Air conditioning
Using air conditioning can account for up to 10% of your total energy consumption. Here is a series of tips to reduce your energy consumption at home:
- If you're at home, remember that a few minutes with the air conditioning on is enough to achieve a pleasant temperature, and if you're not at home, turn it off.
- Use a thermostat to control the temperature of your home at all times, but remember to install it in areas away from heat sources such as lamps, radiators, or direct sunlight.
- Did you know that for every degree of temperature, energy consumption related to air conditioning can vary between 4 and 6%? Maintain a pleasant temperature at around 25 or 26 degrees and your consumption will thank you.
- When you turn on the air conditioning, don't set it to too low a temperature. It's easy to think the house will cool down faster, but that's not the case!
- Perform constant maintenance on your air conditioning unit and clean the filters regularly.
- Avoid letting hot air into your home, install awnings and/or blinds, keep the shutters down… this way you'll achieve savings of almost 30%.
- Keep your house ventilated with the freshest air in the morning and evening.
- If you install refrigeration units on the exterior of your house and they are exposed to the sun, remember to cover them with a protective cover that maintains good air circulation.
Lighting
The use of light in your home can account for up to 9% of your total energy consumption. Here are a number of tips to reduce your electricity consumption at home:
- Use split switches to only use the light you need.
- Use low-energy light bulbs as they consume up to 80% less than traditional ones and last up to 8 times longer.
- Make the most of natural light whenever you can, and use light colours on walls and ceilings to enhance it.
- Avoid leaving the lights on in any room you're not in.
- Halogen bulbs give you more light than traditional bulbs for the same consumption and last two to three times longer.
- If you use fluorescent lights, remember that they have a lifespan between 8 and 10 times longer than standard bulbs and allow for energy savings of up to 80%. However, avoid switching them off if you'll be away for less than 20 minutes, and try not to turn them on and off continuously, as they consume a significant amount of energy when powering up.
- Use electronic dimmers.
- With presence detectors in garages and common areas so that the lights work automatically, you will save energy.
- Use localised lighting in different rooms.
- Routinely clean the lamps and light bulbs in your home.
RADIATORS OR HEATING
- When you leave the house, even for a few hours, set the thermostat to 15°, which is the equivalent of the «economy» setting on some models.
- Adjusting the temperature in each room using the thermostat is very important for controlling the consumption of your heating system. Setting the temperature to 20°C instead of 21°C can mean a 10% energy saving%.
- Using thermostatic radiator valves and programmable thermostats can lead to energy savings of between 8 and 33 per cent%.
- Avoid excessive heat loss by closing blinds and curtains at night.
- Reduce the temperature of rooms that are not occupied for long periods.
- Turn off the heating at night, and turn it on in the morning after airing the house and closing the windows.
- Proper maintenance of your heating equipment can save you up to 15%% on energy.
- Do not cover or place any objects next to the radiator.
Kitchen
You can also save money when cooking. Here are some tips to save energy in the kitchen:
- Take advantage of the residual heat, turn off the hob or ceramic hob a few minutes before finishing cooking.
- With a pot slightly larger in diameter than the cooking zone and with a heat-diffusing base, you will save up to 20%.
- Use pressure cookers whenever you can as they reduce consumption and save a lot of time.
- Regulate the refrigerator and freezer temperature according to the manufacturer's instructions (for every degree colder, energy consumption increases by 5%).
- Place your refrigerator away from heat sources (ovens, radiators, etc.).
- Allow food to cool before putting it in the fridge.
- Minimise the time the fridge and freezer doors are open and keep the back ventilated and clean.
- Choose efficient and ecological refrigerators. Those with class A+++ or A++ allow you to save up to 70% compared to the average.
- Removing ice build-up from the freezer before it reaches 3 millimetres thick achieves energy savings of up to 30%.
- Every time you open the oven, you lose up to 20% of the accumulated heat. Keep this in mind when you do so.
- Use your oven's timer.
- Make the most of your oven's capacity and cook quite a lot of food at once.
- Use the residual heat from the oven to finish cooking food and switch it off a few minutes before the end. Remember that it's not necessary to preheat the oven for cooking times over an hour.
- Convection ovens promote uniform heat distribution, save time, and use less energy.
- Utilizar el microondas frente al horno convencional supone un ahorro de consumo de hasta un 70%.
- If you wash dishes with hot water, you should know that you are consuming up to 40% more energy than if you use a dishwasher.
- Choose an efficient and eco-friendly A+++ class dishwasher, as they allow savings of over 45% compared to class D models.
- Make the most of your dishwasher's capacity. Try to fill it up every time you use it.
- Correctly place utensils in the dishwasher to allow for proper water circulation inside, and use the salt and rinse aid levels recommended by the manufacturer.
Household appliances
Small actions save energy
- Use the washing machine with medium temperature programmes, as washing at high temperatures will result in higher energy consumption.
- Always fill your washing machine to its maximum capacity; you'll save energy and extend the life of your appliance.
- When buying a washing machine, choose one with an A rating; they are eco-friendly, efficient, and reduce consumption by up to 45% compared to class B ones.
- A washing machine spin at 1,200 revolutions, instead of 700, reduces dryer consumption by 20%.
- Choose computers and printers with energy-saving systems.
- Use the washing machine and dishwasher to their full capacity.
- Thermo-efficient washing machines save energy and reduce washing time by 25%.
- Washing machines with half-load programmes reduce energy consumption.
- Wherever possible, use washing machines with water sensors, which measure the dirtiness of the water and adjust accordingly, reducing water and energy consumption.
- Dry the clothes outdoors.
- Regularly clean the washing machine's filter of impurities and limescale.
- Put the washing machine on during off-peak hours if you have a time-of-use tariff.
- When using your iron, take advantage of its heating up to iron large quantities of clothes.
- Use electrical appliances efficiently.
- Switch off televisions and computer equipment completely if you are not going to use them for a period longer than 30 minutes.
- Similarly, turn off your computer screen if you are not going to use it for short periods. Keep in mind that LCD screens save 37% of energy when running, and 40% in standby mode.
- Dark-coloured screensavers use less energy than light-coloured ones.
- Perform continuous maintenance and cleaning of all your equipment.
- Use multi-way adaptors with a power switch.
If you still believe you could save more on your electricity bill, please contact us. By analysing your bill and your needs, we will be able to offer you the best option for you to save month after month and benefit from a tariff or power level that suits you.
