How to save energy: 10 foolproof tricks

The energy crisis that is hitting Europe spares no one: consumers, businesses and families. The European Union is gearing up to stem it and the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will propose as a mandatory target the reduction of electricity consumption - a step towards rationing - together with measures to channeling the profits of energy companies to consumers in difficulty.

However, there are also some simple tricks that, in our daily life, can allow us to save energy. To get good results in this area it is not necessary to make "revolutions" in your lifestyle, but it will be enough to follow these suggestions.

Saving energy: 10 foolproof tricks

Here are the 10 tricks to save energy and thus cut your bill costs:

** 1. Turn off lights and electrical appliances when not in use

A first useful suggestion, even if trivial, is to turn off lights, heaters, air conditioners and appliances when you go to bed or leave the house. Computers and equipment such as printers or wifi routers should also be turned off at night or while not in use, to avoid wasting energy.

It is not even enough to leave them on stand-by. This state should also be avoided where possible, as well as leaving the smartphone or tablet charger plugged into the socket when it is not connected to the device in question.

**2. Use low consumption light bulbs

Using low consumption light bulbs (fluorescent or LED) is the first step to save on your electricity bills, since they consume less than tungsten or halogen ones and last much longer. It is true that the bulbs cost more to purchase than normal incandescent ones, but the payback is much faster.

It is also necessary to evaluate the right lamp for each room in the house. In fact, there are rooms where particularly strong lighting will not be needed, but a more subdued light will suffice (such as in the bedroom).

** 3. Choose high energy class appliances

Very often, when purchasing a new appliance, its energy class tends to be underestimated in favor of a lower price. However, it is useful to invest in an appliance (such as refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, air conditioning, water heater) of class A or higher (A +, A ++, A +++), which is more expensive at the base, but with lower consumption over time. The investment made initially will then be repaid on the monthly amount to be paid for energy consumption.

** 4. Close doors and windows

Closing the doors of the areas you are not using, and cooling or heating only the rooms in which you spend the most time are precautions that seem insignificant, but which instead allow a nice saving both in the winter and in the summer months. In the colder months, make sure the curtains or blinds seal the windows properly. In the warmer months, keep the sun away from shaded windows or with the curtains closed during the day, the house will stay cooler.

** 5. Make the most of natural light

Paying attention to waste of electricity is one of the first rules. In this sense, a precaution to be adopted is to exploit the natural light of the day as much as possible. Especially in the summer months, with much longer days, it is possible to arrive late with only sunlight without having to turn on the light. Another valuable advice is to place the desk or desk near the window and paint the walls with bright colors, which allow the light to spread better in the environment.

** 6. Take a shower instead of a bath

To reduce water and energy consumption, choosing a shower instead of a bathtub is one of the most immediate solutions. Not everyone knows that about 150 liters of water are needed to fill a bathtub. On the other hand, about 15 or 16 liters of water are consumed for every minute of shower, which is reduced to 9 if a jet baffle is applied, which reduces the flow of water. Of course, the time you spend in the shower can also make a difference.

** 7. Better manage the refrigerator

The refrigerator is one of the few appliances that has to work 24 hours a day and is one of those that consume the greatest amount of energy. In order not to incur further waste, make sure that the temperature is between 4 and 5 degrees, while for the freezer from minus 15 to minus 18 degrees. Try to open the door as little as possible (and do not leave it open unnecessarily) and do not fill it too much because the energy required to keep all areas equally cold will be greater.

** 8. Intelligent use of washing machine and dishwasher

Even the washing machine and dishwasher are high-consumption appliances, so it would be better to use them at times when energy costs less, usually between 8 pm and 8 am. Also use a suitable washing program and possibly with the Eco function. Another tip concerns the load. Never overfill the washing machine or dishwasher, but neither start at minimum load. In this way you will avoid unnecessary waste or unnecessary washing.

** 9. Limit the use of the air conditioner

The air conditioner has now become indispensable in every home, especially on hot summer days, but its use can skyrocket energy consumption and therefore also the bill. To avoid overloads, the “dehumidifier” function should be used more. During use, you should also try to keep it at a temperature that is not too different from the outside. A maximum difference of 6 degrees is recommended (or a temperature not lower than 26 ° C).

** 10. Use little oven and iron

Limiting the use of the oven and iron can help reduce consumption. As for the oven, keeping the internal temperature uniform and avoiding opening the door helps to contain waste. Compared to the traditional one, the microwave oven consumes less. As for the iron, the use of this appliance should be limited to a minimum, perhaps paying more attention to the drying phase.