Save energy – reduce costs. Our 25 tips for your everyday life

Our energy costs have risen dramatically, and not just since the war in Ukraine. On the one hand, because the procurement of electricity on the stock exchange has become more expensive, and on the other, because the price of natural gas has risen. Another point: in industrialized countries, we are now so used to having an abundance of electricity and gas that we consume too much energy overall. Each of us in Germany is responsible for around 9.7 tons of CO2 every year. That is about twice as much as the current global average of around 4.8 tons per capita per year. [1] So what can we do to save energy?

Quiz yourself smart! Today: Save energy

We’ve put together our best tips to help you cut your energy costs and protect the environment. So it’s a win-win situation for everyone.

25 tips to save energy

1. Switch off the red light. Every hour, private households in Germany spend almost 504,000 euros on electrical appliances in stand-by mode. The electricity costs for unused appliances in standby mode add up to 4.4 billion euros per year.[2]
2. Wash normally soiled laundry at 40°C. This is perfectly adequate for modern washing machines. By the way: washing with half the load does not mean half the energy consumption!
3. Fill up the dishwasher and use the Eco programs. This not only saves energy, but also water.
4. LED on! Replace conventional light sources with energy-saving lamps/LEDs. Although they are somewhat more expensive, they have a 10-20 times longer service life and consume up to 90 % less electricity.
5. Do without air conditioning. It doesn’t get that incredibly hot in Germany anyway and if the appliance runs for eight hours 30 days a year, it consumes 165 kilograms of_CO2[3].
6. There is a suitable lid for every pot. So also when cooking: Put the lid on!
7. Unplug your cell phone from the socket when it is charging. Otherwise the battery will continue to draw power.
8. Do you still have your grandma’s old vacuum cleaner? Check your electrical appliances and replace them with more up-to-date models if necessary. You can save money this way.
9. Thinking about what to eat? Take your time – but close the fridge door.
10. Going on vacation? Wonderful! Give your electrical appliances a break and disconnect them from the power supply. Not only does it save energy, it’s also safer.
11. Your screensaver is so colorful? Sounds nice, but it doesn’t save any energy – quite the opposite. The graphics card and monitor consume a lot of energy, especially with moving images. It’s better to put your computer into sleep mode – this is similar to switching off the device. [4]
12. Showering is fun – but next to the heating it is the biggest energy guzzler in the household. We shower for an average of 11 minutes a day and need 176 liters of water to do so! That’s 16 liters per minute, that simply disappear down the drain. Or to put it another way: 17 full buckets of water. Frightening, isn’t it? It’s worth buying an energy-saving shower head that can reduce your water consumption to up to 8 liters per minute.
13. Preheat the oven? Generally not necessary. Instead, turn the oven off a few minutes earlier and use the residual heat.
14. Use the kettle instead of heating the water on the stove. It’s quicker and saves energy.
15. Hang laundry on the line and let it air dry. Totally old school, but saves a lot of energy compared to a tumble dryer.
16. The car … loved and hated. The fact is: with a steady, moderate driving style, fuel consumption can be reduced by 20 percent. And if you use the car with several people, the environment will be happy.
17. Large televisions (no matter how modern) consume more energy than a smaller model. And let’s be honest: does your TV really need to be the size of a big screen? Then go to the movies instead – that way you can get out, meet nice people and there’s popcorn too. ?
18. Good night! Your smartphone should also get a good night’s sleep: set it to flight mode at night and you’ll need to charge it less.
19. Heating is expensive and the biggest energy consumer and_{CO2 emitter} in your household. In the living area, for example, the temperature should not exceed 20°C. Every degree less corresponds to an energy saving of 6%. If you would like to know more about optimum temperature control in your home, we can recommend this text.
20. Do you have roller shutters on your windows? Then lower them at night to save up to 5% energy.
21. Heat properly – ventilate properly. Do not tilt the windows, but open them completely for a few minutes and ensure a draught. The air is exchanged, but the furniture and walls are still heated and the energy loss is low.
22. By switching providers, you can not only save money, but also do something good for the environment. You can use one of the many comparison portals on the Internet to find out about and compare the tariffs of electricity providers. There are now also some providers that supply “real” green electricity. They are independent of large nuclear and coal-fired power companies and promote the expansion of renewable generation plants.
23. Admittedly, installing a photovoltaic system on the roof is a major investment and is not something that can be implemented “just like that”. But maybe you are building a house or want to invest in the future – then a photovoltaic system is the right option. You can produce your own electricity, use surplus energy for a heat pump or your electric car and, of course, operate our infrared heaters with the sustainably produced electricity.
24. Small tip, big effect. Over the years, windows and doors are exposed to high levels of stress, causing the frames to warp and small gaps and joints to form. Cold and moisture penetrate and cool down your home. Foam or rubber seals, which you can easily fit yourself, can help here. So off to the nearest DIY store.
25. Unfortunately, our inner bastard is very energetic when it comes to changing tried and tested habits. However, it is perfectly possible to develop new and healthy habits. The important thing is that you make yourself aware of your goals and motivation as to why you want to change your behavior. You’ve made it to the 25th tip – a good sign! ?

Conclusion

Saving energy may not be a sexy topic, but it is more topical than ever these days. Because we must not forget: even if prices should perhaps fall again somewhat in the future, the fundamental problem remains: our planet is suffering. The effects can no longer be denied and will also increase in our regions in the form of heat waves, heavy rainfall and flooding. The good thing is that you can help to save energy with simple and small measures. For many things, it’s just a matter of adapting your own habits. Once you’ve done it two or three times, you don’t even think about it anymore and suddenly it’s completely normal to stop preheating the oven or closing the fridge door. Why not make a challenge out of it: pick out a few points from our tips and try to stick to them for a month. Maybe your family will join in or some friends will join in … the motivation will be much higher and it’s really fun to compare who has saved how much electricity at the end.

Want to know more?

We are delighted if we have been able to show you new aspects of infrared heating. There is a lot more exciting information to discover. For example, would you like to find out more about moisture and mold mold? Or are you interested in optimal temperature control in your home? Just check our blog regularly – it’s worth it! If you have any further questions, our friendly customer service team will be happy to help you – by phone, email or chat. We look forward to hearing from you.