For this, our communicator Nataliya Fedorova has collected little-known facts and tips that will help bring your energy efficiency to a qualitatively new level.
Turn off sleep mode and standby mode
This type of energy expenditure is so insidious that it was even called “vampire” or “phantom”. Electronics in standby or sleep mode continue to use electricity, which can add up to 10% of your electricity bill https://bit.ly/3h9pooD. A computer, printer, laptop charger, router, speakers, game consoles, iron machine, etc., continue to perform certain processes (even if you are not using them) as long as they are connected to the network. In standby mode, devices use less energy, but if you take into account how long the devices are in standby mode in total, a lot can “run in”. To stop these excessive expenses, turn off the appliances from the outlet. It is not only more economical, but also safer.
Use motion sensors
In areas such as corridors or stairwells, consider using motion sensors. Such sensors automatically turn on the light when someone enters the field of view of the device, and automatically turn it off when there is no movement. They will provide you with comfort, and at the same time, help save a lot of electricity. This is especially true in multi-apartment buildings.
Washing at 30
About 90% of the energy in the washing machine is spent on heating the water. Reducing the washing temperature to 30 degrees will not only make it possible to reduce energy consumption, but also extend the life of your things. Most modern detergents are designed for washing in cold water anyway. And speaking of laundry, try to avoid the dryer if possible, and consider drying outdoors.
Dishwasher in eco mode
The dishwasher is more economical than you: it uses much smaller volumes of warm water for washing, so if you have a dishwasher, you should not give it up. But here also remember that the most energy goes to heating the water. Use eco mode. Also, if you have a separate dish drying function, try to turn it off and dry dishes with the door open.
Refrigerator
Do you still have the habit of opening the refrigerator door and taking a long look at what’s inside? Don’t do that, it costs too much energy. After every 10-20 seconds that the refrigerator door is open, it takes about 45 minutes of more intensive work (and therefore energy consumption) to bring the temperature back to normal.
Also remember that a refrigerator is an appliance that runs all day every day for many years, it consumes much more energy than you think. Therefore, if suddenly you are thinking about buying a new refrigerator, choose a more energy-efficient one. You will pay back the difference in price in the first years of use due to the electricity savings.
Cook rationally. Or the oven is absolute evil.
In terms of electricity consumption, 1 hour of operation of an electric oven can be equated to heating water for a 20-minute shower. Be sure to put the dishes in the oven as soon as it is hot. Try to fill it as much as possible to effectively use all the space and energy, set a timer to turn off the oven on time, and if you are cooking vegetables – you can safely turn it off 5 minutes earlier – during this time the temperature inside will remain practically constant, and this is enough to finish cooking. Also, try not to open the door again during the cooking process – you can lose up to 20% of the heat, the oven will have to be reheated, and this is unnecessary electricity consumption.
If we talk about the efficiency of energy use in cooking, then the microwave is the best in terms of energy efficiency. Although this device requires high power, its operating time is relatively short, so consumption is generally low. In a microwave oven, energy goes directly to heating food, not air, and the volume of the device is designed much more rationally. Multicookers also have good indicators, where energy savings are achieved due to heat conservation and a small volume.
Save energy so that the maximum number of Ukrainians can have it right now. And after the victory, let these good habits stay with you to take care of the future of the planet and reduce your carbon footprint.
We are strong, We will stand!
