The energy bill is one of the items that has driven the cost of living up the most in the last year and a half, which is why many citizens have been forced to adopt new habits to reduce spending. Specifically, 71% of Europeans have taken measures at home to save electricity, according to a recent study published by the European Commission.
The increase in prices has had a significant impact on the consumer’s pocket. One of the most direct consequences is that 37% of those surveyed -citizens of the European Union, Iceland and Norway- acknowledge that they have had to dip into their savings to face high inflation rates and the increase in the price of energy. And many of those who did not have a sufficient cushion have covered their short-term needs by using credit cards to a greater extent, whose contracting has increased.
The study, carried out on a sample of 26,000 respondents, recalls that the price consumers pay for energy depends on a series of factors in each country, among which the energy mix stands out, that is, the combination of different energy sources to cover the supply, as well as the level of dependency on imported energy, national regulations and taxes. “Consequently, the impact of increases in energy prices differs between countries,” he concludes. Thus, for example, while in Spain they fell at the end of last year, in Italy they rose by 65%.
In any case, almost half of citizens -48%- are concerned about their ability to pay bills. A concern that, together with the environmental benefits, drives the adoption of habits and measures to also save on electricity and gas bills, such as those detailed below.
Controlling the temperature of the house is essential to save on the energy bill. As recommended by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, a temperature of 19 degrees “is enough” in winter -15 degrees if we are absent-, while in summer the recommendation is not to lower the thermostat to 27 degrees. In order to improve the energy efficiency of the radiators, the installation of thermostatic valves is recommended, since they allow savings of between 8 and 13% of energy, as well as purging the radiators at the beginning of the heating season.
The exterior enclosures of a house, if they are not adequate, can significantly reduce its energy efficiency, which will also translate into more spending. For this reason, it is advisable to install windows with double glazing or double windows, as well as carpentry with thermal breaks. Likewise, it is necessary to verify that the boxes of the blinds do not have slits and are well insulated. Another recommendation is to detect drafts in the house, for example by holding a candle next to windows and doors. If currents are detected, a simple and cheap way to solve the problem is to cover the cracks with silicone, putty or a weather stripping, as recommended by the “Wasteful” campaign promoted by the Ministry.
In times of drought like the current one and an increase in the energy bill, it is essential to promote water saving and systems to heat it. In this sense, accumulators “are more efficient” than instantaneous production systems without accumulation, the experts recall. The importance of accumulator tanks and hot water distribution pipes “be well insulated” must also be taken into account.
Added to these measures are other habits, such as turning off the tap when it is not essential to have it open -for example, when brushing teeth or shaving-, showering instead of bathing, since four times less water and energy are used, as well as heating water at a maximum temperature of 35º, avoid drips and leaks from taps and cisterns, use low-consumption shower heads, place flow reducers in the taps and install temperature regulating taps, a measure that saves up to 6% of energy.
Taking into account that natural lighting will always be the most economical, one way to make the most of it is to paint walls and ceilings with light colors. Added to this advice are other basic ones, such as not leaving lights on in rooms where you are not present, minimizing ornamental lighting, replacing old bulbs with new LED ones, as they represent savings of up to 80%. of energy and have a much longer life.
Experts also advise giving preference to focused light over diffuse light, placing light intensity regulators and presence detectors in lobbies, garages or common areas so that leaving the light on by mistake does not affect your electricity bill.
In addition to lighting, you have to make efficient use of household appliances to lower your electricity bill. For this reason, it is recommended to optimize washing machines, dishwashers and dryers by filling them to their maximum capacity with each use. A measure that can be complemented with the following habits: washing clothes at a low temperature -it is estimated that 90% of the electricity consumed by this machine is to heat the water-, prioritizing spinning rather than using the dryer and avoiding rinsing the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
As for the oven, one of the appliances that consumes the most, it is necessary to avoid using it to heat small quantities or to defrost food. In these cases, it is more advisable to use the microwave. It must also be taken into account that induction hobs consume less than conventional ceramic hobs.
Regarding the consumption caused by the standby or rest mode -better known with the anglicism stand-by- in televisions, consoles or stereos, it is preferable to plug them into a power strip with a switch and turn it off when not in use. And finally, when replacing an old appliance with a new one, you always have to look at the energy label, which goes from A -the most efficient category- to G -which are the ones that consume the most-. In addition, the energy label includes other relevant data. In the case of a washing machine, for example, aspects such as spin efficiency and annual water consumption are detailed. Thus, household appliances with the same benefits “can present oscillations in energy consumption of more than 80%, they point out from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
The study by the European Commission reveals that 12% have changed suppliers to save on their energy bill. In this sense, consumer organizations invite you to compare between different market rates to choose the most economical in each case. A tool that can be useful is the comparator for energy offers from the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), which the user can access with their power and consumption data through the QR code or electronic link found on electricity and gas bills.
