The continuous rise in energy prices, as well as the growing awareness of the need to conserve the planet, mean that saving energy has become a goal for homes. Below we are going to mention some ways that will help us reduce spending. In addition, with this, we will contribute to preserving the planet and reducing the consequences of climate change. To do this, we will cite different activities in our daily lives in which it is possible to save energy effortlessly.

Light

Light consumption represents 20% of a home’s energy bill. That is why we must take into account the following tips that considerably reduce spending

• Replace traditional light bulbs with LED .
• If we have a garden or outdoor areas, the technology Solar LED becomes the perfect alternative to save energy.
• Turn off lights whenever they are not needed.
• Take advantage of the sunlight. Open the curtains, shutters, etc. before turning on the light.

Appliances

This is where misuse of devices causes us to waste energy and money. We are going to propose some small rules for the main appliances, which will make it possible to increase savings.

• Fridge. It consumes 30% of the home’s electrical energy. This is why it is advisable to choose the most efficient models possible and, of course, not keep the door open for more than the time strictly necessary.
• Television. 12% of the electricity is consumed by the television. It is important to turn it off completely when we are not using it. A television on «stand by» consumes more energy than a computer operating at maximum capacity.
• Dishwasher. It represents 6% of consumption. That is why we should only put it in when it is completely full. The same goes for the washing machine.
• Kitchens. Here the percentage of consumption depends on the use of the oven and ceramic hob. We should not open the oven door while it is operating and, for the glass-ceramic, it is advisable that we do not use larger containers than necessary, since in both cases it increases energy consumption.
• Another very common practice that must be avoided is keeping mobile phone and computer chargers plugged in… Depending on the charger, leaving it plugged in accounts for up to 12% of the energy it uses in operation.

Finally, it is important Turn off appliances when they are not in use. Leaving devices on «stand by» throughout the year is equivalent to turning on the air conditioning for three months.

Air conditioning

We must properly insulate the home to avoid leaks. The better the enclosures, the less energy consumption. For this, the quality of the materials is important, but we can also resort to homemade tricks such as silicone or putty, which helps us maintain cold or hot conditions and, therefore, save energy.

In winter, rugs and curtains help conserve heat. In summer, on the other hand, we will look for smooth surfaces that minimize the presence of mites and increase the sensation of freshness.

Hot Water

In this section, with three simple tips we can contribute to savingrar energy.

• Regulate the temperature of the water heater to 40 degrees
• Showers should not exceed 7 minutes
• Setting washing machines with cold water helps preserve clothes, as well as save energy

Transportation

Transportation is probably the section in which we can save the most. To do this, we are going to take into account the following aspects:

• Use Public Transportation. In the study «Habits and Attitudes of NON-Users towards Public Transport», published by the IDAE, we highlight the following points:

1. Of the people who do not use public transportation, 80% consider it the best solution to avoid traffic jams and pollution.
2. People with families and children are the ones who use public transportation the least.
3. The main reason for not using public transportation is the preference for using the car. That is to say: in most cases, there are no objective reasons to justify it.
4. Among the conclusions of this study, a certain optimism emerges since, with greater awareness, the use of public transport would increase by more than 3 million users, with the consequent energy savings and improvement in traffic conditions and pollution.

• For those who are irreducible to the use of private vehicles, we propose some measures that, although already known to everyone, it is worth remembering
  

  

1. Take the car only when necessary. Walking is healthy!
2. Carry out correct maintenance and keep the filters in perfect condition to avoid excess contamination and consumption
3. Change gears at 1,900 revolutions in diesel vehicles and 2,300 in gasoline vehicles
4. Choose models that consume less. In this section, the fashion of SUVs deserves special attention. Do we really need an SUV? Isn’t an equivalent model preferable, cheaper and with better consumption and gas emission figures?
5. Pick, as far as possible, towards electric or hybrid vehicles, which are increasingly more competitive.

Conclusion

Obviously, there are many more ways to save energy, although in this post we have limited ourselves to listing some of the easiest to adopt. With them, we will be able to make ends meet more easily and, in the process, contribute to the sustainability of the planet.