Electricity is a resource used in all spheres of civilization. The price of kilowatt-hours is constantly rising and the need to reduce consumption is becoming more acute. Energy saving means a rational consumption of electricity, includes a whole range of solutions: scientific, organizational, legal, economic and technical.
Saving electricity is not only a financial issue, but also an important environmental challenge. The world's energy reserves are gradually depleted, nature suffers in the production process: the environment is polluted by emissions of fuel combustion products. Therefore, energy saving is a measure that can minimize the negative impact on the environment and save money.
Where do kilowatts flow and how to reduce consumption
Almost no one thinks about the fact that the remaining charger in the network continues to operate at idle. It is available for all power supplies, pulse and transformer. Consumption depends on the power of the device. The amount of electricity consumed in a year can be surprising.
Moreover, modern appliances are equipped with screens, indicators, for example, a clock in a microwave oven or an LED igniter in a stereo system. They also consume energy. The solution is to disconnect the memory, home appliances of periodic use from the network.
The most "greasy" electrical appliances.
Top 10 home appliances that consume the most energy that every home has:
- Refrigerator. Consumes about 40-60 kW per month. To reduce these figures, you need to open the doors less often.
- Washing machine. Consumption 40-50 kW, the exact figure depends on the frequency of washing, the ways used.
- Computers. 35-40 kW. Most users only turn it off at night.
- Electric boiler. It consumes a record amount of power in 1 hour, 28-30 kW output per month.
- Hair dryer. 25 kW in daily use.
- Dishwasher. 22-25 kW, depending on the power of the device, the number of operating hours.
- Microwave. Consumes 16-20 kW per month, if used 3 times a day, plus 2-3 hours per week for defrosting food.
- TV sets. 13 kW during working hours - up to 5 hours per day. Standby instead of turning off increases this figure.
- Vacuum cleaner and coffee machine. They consume the same amount of electricity - 10-12 kW, if the number of active hours does not exceed 2 per week.
- Iron. With moderate use - 7-8 kW.
In order not to be upset every time you get an electricity bill, household appliances should first be selected as needed. Buying a high-powered professional vacuum cleaner for a small apartment is not as practical as a 10 kg washing machine for a family of two.
Every device has an energy saving class, you should take the time to study the features before buying.
Does standby mode help save equipment?
Manufacturers claim that the electricity consumption of household appliances in hibernation mode is minimized. This statement is partly true: consumption has dropped significantly. However, there are specific figures that call into question current savings.
It has been empirically verified that a TV with a diagonal of 50 cm consumes 9 kW per month in sleep mode, a stereo system - 7-8 kW, a video player - 4-5 kW. If we add to this list a computer, a microwave oven with always on screen, forgotten chargers in sockets and other devices, then the total consumption reaches 370-420 kW per year.
This proves that for real savings it is still worth disconnecting the devices from the network.
How to save electricity? A good counter is an effective way
Equipment for calculating electricity consumption is installed in all apartments, houses, industrial facilities. In addition to its direct purpose - fixing indicators, this device helps to save significantly.
Modern electronic meters support a multi-tariff function, in which you can schedule energy-intensive tasks for hours when the cost per kilowatt is reduced. Supply companies have introduced tariff distribution to reduce grid load during peak hours, enticing subscribers to use electricity in less busy periods.
There are the following periods, different in unit cost:
- T1 - during the day: from 7 am to 11 pm. Charging is standard.
- T2 - night phase: from 23: 00 to 7: 00. Lowest price per kilowatt.
- T3 - peak period: in the morning - until 10 o'clock, in the evening - from 20: 00 to 23: 00. Increase in unit cost.
At night the price of electricity drops by up to 70%. Many users set home appliances, for example washing machines and dishwashers, to "late start" mode. The devices start working automatically at the appointed time and consume a source that is paid at a reduced fee.
To reduce energy consumption, it is not necessary to sacrifice comfort, it is enough to buy a multi-tariff electronic meter, with which the savings will be simple and effective.