Calculating monthly the amount of payments for the apartment, each of us thinks about whether it is possible to save on utility bills. After all, a communal apartment «eats» the lion’s share of our income. Service tariffs are growing steadily from year to year. In July 2015, growth was 7.5%, while an increase of 5.5% is projected for July 2016. Unfortunately, for most of our fellow citizens, wages simply do not keep pace with the rise in prices. The average family in Russia spends about 11% of their budget on paying for utilities, and 7.5% of Russians simply do not have enough income to pay off the debt in a timely manner and in full.
In this article we will try to figure out how you can save on electricity. 73% of Russian citizens consume up to 150 kW of energy every month, so their consumption does not exceed 750 rubles (according to the tariff for Moscow). But 25% uses more energy than this limit, so their consumption can reach 3000 rubles. Of course, it all depends on the tariffs in your locality.
In addition, we take care of the environment by reducing energy consumption. Consumes less population – less power plants generate, and this leads to less emissions into the environment.
Saving electrical energy: 7 useful tips
Tip 1. Replace ordinary bulbs with energy-saving ones
On average, lighting accounts for 20% of the total electricity consumption in an apartment. If the apartment has not yet been installed energy-saving lamps, it’s worth installing them. Incandescent light bulbs are very expensive. It would seem that they are much cheaper, but at the same time consume many times more. «housekeepers».
The leader in energy saving is the LED light bulb. According to various estimates, the operation of such a light bulb is 50-90% more profitable than the operation of incandescent lamps. For clarity, let’s compare with the following conditions:
- the light is on for 6 hours per day,
- the tariff for 1 kW is 4.5 rubles,
- calculation for 1 light bulb with average characteristics,
- calculation for a period of 1 year.
Benefit: From the table above, you can see that using LED lamps throughout the apartment will save 87% on lighting costs. That is, in general, electricity will need to be paid 17.4% less.
Tip 2. Install a multi-tariff meter
Another effective way to save electrical energy is multi-tariff meter. The principle of its operation lies in the fact that the device separately takes into account the energy that was consumed from 23.00 to 7.00, and that that was consumed the rest of the time. Yes, the vast majority of us sleep at night, but the technology continues to work. For example, no one turns off the refrigerator at night..
Residents of megalopolises often wake up at 5-6 in the morning to get to work on time, so this time has a large energy consumption, for which you will pay at a reduced rate. During the night, about 30% of all electricity is consumed, which costs 3.9 times cheaper than the rest.
Let us give calculations. Terms:
- tariffs for Moscow for 2016,
- calculation for a day;
- monthly energy consumption – 150 kW.
Benefit: a differential meter will save 14% of electricity.
Council 3. Purchase high-quality household appliances
Modern household appliances have one very important parameter that we often do not pay attention to. It is called «energy efficiency class». In order to save energy, you need to choose a technique, the class of which is not lower than A. The consumption of such equipment is below the standard by 58-70%. Usually economical equipment is much more expensive than usual, but the same principle applies here as with LED bulbs: they are more expensive, but consume less.
Benefit: It is rather difficult to assess the real benefits of using such devices. Savings range from 5 to 30%. It all depends on the energy efficiency class, the number of devices, the frequency of use, and more. So, in 2012, the head of the technical department of the REA Shishkov estimated a possible level of savings at 20-30%.
Tip 4. Turn it off! And turn off again!
It is very important not to forget to unplug electrical appliances that you are not using. Even if the microwave does not heat anything, but is plugged into the outlet, so to speak, there is «In standby», it consumes electrical energy. Yes, in a small amount, but remember all the devices that also «are waiting». As a result, there is a significant additional expense. Interestingly, even the chargers that we forget to unplug after the end of the charging process consume.
Conclusion: the savings will be from 1.5 kW per month. It is difficult to say more precisely, because it all depends on the number of electrical appliances in the apartment. As a percentage, energy savings are in the range from 1 to 5%.
Tip 5. Tricks with the electric stove
An electric stove can turn off five minutes before the dish is ready. She will not have time to cool down this time. That is, if the stove consumes from 4 to 8 kW / h, then this way you can save from 0.08 kW to 0.15 kW per cooking, provided that only one burner was working. In the calculation of the month, the savings are from 2.4 to 5 kW, if you cook 1 time a day on 1 burner.
Substantial savings occur if you select crockery of the correct diameter. When we put a pan of a smaller diameter on the stove, the heat is spent on heating the air..
Benefit: from 1% of the total consumption per month, depending on the stove and the frequency of cooking.
Tip 6. Don’t buy electric kettles!
If the apartment has gas, then you should forget about the existence of electric kettles. Modern gas stoves use the minimum amount of energy, because it is needed only for setting fire. Heating the kettle on gas, no electricity costs.
An electric kettle is considered «monster» on energy consumption. On average, its power ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 kW / h. Let’s say we heat the kettle 3 times a day for 5 minutes. The daily energy consumption is 0.38 kW to 0.63 kW per day. For a month, respectively, it comes out from 11 kW to 19 kW.
Advice for those who cannot refuse an electric kettle: heat exactly as much water as needed. The water cannot be heated for future use, because it will cool down, and the heating consumption will increase. The kettle needs to be descaled regularly because it increases the amount of energy consumed.
Benefit: Without using a kettle, 73% of families in Russia will be able to save from 7% of energy.
Tip 7. Position the refrigerator correctly
A refrigerator is a device that is never disconnected from the network. In modern refrigerators, consumption varies according to different conditions. They «adapt» for the surrounding conditions. Therefore, it must be located further away from sources of heat and light (away from windows and batteries). There must be a gap of at least 10 cm from the wall so that the appliance can cool efficiently and not consume additional energy. Modern refrigerators consume from 20 to 40 kW per month. The correct location of the device will allow you to consume the minimum amount of energy possible for it.
Benefit: savings can be up to 5%.
These 7 simple tips will cut your energy consumption in half! This is a significant savings in the family budget..
A device for saving electrical energy: true or «duck»?
Now there is an active advertisement for the device, which can reduce electricity consumption by 30%. Manufacturers guarantee its effectiveness and offer certificates of quality and conformity as proof. But be realistic! Cannot save the appliance plugged into the socket!
Just think, how can a small box, no larger than a mobile phone, save energy? It simply violates the basic laws of physics. For example, the law of conservation of energy. Therefore, statements of this kind should be treated with extreme restraint..
Energy consumption control
Let there be no devices that «like magic» save electrical energy, but there are those who control its consumption. Now the attention of consumers is presented automated light control systems, which are suitable for a large apartment or house. And for the owner of ordinary apartments in high-rise buildings, individual elements of this device are suitable. for example, motion sensors and presence, thanks to which the light will turn on and off without the participation of the tenants of the apartment. The benefit is that you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn off the lights.
The use of light sensors is well suited for turning on and off street lights near a house or in a summer cottage. The light will turn on or off automatically, depending on the sensor readings. Electricity consumption is optimized.
Conclusion: with careful attention to the consumed electricity, you can significantly reduce monthly utility bills and the harm caused to the environment. It is worth cultivating in yourself and your children a culture of respect for the consumed electricity!
