To save energy on electric stoves. Little tricks: How to save electricity and water

Family budget expenses can be significantly reduced if you approach all life situations rationally. In every area (be it shopping in a store or going on vacation, or traveling by car or paying for an apartment), you can free up a lot of money if you know little tricks and know what you can save on.

It may seem that the savings are 50-100 rubles. per month for any operation is a trifle that is not worth bothering with. But, if there are a lot of such little things, then, believe me, in the end you will get a good amount. And if you calculate the total savings per year, then, most likely, there will be a good vacation on the gold coast, where there are bananas, coconuts and orange paradise.

Today we will continue to talk about how to reduce apartment payments. We discussed more general methods of saving in this area in the article: "". This article will be devoted to answering the question: How to save electricity and water. Of course, you already knew much of what will be written; some will seem too obvious to you. However, there will probably be points that you haven’t even thought about. And then, it is much more convenient if the information is systematized and collected in one place. So,

How to save energy

Save on lighting

Install dimmers instead of regular switches. They allow you to smoothly adjust the light level. After all, in fact, you rarely need very bright light in the room; basically, half the power is enough, especially if you are just sitting at the computer or watching TV, or just entered the room to take something.

Replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs. I’m not specifically talking about energy-saving lamps, which, like LED lamps, consume less electricity, because I consider them harmful (this is my subjective opinion). The light from them is unnatural and the eyes get tired very quickly, and mercury is also used in their production. In addition, energy-saving lamps are not as reliable as the manufacturer promises.

Yes. LED lamps are expensive, but they will pay for themselves very quickly, because... The energy savings due to them are quite significant, and they are much more durable. An LED lamp that consumes 4 W produces the same amount of light as a 75 W incandescent lamp (i.e. it is 16 times more economical). The service life of an LED light bulb is approximately 30,000 hours (as the manufacturer says). If you consider that, on average, the lamp will burn 5 hours a day, then it will last for 6000 days - 16.5 years! I can’t confirm this yet; the LED lamps in my house have only lasted 2.5 years so far.

In addition, an LED lamp practically does not heat up, unlike a regular lamp, and therefore it is more fireproof. In general, all advantages, except for the price. Therefore, it is worth considering the purchase of LED lamps as a long-term investment and investment).

Increase the number of light sources in different areas of your apartment, then it will be easier for you to regulate the necessary illumination. You will be able to use only the light source next to which you are, and not illuminate an additional place that you do not need at the moment.

As trivial as it may sound, wash your windows more often. Dirty windows let in up to 20% less natural light, you will need to adjust the dimmers (and you have already installed them) to a more powerful position and energy savings will be reduced. Don’t forget to dust off your LED light bulbs for the same reason.

Give preference to light colors when decorating your apartment and choosing furniture. As you know, the darker the shade of a color, the more it absorbs light, and the lighter it is, the more it reflects light. And to achieve the desired level of illumination in a bright room, less electricity will be required.

And a very far-sighted way of saving for the most sensible - when buying or renting an apartment, keep in mind that the sunniest and, accordingly, brightest side is the south. And if in your apartment most of the windows face south, then in the future you will significantly save on lighting these rooms.

Just don't laugh :) When leaving, turn off the lights!

We reduce housing and communal services costs through the wise selection and use of electrical appliances and equipment.

Buy a washing machine, refrigerator, iron, and other household appliances with energy consumption class “A” - this means that these devices consume the least amount of electricity.

Select the size of the equipment based on the size of your family. Let’s say if there are only two or three of you, then you don’t have to buy a huge, powerful refrigerator or a washing machine, the drum of which is designed for 6 kg of laundry. Because You will either spend a long time collecting things to fully load, or start the machine half empty and, accordingly, waste extra kilowatts.

Turn off electrical appliances completely when you are not using them. Always unplug the plug from the outlet. In standby mode, they also consume electricity. This also applies to all kinds of chargers.

Do not wash at maximum temperature and speed. Modern powders do their job quite well even at average values of these parameters. This way you will save energy and keep your things in good shape for a longer period. Do not run the washing machine half empty.

Buy a refrigerator with the “No Frost” function, because... When moisture freezes onto the evaporator, heat transfer (in our case, “cooling transfer”) decreases, i.e. if expressed in physical terms, the efficiency of the refrigerator (efficiency factor) decreases. And to maintain the set temperature, the refrigerator will increase power consumption.

Place the refrigerator in the coldest part of the kitchen, away from the stove or direct sunlight, preferably against the outside wall of the house (it is the coldest), and do not place it close to the wall. This way it won't overheat.

Keeping your freezer stocked will make it easier to maintain the set temperature. Make sure that the refrigerator and freezer doors close tightly.

Do not put hot dishes directly into the refrigerator; they may well first cool down due to the free ambient air, and not the paid power of your refrigerator.

Do not place containers with open liquids in the refrigerator, as During the evaporation process, the humidity in the refrigerator compartment will increase, which will also increase energy consumption.

If you are just buying or want to rent an apartment, but are unsure where exactly, give preference to the option where gas is supplied. Cooking on a gas stove is many times more profitable than on an electric one. If there is still no gas, then give preference to an induction cooker. Its energy consumption is the smallest, because... An induction cooker heats the bottom of the pot or pan, unlike conventional stoves, where the burner itself heats up.

Make sure that the size of the cookware matches or is slightly larger than the diameter of the burner.

The bottom of the cookware must be clean and level in order to fit tightly to the burner, and, accordingly, for better heat transfer.
Cook with the lid closed, so you will not waste electricity heating the air.

Turn off the stove a few minutes before the end of cooking and use the residual heat. Use the maximum mode only for the initial heating, then reduce the power.

Make sure the oven doors close tightly.

Use a kettle to heat water; it will be more economical than using an electric stove.

Turn off the iron 10 minutes before you plan to finish ironing, use the residual heat, it will remain hot enough for a long time. To avoid wasting energy on heating the ironing board itself, wrap it in foil. Do not dry your laundry too much; it is much faster and more convenient to iron slightly damp laundry. For each type of fabric, use the appropriate mode.

Before turning on the air conditioners and split systems, make sure that the windows are closed, otherwise you will simply cool the street. Select these devices based on your actual room size; a small and not very powerful air conditioner can handle a small volume.

Insulate the room, install good plastic windows, and you will turn on the electric heater less often.

Reduce the brightness of your computer monitor. And if you still have an outdated monitor with an electro-ray tube, then, without hesitation, replace it with a more economical LCD monitor, the same goes for an outdated TV. In general, all modern equipment consumes much less electricity than its old counterparts from 5-10 years ago. Do not unnecessarily turn on additional devices, such as a printer or scanner, at the same time as the computer.

Light / Energy Saving

An ordinary consumer can save energy not only by switching from outdated incandescent lamps to LEDs, but also by using energy-efficient appliances at home. Energy-saving refrigerators, washing machines and irons are available in Russian electronics stores, but so far, unfortunately, buyers pay little attention to their “frugality”.

Energy saving appliances

In recent years, consumers of household appliances have begun to pay attention not only to the appearance and set of functions of the purchased product, but also to think about how much they will have to pay for the electricity that this product consumes. True, this applies most of all to residents of the European Union, who pay close attention to what equipment they use. Because their electricity bill directly depends on it. “Of course, innovative solutions are always more expensive than those that meet the current state of technology. But nevertheless, people are willing to pay extra for owning a modern device that does its job no worse than traditional ones, and in fact, invest in reducing their costs in the future,” says BSH CEO Hans Kersten Hrubesch.

Different household appliances use electricity differently. The refrigerator has the highest energy consumption. Refrigerators and freezers use more electricity in a household than other appliances because they run continuously. They account for an average of 33% of household electricity consumption. Therefore, manufacturers pay great attention to refrigeration equipment. For example, some companies use plastic in the production of refrigeration units, which reduces the thermal conductivity of the refrigerator body. It is used by almost all major global manufacturers of household appliances. Then technologies that work together come into play, for example, electronic separate control of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, NoFrost technology, which saves energy by preventing the formation of ice in the freezer. Manufacturers are trying to make the compressor powerful, but economical.

Washing machines use the most energy when heating water. Therefore, some manufacturers have developed models of washing machines that can be connected directly to hot water. Which helps save up to 72% of energy compared to devices designed to supply only cold water (washing at 40 degrees). In addition, the automatic load sensor ensures that only the right amount of water is supplied to achieve the best washing results - thus reducing energy consumption.

Dishwashers are becoming increasingly popular in Russia, and it turns out that they are more economical than washing dishes by hand. Modern automatic programs that dishwashers are equipped with independently control the amount of water, its temperature and cycle time, depending on the degree of soiling of the dishes. Compared to 1990, daily electricity consumption has decreased by 79% in refrigerators, by 75% in freezers, and by 61% in refrigerator-freezer combinations.

The most difficult thing to control is the energy efficiency of electric stoves, since the energy consumption in this case mainly depends on the user. But despite this, modern electric stoves, according to WWF, are 30% more economical than old floor-mounted electric stoves. Efficiency is achieved through the use of sophisticated technologies, for example using sensors that maintain the temperature required for cooking, which saves energy. And some stoves are able to recognize whether there is a dish on the burner, determine the diameter of its bottom and adjust the area of the heated surface accordingly. This stove also helps save energy. Well, if we talk about smaller household appliances, then the vacuum cleaner consumes the most electricity.

Everyone also knows about the high energy consumption when using electric kettles and irons. However, manufacturing companies can now offer these devices in energy-saving modifications. Philips, for example, has released two models of kettles designed specifically for economical and efficient use of water.

Both kettles use a flat heating element that heats water quickly - for example, heating one cup in less than 45 seconds. In addition, the new kettles feature a universal cup indication, so now you can always brew tea for the required number of people. All this allows you to avoid repeated boiling of water and reduce energy costs by 20%.

Thanks to an innovative double-filter anti-lime filter that prevents scale particles from getting into your drink, the new Philips kettles ensure perfectly clean water.

The body of the new products is made of polished steel and always remains cold, while the design of the kettles takes into account a variety of tastes. Thanks to the steel body, the new Philips kettles are strong and durable, non-slip feet and a 360-degree Pirouette stand ensure the devices are safe and stable on any surface.

As for irons, Philips has a range of these EnergyCare devices that can save up to 20% on energy when caring for clothes. The new series demonstrates that caring for the environment can be effective and does not require time or financial investment. Thanks to the new irons, even the most complex fabrics will be ironed perfectly, without affecting the family budget at all.

Up to 90% of the energy consumed by the iron is used to ensure a continuous steam flow. Steam is only required during ironing, which often wastes electricity. Using steam only when needed, EnergyCare irons will help reduce energy consumption by 20% and provide excellent results.

The secret to saving energy is the automatic energy saving feature, which you can use when you press the handle of the iron. When the device is turned on, but is not moving (raised or just standing on the surface of the ironing board), steam generation automatically stops, which leads to less energy consumption.

With a powerful 100 g/min steam boost, EnergyCare irons quickly and easily iron clothes, tackling even the most stubborn creases and wrinkles. The new models also feature an improved SteamGlide soleplate, a soft handle and a large water container (300 ml) - all this makes caring for clothes as easy as possible, while the patented Steam Tip ensures perfect smoothing of the most difficult to reach areas. The drip-stop system and Double Active Calc anti-scale system prevent stains. The flagship model of the GC3660 line is equipped with an automatic shut-off system, which will allow you not to worry about the iron not being unplugged.

EnergyCare irons are as easy to use as other Philips irons, while delivering significant savings on your energy bills. The energy that the iron saves over the course of a year is enough to light 35 40 W light bulbs for each ironing session.

“Today, the list of energy-saving devices is not limited to lamps and small household appliances,” the Eldorado company told BG. According to them, such technologies are implemented in a wide variety of equipment. For example, LED TVs, thanks to diode backlighting, consume much less electricity than LCD and plasma counterparts. In addition, the service life of LEDs is three times longer than that of previous generations of TVs. The new Siemens refrigerators are manufactured using the latest energy-saving technologies and consume 289 kW per year, while other models with equal dimensions can consume up to 365 kW per year. Soon Eldorado will have a new product for the Russian market - Panasonic washing machines. They can rightly be called “green” technology of the new generation. Washing 7 kg of laundry consumes only 1.04 kW, which compared to the closest analogue (1.19 kW) looks more than decent.

Labeling of energy-saving equipment

It is not difficult to “identify” energy-saving appliances in a store: so that the buyer can immediately notice them, back in 1992 the EU decided to apply special labels to those products that have less impact on the environment and also save energy. European manufacturers of a number of types of household appliances are required to supply them with a single sticker, where the energy consumption class would be indicated in different colors and letters: from A - the most economical, to G - products with high energy consumption. Rules were established by which these classes were determined for each type of equipment, as well as additional characteristics included in the sticker. EU standards establish a relationship between, for example, the energy consumption level of a washing machine (measured in laboratory conditions) and the energy consumption class that is assigned to it based on test results. “The unification of requirements for calculating energy efficiency parameters, implemented in special standards, and uniformity in their presentation help the European consumer to find out the true “energy efficient” price of the device, without fear of cunning marketing tricks of various manufacturers. Achieving the same goal in the interests of Russian buyers while respecting the interests of the state will make a significant contribution contribution to reducing the energy intensity of individual components of the Russian economy and will become an example of a civilized approach to energy consumption and environmental conservation,” says Hans Kersten Hrubesch.

However, the Russian buyer is not yet too concerned about the safe environmental impact of his iron or TV. “The topic of energy saving is not yet very relevant among Russian consumers. But due to the fact that this topic is increasingly being raised and discussed in the media, social media, and is actively supported by the government, the environmental consciousness of Russian citizens is growing. Accordingly, the demand for energy-saving equipment is increasing. We predict “that it will grow even more in the coming years,” says the M.Video company. Eldorado shares the same position: “Unfortunately, energy efficiency is not yet considered among the main selection criteria, unlike, for example, in European countries. However, we expect that its popularity will grow over time. This will be facilitated by including the increasingly large-scale introduction of such technologies in household appliances and electronics and further work to popularize them.”

Energy saving: culture of electricity consumption

When choosing household appliances, Russian consumers rarely worry about their energy efficiency. There are quite a few ways to popularize the topic of energy saving. For example, BSH says that European buyers appreciated the company's efforts: last year, the number of highly energy-efficient appliances sold in Europe was double the previous year. Hans Kersten Hrubesch says that to visualize energy savings, so-called virtual energy meters have been installed on BSH websites in different countries, which allow you to evaluate in monetary terms the amount of savings achieved when using a selected product from the current range in comparison with a BSH product with similar functions. but released 15 years ago. In the near future, the company promises to give Russian consumers the opportunity to use this service.

To promote energy-saving equipment, there are many mechanisms that can be effective in the interaction of sales and marketing of manufacturing companies, says Mr. Hrubesch. But the available opportunities do not end there - some energy supply companies, such as Mosenergosbyt OJSC, invest a lot of money in educational activities for their customers aimed at reducing their energy costs. This respectable socially beneficial activity involves teaching simple techniques for saving energy: optimizing room lighting and the location of refrigeration appliances, timely replacement of vacuum cleaner dust collectors, unplugging unused appliances and, of course, replacing old-generation household appliances with new energy-saving appliances.

The Eldorado company believes that it is necessary to promote sales of energy-saving equipment, although they note that the difference in price between low-energy equipment and traditional models can reach 20% or more. “This is due to both our goal of helping customers make the right choices and our desire to help reduce the burden on the environment. Using such technology can also have a positive impact on the family budget. That’s why we offer products from leading brands that incorporate the latest technologies in this sphere, and inform buyers about their capabilities. Information on compliance with energy-saving standards is included, for example, in the description of computers and laptops. All large household appliances are equipped with energy efficiency stickers, which indicate all the main parameters: electricity consumption, refrigerator compartment volume or maximum load of the washing machine ", they say in Eldorado.

The M.Video company also takes a very active position in the issue of popularizing energy-saving equipment and promoting environmental initiatives. For two years, the company has been a partner of the global Earth Hour campaign, taking place in Russia under the patronage of WWF. In all M.Video hypermarkets, TV and computer screens, as well as signs on the facade, were turned off for an hour, and the lights in the hall were dimmed. And in 2009, the company stopped selling conventional incandescent lamps and switched to selling energy-saving lamps. Currently, M.Video is holding a campaign called “Defenders of the Planet,” under which special prices apply to energy-saving products—washing machines, air conditioners, and televisions. This action is the next stage of the global environmental program "M.Video", aimed at the effective and rational use of natural resources and minimizing the harmful impact on the environment.

In addition, companies are opening energy efficiency centers in Russia, which regularly advise high school students, housewives and anyone else on energy saving issues in their home in a clear and accessible way. For example, the president of IES-Holding, Mikhail Slobodin, told BG that the company, in collaboration with the Giprokommunenergo Institute, published the book “Collection of Energy Efficient Tips.” It contains about a hundred recommendations that will help everyone save on utility bills, and it is distributed free of charge to consumers. IES has been working on the topic of energy saving and increasing energy efficiency for several years. “We want not only to increase the efficiency of energy use at our enterprises, but also to contribute to the development of a culture of energy consumption in Russia. That is why we decided to collect and publish useful tips on how to save electricity, heat and water at home,” says Mikhail Slobodin.

How to save electricity at home

Appliances	Reasons for increased energy consumption	Way to solve the problem
	Turned on for 10 min. and a 1.5 kWh electric kettle fully filled with water increases energy consumption by 0.25 kWh. Every morning, 3 million kettles, turned on as if on command, consume 0.75 million kWh, and per month - 22.5 million kWh (for comparison: the monthly electricity generation of one of the largest power plants in the capital region - GRES-24 - is 195.3 million kWh)	Pour the amount of water needed for a cup of tea in the morning, for example a quarter of a teapot
	As a result of repeated heating and boiling of water, scale is formed on the inner walls of the electric kettle, which has low thermal conductivity. Therefore, the water in such a kettle heats up slowly	Remove scale from the electric kettle in a timely manner
Electric stove	When choosing cookware that does not match the size of the electric stove, 5-10% of energy is lost. Dishes with a curved bottom can lead to excessive energy consumption of up to 40-60%. Rapid evaporation of water extends cooking time by 20-30%	To save energy on electric stoves, you must use cookware without defects and with a bottom that is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the burner. When cooking, it is advisable to cover the pan with a lid. After boiling food, it is better to switch to low-temperature cooking mode
Washing machine	When the washing machine is not fully loaded, excess energy consumption occurs by approximately 10-15%. If the washing program is incorrect - up to 30%	You should not neglect the instructions for the washing machine, which outline the features of each of its operating modes and the standards for loading laundry.
Lighting	If lighting fixtures are incorrectly selected and outdated electrical appliances are used, excess energy consumption is up to 50%	Replacing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps will provide at least fourfold energy savings. A modern energy-saving lamp lasts 10 thousand hours, while an incandescent lamp lasts an average of 1.5 thousand hours, that is, 6-7 times less. But at the same time its cost is approximately twice as much. The 11 W compact fluorescent lamp replaces the 60 W incandescent lamp. The costs are recouped in less than a year, and it lasts 3-4 years. In addition, do not neglect natural light. Light curtains, light wallpaper and ceiling, clean windows, a moderate amount of colors on the window sills will increase the illumination of the apartment and office and reduce the use of lamps
Fridge	If you place a refrigerator in a room where the temperature reaches +30°C, the energy consumption will double	The refrigerator should be placed in the coolest place in the kitchen, preferably near an outer wall, but in no case near the stove
	To iron overdried laundry, you need a hotter iron, which means more energy consumption	To save a little when ironing, leave the laundry a little under-dried.
	When using a vacuum cleaner, a dust bag that is one-third full reduces suction by 40%, and accordingly, energy consumption increases by the same amount.	Empty your vacuum cleaner's dust container more often
Any household equipment left in standby mode (not unplugged)	A TV with a medium-sized screen (with a diagonal of 20-21 inches) consumes 297 Wh per day in standby mode, and 8910 per month, that is, almost 9 kWh, a music center - almost 8 kWh per month, a VCR - almost 4 kWh per month
A cell phone charger left plugged in will become hot, even if there is no phone there. This happens because the device still consumes electricity. 95% of energy is wasted when the charger is always plugged in	Do not leave the equipment in standby mode; unplug it. Switching off unused devices from the network will reduce electricity consumption to an average of 300 kWh per year and save up to 5 thousand rubles.

Turn off the lights when moving from room to room. Install thermal motion sensors that will turn off the lights for you.
Use local lighting: backlights, floor lamps, sconces. For example, in order not to turn on the main light sources every time, it is better to install LED strip lighting in the room.
Remember that cleanliness is the key to saving. Dirty windows and dusty lampshades reduce the level of illumination in the room by up to 35%.
When making repairs, keep in mind that light walls will reflect up to 80% of the light flux, and dark ones - only about 12%.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving and LED ones. Replacing just one lamp will save about 1,000 rubles per year.

Let's take Moscow, for example. 1 kWh in the capital costs Electricity tariffs for the population and equivalent categories of consumers in the territory of Moscow, with the exception of the Troitsky and Novomoskovsky administrative districts 5.38 rubles. Let’s imagine that in three apartments, three light bulbs are lit for eight hours a day: LED, energy-saving and incandescent. For a more objective picture, we will choose lamps of such power that they provide approximately the same level of illumination. And this is what we get.

Lamp type	LED	Energy saving	Incandescent
Power consumption, kW	0,013	0,025	0,1
Lamp life, hours	50 000	8 000	1 000
Lamp cost, rub.	248	200	11
Cost per hour of operation Cost of an hour of operation = tariff × power + lamp cost ⁄ resource, rub.	0,0749	0,1595	0,549
Hourly savings Hourly savings = cost of operating an incandescent lamp − cost of operating a comparable lamp, rub.	0,4741	0,3895	-
Payback period Payback period in hours = (cost of lamp − cost of incandescent lamp) ⁄ hourly savings, watch	499,89	485,24	-
Payback period Payback period in days = payback period in hours ⁄ 8, days	62,49	60,65	-
Annual savings Annual savings = (8 × 365 − payback period in hours) × hourly savings, rub.	1147,37	948,34	-

It turns out that in two months one energy-saving lamp will allow you to save 40 kopecks every hour, and 10 light bulbs will save 4 rubles.

Use electrical appliances correctly

In the absence of a two-tariff system, turn off all non-essential electrical appliances at night, and chargers after the equipment is fully charged.
The refrigerator must be defrosted regularly if it does not have a special No Frost system. Make sure that the device is positioned as far as possible from heating appliances and that natural ventilation of the rear wall is provided. Place only cooled dishes in it!
Monitor the performance of the electric stove burners and place only suitable sized dishes with a flat bottom on them.
Cover pots and pans with lids: they reduce heat loss by almost three times.
Try not to overload the washing machine (overloading increases electricity consumption by up to 10%) and use a medium temperature setting. Washing at 30 degrees uses 35% less energy than washing at 40 degrees.
Use an electric kettle instead of an electric stove to heat water. This will be much more economical. Boil only the volume of liquid that is needed at the moment.
Clean your air conditioner fans and filters regularly.
Items that require a low temperature setting after turning off the iron.
Do not leave equipment, including microwaves, televisions, computers, scanners, printers, modems, in standby mode. This will save more than 200 kW per year.
Use electrical outlets with a timer.

Buy energy-saving household appliances

All electrical appliances are marked with Latin letters from A+++ to G. Choose equipment with a low energy consumption class, marked A and B.
Buy appliances that use the latest energy-saving technologies. For example, induction cooktops are becoming increasingly popular, heating only the bottom of the cookware and not wasting energy. The efficiency of such stoves reaches 95%!

Install a two-tariff meter

A two-tariff meter allows you to save at night. Such meters are beneficial for those who can use energy-intensive household appliances: dishwasher and washing machine, bread machine - from 23.00 to 7.00. On average, the meter pays for itself in a year.

Don't waste your heat

Instead of using a traditional heater, use an air conditioner set to heating mode. If the manufacturer allows it, of course. Many air conditioners cannot be used at subzero temperatures.
An infrared heater is 30–80% more economical than others.
If your home has electric radiators, try to keep them clean so that dust does not absorb some of the heat and you do not have to increase the temperature.
When using a water heater, reduce the water heating temperature.
Replace the storage water heater with a flow-through one. This way you won’t waste electricity constantly maintaining a certain water temperature.
Heat water only when necessary. Unplug the boiler when you leave home and at night.
Once every three months, clean the water heater from, which increases energy consumption by 15–20%.
- Disconnect the device from the network and turn off the water supply.
- Drain completely.
- Remove the boiler cover, carefully disconnect the wires and unscrew the thermostat.
- Unscrew the nuts holding the flange. Push the flange up, rotate it and pull it out.
- Now you can clean the heating element with a wire brush. A solution of acetic acid and hot water (1:5) will also help get rid of plaque. Just place the heating element in it for 30 minutes and make sure that the sealing rubber does not come into contact with the acid.

*Appliances*	Reason for increased electricity consumption	Way to solve the problem
	To iron overdried laundry, you need a hotter iron, which means more energy consumption	To save a little when ironing, leave the laundry a little under-dried.
Fridge	If you place a refrigerator in a room where the temperature reaches 30 degrees, the energy consumption will double	The refrigerator should be placed in the coolest place in the kitchen, preferably near an outer wall, but in no case near the stove
Electric kettle	An electric kettle with a capacity of 1.5 kW/h turned on for 10 minutes and completely filled with water increases energy consumption by 0.25 kW/h. Every morning, 3 million kettles, turned on as if on command, consume 0.75 million kW/h, and per month - 22.5 million kW/h (for comparison, the monthly electricity generation of one of the largest power plants in the capital region - GRES-24 - is 195.3 million kW/h).	Pour the amount of water needed for a cup of tea in the morning - for example, a quarter of a teapot.
Electric kettle	As a result of repeated heating and boiling of water, scale is formed on the inner walls of the electric kettle, which has low thermal conductivity. Therefore, the water in such a kettle heats up slowly	Remove scale from the electric kettle in a timely manner
Electric stove	When choosing cookware that does not match the size of the electric stove, 5-10 percent of energy is lost. Dishes with a curved bottom can lead to excessive energy consumption of up to 40-60 percent	To save energy on electric stoves, it is necessary to use cookware without defects and with a bottom that is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the burner
Electric stove	Rapid evaporation of water extends cooking time by 20-30 percent	When cooking, it is advisable to cover the pan with a lid. After boiling food, it is better to switch to low-temperature cooking mode
Washing machine	When the washing machine is not fully loaded, electricity is overused by approximately 10-15 percent. With an incorrect washing program - up to 30 percent.	You should not neglect the instructions for the washing machine, which outline the features of each of its operating modes and the standards for loading laundry.
Lighting	With the incorrect selection of lighting fixtures and the use of outdated electrical appliances, excess energy consumption is up to 50 percent	Replacing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps will provide at least 4-fold energy savings. A modern energy-saving lamp lasts 10 thousand hours, while an incandescent lamp lasts an average of 1.5 thousand hours, that is, 6-7 times less. But at the same time its cost is approximately twice as much. The 11 W compact fluorescent lamp replaces the 60 W incandescent lamp. The costs are recouped in less than a year, and it lasts 3-4 years. In addition, do not neglect natural light. Light curtains, light wallpaper and ceiling, clean windows, a moderate amount of colors on the window sills will increase the illumination of the apartment and office and reduce the use of lamps
	When using a vacuum cleaner, a dust bag that is one-third full reduces suction by 40 percent, and accordingly, energy consumption increases by the same amount.	Empty your vacuum cleaner's dust container more often
Any household equipment left in standby mode (not unplugged)	A TV with a medium-sized screen (with a diagonal of 20-21 inches) consumes 297 W/h per day in standby mode, and 8910 per month, that is, almost 9 kW/h, music center - almost 8 kW/h per month, video recorder - almost 4 kW/h per month. A cell phone charger left plugged in will become hot, even if there is no phone there. This happens because the device still consumes electricity. 95 percent of energy is wasted when the charger is always plugged in	Do not leave the equipment in "standby" mode - unplug it. Turning off unused devices from the network will reduce electricity consumption to an average of 300 kW/h per year and save up to 5,000 rubles

Renewable energy sources:

The combination of solar panels and a wood stove is an ideal year-round renewable heating source. Solar panels can provide up to 60% of your hot water consumption free of charge (80 to 90% in summer).

Using simple passive solar home design techniques can have a significant impact on energy use. Simply orienting your home south to maximize daylight can reduce energy bills by 30%.

Installing an unheated screened porch (or balcony glass) on the south side of the house increases solar gain and provides insulation.

Space heating and water heating use more than 70% of a home's energy, so using clean, renewable energy (wood, solar panels or heat pumps) not only greatly improves the environment, but also saves you money.

Wood is an environmentally friendly fuel that you can use without fear of the formation of harmful greenhouse gases from organic fuels. Instead of using coal or peat, add wood to the fire. While peat or coal takes several thousand years to form, wood is a fuel that takes 3-70 years to grow.

Using renewable energy sources such as solar power or wood to heat our homes reduces our dependence on polluting fossil fuels (such as oil and coal).

If you recycle glass and paper, you save money, energy, raw materials, and also reduce environmental pollution.

Alternative heating systems:

Heat pumps, which harvest solar energy stored in the ground, provide year-round heating and water heating at a fraction of the cost of a traditional heating system.

A modern wood stove is more efficient than a fireplace (heat output is 80% compared to 20-30%).

Lighting:
Turn off the lights when leaving the room.
Use area lighting instead of lighting the entire room if only a small amount of light is needed.
Regularly clean lamps, reflectors and lampshades from dust and dirt.

Timers:
Use a timer for your heating system. This will provide you with sufficient heat and the amount of hot water that you need at a particular moment.

Shower:
Take a shower, not a bath. A standard shower uses only 1/5 of the energy required for a bath.

Computer:
Set your computer to power saving mode, which will automatically switch to low power consumption.
Turn off your computer screen to save energy.
Turning off your computer at night will reduce its energy consumption by 25% per year. You should turn off your computer if you will not be using it for more than an hour.

TV:
The TV in standby mode can use up to 50% of the electricity it consumes during operation.

Refrigerator/Freezer:
Do not allow ice to accumulate in the freezer as this will increase energy consumption. Remember to defrost and clean your fridge and freezer at least every 6 months and make sure it is located in a cool place, not close to the stove or boiler, or in direct sunlight.
Make sure that the refrigerator and freezer doors close tightly - if they fit tightly, the gasket will hold the 100 ruble banknote when the door is closed.
Do not put warm or hot food in the refrigerator, let it cool first.

Cooking:
When cooking, cover pots with lids and reduce heat as soon as the water boils. The lid not only keeps the pan warm, but also reduces condensation in the kitchen.
When using an electric stove, turn off the burner in advance and use the residual heat to finish cooking.

Unfortunately, energy-saving cookware is underutilized. For example, steamer pans, casserole dishes, microwave ovens, pressure cookers. They save both energy and time - and the results are better!

Microwave:
When cooking in the microwave, distribute foods of uneven size so that the thicker part is closer to the outside. Stir or turn food to speed up cooking time. A microwave oven is more effective at reheating previously cooked food than an oven.

Electric oven:
Electric ovens are expensive to operate - use them as rarely and efficiently as possible. If possible, use the oven to cook more than one dish and remember that you can cook at a high temperature in the upper part of the oven and at a low temperature in the lower part at the same time.
Do not open the oven door to check if the food is ready - every time you do this, you lose 20% of the accumulated heat.

Toasters and kettles:
A toaster is more energy efficient for toasting bread than a grill.
When making tea or coffee, boil only the amount of water you need (be sure to make sure that the heating element in the electric kettle is covered with water!).

Drum dryers:
When drying laundry, dry heavy items separately from light ones and turn off the dryer as soon as the items are dry - do not overdry the laundry!

Washing machines:
When selecting a wash cycle, wash at the lowest temperature suitable for washing specific items. A full load is more energy efficient than two partial loads. Rinse items in cold water.

Dishwashers:
Turn off the dishwasher before the dry cycle and open the door to allow dishes to air dry. Always use Eco mode whenever possible.

Electrically heated blankets:
Turn on the electric heating no earlier than half an hour before you go to bed, and turn it off before you go to bed.

When purchasing electrical appliances, consider the following factors:

Electrical appliances:
Be demanding when making purchases, check the energy efficiency labels of appliances. If possible, try to buy devices marked “A”; they will not only save you money during their service life, but will also reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL):
These bulbs use only a fraction of the electricity and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs - install more of these bulbs in your home!

Electric heaters:
When purchasing electric heaters, make sure they are the right size for the rooms they will heat. Remember that electric heaters are very expensive to operate.

Heaters:
When purchasing space heaters, make sure they are the right size for the rooms where they will be installed and that they have built-in thermostats.
If you only need to heat one room, use a room or portable heater rather than a central heating system.
Buy heaters with built-in thermostats and timers.

Central heating systems:
Turn off the heating at night and when you are away during the day, or reduce the temperature for a while by programming a timer.
Regular maintenance and proper operation of the heating system can reduce fuel consumption by 10-20%.
If you use gas heating, turn off the igniter at the end of the heating season.
Heat bedrooms to a temperature not exceeding 18 degrees. WITH.
20 deg. C is the ideal room temperature. Reducing the thermostat temperature setting by only 1 degree. C will reduce your annual heating costs by 10% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere by the same amount.

Heat loss:
An open fire in a fireplace wastes energy, with more than 70% of it going up the chimney.
If the radiator is installed under a window, a reflective sill or shelf will direct warm air into the room, reducing heat loss through the window.
Close doors to separate heated rooms in your home from unheated ones, and reduce heating areas.
Do not block the radiators with furniture, otherwise it will not be the air in the room that will be heated, but the furniture.
Caulk the windows during the heating season, you will save a lot of heat!

Hot water heating:
Use a timer or boilers. This should provide enough water as needed.
Hot water heating is responsible for 64% of home energy consumption: save hot water.
90% of the energy used by washing machines goes to heating water. Try to wash clothes in cool or cold water. In addition to saving energy, your machine will last longer, as scale will not form in it, and clothes will wear out less.

Thermal insulation:
Most heat is lost through windows, especially if double glazing is not installed. Close the curtains at night, but make sure they do not cover the radiators (otherwise the radiators will heat the curtains and not the air in the room).
Install (if there is enough space) reflective foil along with insulating material behind the radiator.
The cost of thermal insulation on a hot water tank will pay off in 2-3 months.
When replacing your hot water tank, consider purchasing a tank with built-in insulation. This insulation is more effective, more durable, and more difficult to dislodge.
Insulate your attic and save up to 20% on heating costs.