In what elements of our home should we apply energy savings? (Energy Efficiency at home)
First we must focus on which elements of our home consume more energy and therefore, where we make a greater outlay of money at the end of the month for the expense that it produces.
If we achieve energy savings or apply a energy efficiency at home more consistent in heating, lighting and the refrigerator, we may get direct savings at the end of the month.
In the following graph we can see where we waste energy:
Practical energy efficiency guide for our home:
HEATING:
Constant temperature consumes less than turning off the heating: false. Contrary to general opinion, keeping the temperature constant for a long period of time, even if it is not necessary, entails greater expense even if a small heat peak is required.
If the temperature is limited to 16ºC between 10 at night and 6 in the morning, it can cut around 13% in the annual consumption of fuel. (Remember that pellet heating is the most efficient)
On the other hand, with the switch off the savings are greater, so the new regulation in Spain advises to regulate the thermostats at 20ºC in winter since for each degree of temperature over, 7% more is consumed.
Apply energy efficiency; Common sense to save energy and money on heating:
- 1. A temperature of 21ºC is enough to maintain the comfort of a home.
- 2. Turn off the heating while you sleep and wait in the morning to ventilate the house and close the windows to turn it on.
- 3. Save between 8 and 13% energy by placing thermostatic valves on radiators or programmable thermostats, they are also affordable and easy to install solutions. (See types of thermostats for heating)
- 4. Reduce the thermostat setting to 15ºC (“economy” setting of some thermostats), if you are away for a few hours.
- 5. Don't wait for equipment to break down: proper maintenance of your individual boiler will save you up to 15% energy.
- 6. When radiators are dirty, the air inside them makes it difficult to transfer heat from the hot water to the outside. This air must be purged at least once a year, at the start of the heating season. The moment air stops coming out and only water starts coming out, it will be clean.
- 7. The radiators should not be covered or put any object to the side, because it will hinder the adequate diffusion of the hot air.
- 8. To fully ventilate a room, it is enough to open the windows for about 10 minutes: no more time is needed to renew the air.
- 9. Close the blinds and curtains at night: you will avoid significant heat losses.
ILLUMINATION:
Keeping fluorescent lights on spends less than turning them on and off every time: false. Studies have shown that lighting a fluorescent tube produces a peak of electrical current overconsumption that lasts for just a fraction of a second. For this reason, the expense is much higher if it is always left on.
However, the life of the fluorescent tube can be shortened by overpaying / switching on due to fatigue. On the other hand, LED lamps allow turning on / off without any problems and, although their price is higher, the useful life exceeds 5 years and they consume 80% less. (See types of energy saving light bulbs and LEDs)
Practical example:
A traditional 100 W light bulb (which costs about 0.6 euros) provides the same light as a 20 W energy saving lamp (about 9 euros).
If they are on for about 5 hours a day, their electricity consumption over a year, both providing the same light, will be:
100 W x 5 hours / day x 365 days = 182,500 Wh
20 W x 5 hours / day x 365 days = 36,500 Wh
In the electricity bill we are billed by kilowatt hours (kWh). Assuming that the kWh costs 0.14 euros:
182,500 Wh x 0.14 euros / kWh = 25.6 euros
36,500 Wh x 0.14 euros / kWh = 5.11 euros
In one year the energy saving lamp saves us 20.49 euros. On the other hand, energy saving lamps last 8 times longer (8,000 hours) than conventional bulbs (1,000 hours). The expense of both in 8,000 hours of useful life of the energy saving lamp is:
20 W x 8,000 h x 0.14 euros / kWh = 22.4 euros
100 W x 8,000 h x 0.14 euros / kWh = 112 euros
The total savings are the 90 euros saved in the electric bill plus another 4 euros for the seven conventional bulbs that we should have bought, since these do not usually last more than 1,000 hours. We will also avoid the emission into the atmosphere of almost half a ton of CO2.
FRIDGE:
Practically all the homes have a refrigerator, one of the electrical appliances that consumes the most electricity in the home. By having continuous use it has a very appreciable consumption, although its power is not very great: about 200 W, compared to a hair dryer that can reach powers of 2,000 W. However, the use we make of the dryer is a lot lower and so is its consumption throughout the year.
A very good article is the 10 tips to buy more efficient refrigerators. You will save a lot!
The main cause of loss of cold from a refrigerator or freezer is due to insulation (68%). Thus, the most efficient classes have better equipment isolation.
Practical advice for an adequate energy efficiency in the Refrigerator:
- 1. Buy energy-labeled refrigerators of the most efficient class. They save energy and money.
- 2. Don't buy a larger kit than you need.
- 3. Place the refrigerator or freezer in a cool and ventilated place, away from possible heat sources: solar radiation, oven, etc.
- 4. Clean the rear of the appliance at least once a year.
- 5. Thaw before the ice layer reaches 3mm thickness - you can achieve savings of up to 30%.
- 6. Check that the rubber of the doors are in good condition and make a good closing: it will avoid losses of cold.
- 7. Never put hot food in the refrigerator: letting it cool outside will save energy.
- 8. When you take a food out of the freezer to eat it the next day, thaw it in the refrigerator compartment instead of outside; In this way, you will have free cold earnings.
- 9. Adjust the thermostat to maintain a temperature of 5ºC in the refrigerator compartment and -18ºC in the freezer compartment.
- 10. Open the door as little as possible and close quickly: you will avoid wasting energy.
ELECTRIC KITCHEN:
The electric stove spends less than the gas stove: false. Electric cookers, better known as vitroceramics, consume 4 times more than conventional gas cookers, according to numerous experts. In the case of having an electric stove, the IDAE recommends using cookware, pans and saucepans with a thick bottom to achieve more homogeneous temperatures throughout the container.
DISHWASHER:
Washing dishes by hand consumes less water than the dishwasher: false.A study carried out by the University of Bonn points out that the water consumption of a class “A” dishwasher is about 15 liters while by hand it would use about 120 liters per wash.
On the other hand, reports from the Canal de Isabel II and BSH Electrical Appliances Spain show that the use of the dishwasher, compared to traditional washing, leaves the dishes cleaner, saves 30 liters of water per day and consumes 10% less energy.
All this will be achieved with the use of efficient dishwashers with a low consumption certificate that, among other options, allow you to choose the water temperature and reuse the heat for subsequent rinsing and drying.
The right choice of dishwasher can save you up to 70% of energy consumption throughout its useful life, so take a look at our article on efficient appliances.
Experts recommend choosing biothermal dishwashers that admit water heated in the outdoor boiler by means of gas instead of electricity, choose the program that best suits the needs and load it at night, since the network consumption will be lower.
WINDOWS:
The heat loss through the windows is minimal: false. It is considered that the heat losses through the windows are scarce since they occupy a small surface with respect to all the walls of the house. On the contrary, without a good insulation system, losses through these surfaces can reach 25-30% of the heating used to air-condition the home.
One of the most interesting articles on the portal… What is the best window; PVC, aluminum or wood ?.
Double glazing or double window systems reduce heat loss by almost half compared to single glazing and also reduce drafts, water condensation and frost formation.
The type of carpentry is also decisive. Some materials such as iron or aluminum are characterized by their high thermal conductivity, so they allow the passage of cold or heat very easily. If possible, use wooden window frames.
It is worth highlighting the so-called thermal bridge carpentry, which contains material
Note: Standby mode consumes hardly any power: false. Leaving the appliances on standby represents a cost of 231 kWh per year, very similar to the consumption of the dishwasher (246 kWh) and the oven (235 kWh), and well above that of the computer (172 kWh) and the rest of household appliances (76 kWh). With all this, the standby mode represents about 5% of the consumption of Spanish households.
From OVACEN
