With the heeding of some small behavior rules in the household several hundred euro can be saved annually. We have collected ten tips that can be easily implemented. In addition, you can find out here how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home by using small tricks and the energy-saving potential of split air-conditioning systems and modern ventilation systems.
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LAGERBOX – Better self-storage instead of just storage
With LAGERBOX you can store your belongings flexibly.
Energy saving made easy: 10 tips
If you manage to reduce energy consumption in your own household, you can save a lot of money. Even following a small catalog of measures can result in savings of several hundred euros per year. Immonet has collected 10 tips for saving energy that are easy to implement.
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1. Light
Energy-saving lamps consume only 20 percent of the energy that normal incandescent lamps require. In addition, they last up to 15 times longer. An exchange is worthwhile itself consequently.
2. Stand-by
Switch off electrical appliances such as the TV or hi-fi system completely after use. If you want to be on the safe side and make sure that the device no longer draws electricity, buy power strips with switches. One click and all devices that are connected to the bar are completely switched off.
3. Heating correctly
Radiators should not be blocked or covered, otherwise the warm air cannot be distributed in the room. Rule of thumb: Turning down the heating one degree saves six percent on heating costs. Professionals also set the temperature in the bedroom and kitchen lower than in living rooms.
4. Ventilate cleverly
Airing is the most important way to save energy, especially during the heating season. That means concretely: Turn down the heating for a few minutes and open the windows during this time. Who leaves windows often tilted, gives away much heating energy.
5. Insulation pays off
For house and apartment owners, extra insulation often pays off. For financing, there are numerous aids from the state or the K development bank.
6. Saving energy while cooking
Putting the lid on the pot when cooking reduces energy consumption by more than half. If you cook on an electric stove, you should also use the after-heat of the stove top.
7. Saving water when showering
Turn off the faucet for the time when showering, in which they just do not need water. Running the water for convenience even when you are soaping up is unnecessary and expensive. More than half of the water consumption can be saved in this way when showering.
8. Energy-efficient household appliances
When buying household appliances, pay attention to the energy efficiency class. Devices with a high energy efficiency class are somewhat more expensive to purchase, but are usually worthwhile after a relatively short period of time, as they require only a fraction of the energy of the old devices.
9. Washing machine: Wash at lower temperatures
The right temperature setting for the washing machine can save a lot of energy. Because high temperatures draw a lot of energy. Depending on the degree of soiling, it is often not necessary to wash at 95 degrees. Every degree less that the washing machine does not have to heat saves energy. For example, electricity consumption can be reduced by a whopping 40 percent by washing at 30 degrees instead of 40 degrees. Laundry still gets clean, because new detergents on the market develop their cleaning power even at low temperatures.
10. Switching electricity providers
Search the Internet for the most favorable electricity tariff. All you need is your consumption from your last bill and your zip code – and the search can begin. Switching electricity providers is very easy and can be done in just a few clicks, especially since the new provider helps with the changeover. The savings potential varies from region to region, but in principle it is often worthwhile to switch.
10 tips: How tenants make their homes energy efficient
Construction measures to increase the energy efficiency of a house or apartment are usually expensive, but they pay off in the long run. In addition to larger investments, however, there are also small measures that can save energy. From the tenant’s point of view, the following applies: If the changes can be reversed without great effort and no damage to the substance is to be expected, permission from the landlord does not necessarily have to be obtained. Immonet has collected 10 tips that tenants can use to improve the energy efficiency of their home.
1. Checking consumption
If you want to save money, you first need to know in which areas there is potential for savings. That’s why it’s important to monitor consumption and losses. Only those who regularly check their consumption data can judge whether higher heating costs are due to increased consumption or to generally rising energy prices.
To control consumption, tenants have two options. You can connect an electricity meter between the socket and the appliance to find out, for example, how much a washing machine uses. The current measuring instruments are available in every hardware store, the purchase is not expensive. Alternatively, you can borrow such a device from the consumer advice center or have the measurements carried out directly by the staff there. Advice is then included.
Tenants can find out whether there is savings potential and how high it is by comparing the values determined with the average and best values of other devices. This method can also be used to identify electrical appliances that still consume electricity even when they are switched off. These electricity thieves can include the kettle, the toaster, the cell phone charger, the printer or the washing machine, for example.
2. Eliminate losses
Since more and more electrical appliances with conventional mains switches still consume electricity even when switched off, it makes sense to use intermediate switches. This is how consumption can be controlled. The purchase of modern and efficient household appliances also pays off in many cases.
3. Protect against drafts
Most energy is lost in the home due to heat loss. Therefore, it is important to know where the greatest shrinkage lurks. With the help of a thermal imaging camera, energy losses can be detected visually. However, even without such an effort, tenants often know which areas are inadequately sealed: Drafts are a clear sign of heat loss. However, this problem is comparatively easy to fix. You can buy sealing tapes and brush seals for a few euros at the hardware store. Even laymen can install them themselves and thus quickly save energy.
4. Window film reinforces insulation
Even single-glazed or poorly insulated window panes give off a lot of heat energy. Window insulation film is a quick alternative to window replacement, and can also be carried out by non-professionals. The film is simply stuck to the pane from the inside. A thin layer of air then forms between the film and the glass, which increases the insulating effect of the windows. The foil is quite inexpensive, but it also breaks easily and must then be replaced.
5. Use curtains consciously
If you lower your shutters early in the heating season at dusk, you can save a lot of energy. It is more difficult in apartments without such devices. The subsequent installation of folding or roller shutters by the tenant can be controversial and costly. However, heavy curtains perform a similar function and also look visually appealing. However, tenants should always make sure that the fabrics only cover the windows, but not the running heating system. Especially at night, when the heating is set to zero anyway, curtains are a good option for additional insulation.
6. Minimize heating losses
Where radiators are covered by furniture, paneling or curtains, the heat output can not be fully utilized. Thermostats also do not work optimally under such conditions. Ensure that the heating is free and the air can circulate.
Those who do not like the apartment to cool down during the day can install programmable thermostatic valves. They allow individual control of heating times – independent of the central heating and can be set differently for each individual room. With so-called smart thermostats, you can even control the heating heat via app and cell phone from the road, keyword smart home. The old thermostats should be kept, however, as they have to be reattached when moving out.
7. Insulate radiator niches
Another source of energy loss are radiator niches. The heating system heats up the outer wall considerably, which subsequently, however, gives off a good part of the heat energy to the outside. Insulation panels help against this. They reduce heat loss and can be installed by the tenants themselves if there is sufficient space between the wall and the radiator.
If the radiator has to be dismantled, you can get help from a craftsman. However, to be on the safe side, this intervention should be discussed with the landlord. It is important to glue the plates without gaps over the entire surface. A somewhat simpler solution is offered by reflective foil, which also saves heating costs. It radiates the emitted heat back and is usually easier to install than panels.
8. Venting and checking the heating system
A gurgling sound or the lack of heating of the radiators indicate that the water pressure in the heating system is not correct. Ergo, the heater can not work properly. To solve the problem, the heating system must be vented. This task can easily be done by the tenant himself or by the janitor. Tenants can also regularly check the pressure themselves.
9. Preventing hot water loss
After heating, hot water heating is the second largest consumer of energy in the household. This is especially noticeable when electricity is used to heat water. Therefore, tenants should make sure that the boiler is up to date and, if necessary, inform their landlords of any shortcomings.
If you want to save energy, you must therefore save water. Single-lever faucets make it easier to control water temperature than two separate faucets, which means less water leaks through. However, consumers should make sure that they set the mixer tap "on cold" after use.
Also worthwhile is the installation of economy showers. Only about six liters of water per minute flow through it, in old shower heads it is twice that amount. By the way, a bath in the bathtub uses about 100 liters of water more than taking a shower. It therefore takes four times more energy to heat water for a bath than for a shower.
10. Change your own behavior
Not only the dwelling can be arranged more energy-efficiently, particularly the own behavior has a large influence on the energy consumption. Tenants can take to heart a number of tips that will help them use less power and energy: