaced by more modern pumps.
9. HOW TO SAVE EVEN MORE
Seek out secret power guzzlers
How much electricity does each appliance use and when? An ammeter is a device for
measuring electricity which can track down the secret electricity guzzlers, including appliances which draw current even when they are switched off. Devices for measuring electricity or energy costs can be hired from your local power company or bought for under 20 euros. Want to know if your own consumption is high, average or particularly low? Compare your own electricity consumption to that of other households with the stromcheck at www.diestromsparinitiative.de. Show high-priced power the door
Try comparing the tariffs offered by different power companies. It doesn't save electricity but it may save you money. Not only do the prices vary considerably from provider to provider, many power companies also have a range of tariffs. Generally speaking, the basic rate you've been paying to the same power company for years may not be the lowest on offer. There are tariff calculators on the internet to help you compare prices. Even certified green electricity may be cheaper than your old provider's basic rate. Switching providers costs at most the price of a stamp and can easily save you many euros per year - which you can invest in further energy saving measures.
Get clued up
Further tips and tricks for saving energy can be found on the internet. For instance, overviews of low-consumption electrical appliances. It's worth surfing the sites on a regular basis - new technology is constantly producing new ways of saving electricity.
www.diestromsparinitiative.de: Tips and advice for saving electricity.
www.ecotopten.de: A selection of low-consumption, high-quality products manufactured with energy-efficient processes.
www.blauer-engel-produktwelt.de: Find out which products have been awarded the "Blue Angel" ecolabel.
www.stromeffizienz.de: Power-saving tips, electricity consumption calculators and more. www.energieagentur.nrw.de: Tips, advice and support options for energy savers (with
English pages)
www.bmu.de/N49170: Federal Environment Ministry brochure "Energie clever nutzen –
Tipps zur Energiewende".
