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If the electricity bill is too high? With a few tips, you can find out where the biggest power guzzlers are in the house – and how to save energy.

Kassel- High electricity prices* are making consumers all over Germany tremble. To prevent the bill from skyrocketing even further, however, tenants or homeowners can keep a few things in mind on a day-to-day basis. An overview of which appliances are the biggest power guzzlers and how you can save energy and money with them.

In hardly any other country does electricity cost as much as in Germany. According to the comparison portal Verivox, consumers pay around 31.80 cents per kilowatt hour in Germany. By comparison, in our neighboring country, the Netherlands, the price is just 16.5 cents per kilowatt hour. In addition, prices continue to rise. In the past twelve months, they have risen by almost 40 percent (38.8%) according to Verivox. "Electricity prices in Germany are at an all-time high," explained Verivox energy expert Thorsten Storck in January 2022.

The biggest power guzzlers in the home: How consumers can save real money

Many people are therefore looking for other electricity suppliers. Suppliers with low tariffs* in particular are being overrun. Who would like to change the energy supplier, should above all compare- because the prices for new electricity contracts also vary greatly in the regions. But one should also think about one’s own consumption. How much electricity a household consumes depends first and foremost on how many people live in it. However, there are also real power guzzlers that cost a lot of energy and this is reflected on the bill in the end.

Especially in Corona times,* when many people stay at home and work in the home office, a lot of electricity is consumed in communication and entertainment. Almost a third of electricity consumption is accounted for by this area on average, as the consumer center explained. It is therefore also recommended to look at televisions, computers and game consoles to see whether more efficient devices might be worthwhile. Consumers can also save electricity quite simply by generally avoiding standby mode on all appliances.

High electricity costs: Refrigerators and other appliances. Save energy

The next electricity guzzlers in the household are old large appliances. Anyone who still has their parents’ washing machine at home should consider whether a newer appliance might be worthwhile. Old refrigerators and freezers in particular can be real power guzzlers – because they run continuously. When buying a new refrigerator, it is then worth taking a look at the energy label – after the changeover of the energy label in March 2021, the best category is A, the designations A+++, A++ and A+ no longer exist. Previously, A+++ was the best rating, but this now counts as a maximum of class B, C or D.

In addition to energy efficiency, there are also some tips for use. Refrigerators should not be placed next to warm appliances if possible. Setting the right temperature is also important. "Eight degrees is recommended as the correct refrigerator temperature for the middle section of the refrigerator," Norbert Endres, energy consultant at the consumer center, told br.de. To ensure that the products and not just the air in the refrigerator are cooled, refrigerators should also be filled well. For freezers: defrost regularly.

Heating pump as power guzzler: consumers can save up to 80 percent

Another electricity guzzler can be old heating pumps. According to the energy company Eon, they are even among the biggest power guzzlers in the household. To turn cold water into hot water, electricity is needed – and not just a little. Replacing an old model with a new one can really pay off. According to the house.Newer appliances consume up to 80 percent less energy. As with other appliances, you should look for the best possible energy efficiency class when buying one.

Cooking can also really save electricity. Electric stoves are real power guzzlers, so you should keep consumption as low as possible. The consumer advice center advises: If you want to save not only electricity but also time, you should cook with a lid on, use less water and boil the water in the kettle first instead of in the pot.

A common misconception is also preheating the oven. This is often not necessary. The oven does not necessarily need to be preheated, especially for cakes, bread or frozen goods, where a crust forms relatively late in the cooking process. Even the federal government states that with newer stoves, preheating "is usually not necessary". With circulating air, it is also possible to set the baking temperature 20 to 30 degrees lower. "Circulating air is therefore more efficient than top and bottom heat."An induction stove is even more energy-efficient, as it consumes 40 percent less energy.

Interesting and helpful consumer news can also be found in our weekly HNA consumer newsletter.*

Electricity: When lighting becomes a power guzzler – tips on saving energy

The lighting in the house can also become a big power guzzler. This is the case when halogen lamps or incandescent bulbs are used instead of LEDs or energy-saving lamps. This means that lighting can use up to 90 percent less electricity. Floor or table lamps with power supplies also cost a lot of energy. Because even when they are off, they consume electricity. The consumer advice center therefore advises pulling the plug or using a disconnectable power strip.