Today, hardly any person imagines their life without a refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, TV, computer, hair dryer, electric kettle, mixer and other appliances. All of these objects surround us in everyday life and in many ways make our lives easier.
However, it should not be underestimated that electricity tariffs are constantly rising. Along with them, the expenditure schedule in the household budget for the payment of electricity increases. What should we do? The answer to this question is one, and it stays on the surface - to start saving.
Electricity used above the set standard is paid at higher tariffs. At the same time, the standard does not depend on the number of people living in the apartment, or its area.
Energy Saving Techniques
Electricity consumption of household appliances depends on the time of operation and their specifications, which are usually indicated in the instructions or on the websites of the manufacturers. Many modern appliances have special "Eco" or "Economy" modes of operation, which consume less power. Therefore, when using devices, it is worthwhile to decide the economical way of their operation. Experts also advise buying electrical appliances only of high energy efficiency classes (A, A + and higher).
We save on apartment lighting
The cheapest and most common lighting for an apartment today are incandescent lamps. They are easy to use but have a very low efficiency. Up to 95% of energy is spent on heating and only 5% on lighting. Another disadvantage of these lamps is that they often burn out.
The lifespan of halogen lamps is two or even four times longer than that of incandescent lamps. But they do not save energy and have a major drawback: the bulb, even when the bulb is off and cold, can not be touched with hands. Fingerprints cause it to burn.
Fluorescent lamps have higher efficiency. This 20W bulb provides the same brightness as a 100W incandescent bulb. The service life of fluorescent lamps can reach 20 thousand hours, while incandescent lamps do not last more than 1, 000 hours. However, fluorescent lamps contain mercury. Phosphorus breaks down over time. This reduces light output and impairs light transmission.
LED lamps are among the most environmentally friendly and agile. They are superior to incandescent and fluorescent lamps in terms of energy efficiency, durability, safety and lighting. The service life of LED lamps varies from 50 thousand to 100 thousand hours. Their significant drawback is their high price.
We save on refrigerators and kitchen appliances
Refrigerators should be installed in the darkest and coldest places in the kitchen. This saves energy on cooling their rear grille.
Avoid placing the refrigerator near a window, radiator or stove. If it is a compressor with two compressors, and one room is not used, it is better to turn it off.
If the kitchen is equipped with a gas stove, then it is preferable to heat the water in the stove, and not in the electric kettle. This will help save energy consumption.
If you use an electric kettle, fill it with as much water as you use at the same time. Your loved ones will heat the water again and you will have an extra energy consumption.
When using an electric stove, turn off the hot plate 1-2 minutes before cooking is over. Choose pots that match the size of the stove, otherwise you will lose up to 5-10% of your energy. A kitchen utensil with a curved bottom takes up up to 40-60% of excess energy.
When using the microwave to heat or defrost food, select the appropriate setting. Indicated as shown in the instructions.
Prefer a hand grinder over a food processor. This will help not only save energy but also grind food better.
Save money on the washing machine
Carefully study the "washing machine" instructions. As a rule, the more water the machine draws, the higher its temperature becomes, the more energy is used for washing. When overloaded, the car consumes about 15% more energy. If the program is installed incorrectly, the power consumption is about 30%.
We save on iron work
Try ironing wet laundry. If you dry it, then you will need to heat the iron more for ironing and, accordingly, use more electricity.
Course in cleaning the premises
When vacuuming, empty dust bags frequently or replace when using disposable bags. Accumulation of large amounts of waste in the bag leads to vacuum cleaner overheating and significant power consumption.
We save in device standby mode
Shutdown devices that remain on the grid do not consume much electricity. But you can also save. If you decide to save energy, do not forget to turn off the TV, stereo or video player from the network. In addition, there are many cases where electronic devices that remain in the power grid burn during a storm or accident.
Save money on computers and the Internet
Try to use your computer for a longer time. When you leave the house, turn it off. This will extend the operation of expensive equipment and save on electricity.
Remember that an LCD monitor or laptop uses less power than an older monitor and desktop computer.
Mobile phone "chargers" that stay on the grid for a long time do not consume much electricity. However, these are switching power supplies. In the network, they can overheat and deteriorate. God forbid we have a fire in the apartment. Unfortunately, there are such cases.
We save in common areas
In addition to the appliances in your apartment, pay attention to the consumption of electrical appliances in the usual places of an apartment building - lamps, elevators, video surveillance, fire alarms, forced ventilation, etc. Energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness can help you save on maintenance costs for your home.