In Danish families, the expenses for daily household chores have more than doubled in recent times. It not only affects the wallet, but also paves the way for a change in behavior. But is it necessary to change one's life radically, even if the energy crisis rumbles on. We have tried to collect some good, simple advice that can pave the way for as few lifestyle changes as possible. By following this guide, several thousand danish kroner can be saved in electricity, which benefits the wallet and not least the environment.
The energy crisis
Back in the 19th century, electricity was used for the early experiments. Ground-breaking inventions were made, which we today greatly benefit from in everyday life. In a modern world, there are many ways to produce electricity. Coal is still the most used around the world, but wind energy, turbines, solar cells, and many other green alternatives have long been on the market as alternatives to the dirtier form of power production.
We live in a world where consumption has been steadily increasing. However, there are limits to how much energy can be burned off. For several reasons, the high consumption paves the way for an energy crisis. In 2022, we faced an energy crisis, which was directly reflected in very high prices for electricity. It was not necessarily only brought into play due to high consumption, but with the help of logistical challenges and the war in Ukraine, it played in a context that has rarely been seen before.
Power savings benefit the environment and your wallet
When saving electricity, it can be done in many ways, but broadly it is about the time electrical appliances are switched on. The longer they are on, the higher the electricity bill will be. Conversely, electrical appliances with high consumption can contribute to an even higher electricity bill. Whatever it is, 10 good electricity-saving tips can help a whole family to save a lot financially and at the same time in relation to the environment, significantly lower CO2 emissions.
Where is the electricity used?
Most households have an average energy consumption divided into the following categories:
- Fridge and freezer
- Washer and dryer
- Cooking and electrical appliances in the kitchen
- Lighting
- TV and entertainment
- Heating only with electric heating
Before looking at where we can save on electricity, it would be an advantage to locate where electricity is used. So tied to the categories above.
Guide to electricity savings
Locate the electricity meter. It is located by the fuse box. The old types had a wheel that spins, where the new ones are digital. The goal is to make this wheel run slower. At slower revolutions, power will be saved.
- Being aware of where electricity is used can alone contribute to 25% electricity savings. This does not mean that behavior must be changed, but that something is thought about, this makes the points below easy to comply with.
- The easy and simple way to save the first DKK 300-500 per year is to switch off electrical appliances that are on standby. Although the red lamp may not seem like much, it is not only this red light that contributes to consumption. Standby consumption can be high, so turn off the switch that powers such appliances, or buy a timer that activates at night. This way it will happen automatically. Alternatively, power strips with an illuminated on/off button can be used.
- The large electrical appliances use a lot of energy. Here, of course, we are talking about dryers, ovens, washing machines, dishwashers, etc. It is close to home to assess the importance of using dryers. In a family with children, it can be difficult to avoid, but then this can possibly be started in the evening or at night, when electricity is much cheaper than in the afternoon/dinner time.
- The easy part with the freezer is defrosting. If this happens regularly, as much as 20% of power can be saved in this device alone.
- The trend and coziness on the terrace, where electric heaters are used. Such electric heaters use an enormous amount of power and may not necessarily be important. Here, gas can be used instead or the old version with a blanket.
- Lighting usually accounts for around 20% of electricity consumption. With modern LED lighting, there is no compromise on light quality, but energy consumption is typically reduced by 60-70% compared to halogen light bulbs, incandescent light bulbs or energy saving light bulbs. Besides this, candles can be very cozy in combination with dimmed artificial lighting. There are many options for this easy replacement and Lumega Home will provide advice in another blogpost.
- The workplace at home should not be in a basement. There are several reasons for this, but in relation to power savings, it is about daylight. The more daylight, the less artificial lighting needs to be used. At home, the workplace can thus help to increase energy consumption a lot if the lights are on for 8-12 hours a day. Use daylight and see the power savings after just one month.
- Appliances help to increase power consumption. They run constantly. Fridge and freezer. Old appliances can use more than 50% more power than the new types. Therefore, the repayment on a new fridge will be within 2-3 years.
- Electricity-saving pumps and other pumps for heat and other things can be advantageously replaced with more energy-efficient solutions. Subsidies can also be obtained here, which help with a lower investment. Such solutions can be somewhat more extensive and usually require a plumber, but having said that, the payback period can be less than 5 years.
- Finally, advice is to examine the electricity agreement. There are many alternatives to where the power comes from. There are electricity companies that charge a bit too well. If you look a little more into the agreement and what is paid for the electricity, a financial gain of a few hundred or thousands DKK will be realistic to achieve.
Power savings without settling
Families with children have an everyday life that must work. It is not always easy. Follow the 10 tips as best as possible and a significant reduction will be possible. With a more systematic approach to power savings, they can be achieved without compromising on comfort or coziness.
