Save smart!

Gas and electricity prices have already risen significantly since last year – and will probably skyrocket when the expected gas shortage hits in autumn. But it’s not all bad news… You can save quite a lot of energy by changing your habits and adjusting some settings in your home. While landlords are responsible for major upgrades, tenants can also make numerous adjustments themselves. In view of the current situation, that’s not only good for your own wallet, but also a win for the climate.

Heating

Around two-thirds of the energy consumed in German households is used for heating, so there is a lot of savings potential there. Studies have shown that, in extreme cases, a wasteful household needs twice as much energy to heat the same living space as an economical one. Two of the most important factors are room temperature and ventilation – and both can be directly influenced by residents.

How to heat and ventilate your home

Set the room temperature according to room use
Turn off your radiators when airing out your home!
Briefly open your windows fully to let in fresh air, opening them on opposite sides of the room where possible (don’t keep your windows tilted open for a long time)
Do not cover radiators and thermostatic valves with furniture or curtains; remove any dust deposits
Bleed your radiators on a regular basis
Check the seals on your windows and doors and repair if necessary
Set a lower temperature at night
If you are absent during the day, lower your heating settings until just before you get home; use the holiday setting if you are going to be away for several days
Close your curtains, blinds and shutters at night
If you have a gas or oil boiler at home, have the heating curve optimally adjusted by a professional
Remember to schedule regular servicing for your heating system
Electrical heaters are the most expensive form of heating

Upgrade your heat pump

Opt for high-efficiency pumps with an EEI value of ≤ 0.23
Make sure that your pumps are not oversized
Reduce your pump operating times
You may choose to turn off the hot water circulation or set a timer for the times when hot water is absolutely necessary; this will not be a problem in your own home, and the circulation pump may be operated at intervals in rental properties
Have your heating system upgraded by a specialist company and request hydraulic balancing
Replace your heat pump – more information on costs, instructions and subsidies for replacing your heat pump is available here: co2online.de

Electricity

Your ability to save electricity will vary depending on the type of building you live in, the facilities installed in your home and your own consumption habits. You can significantly reduce your energy consumption by consciously using your devices in an economical manner, and especially by opting for a more efficient alternative if a replacement is due. We have put together a few tips for saving energy:

Working from home or after work

Switch your computer and other devices to eco / energy-saving mode
If you take a short break, switch your devices to stand-by mode
If you take a longer break, switch off your devices completely at the socket
When buying new devices, only choose the technical features you actually need
Disable any features that you don’t use
Unplug chargers when your mobile devices are fully charged
In case of doubt, use an instrument to check whether a device’s power switch actually disconnects it from the mains or merely puts it in an apparent “OFF” state

Refrigerators and freezers

Make sure the size of your refrigerator is right for your household – cooling an empty space uses up an unnecessary amount of electricity
If you have a free-standing appliance, remove dust from behind the refrigerator grille every two years
Leave hot food to cool before putting it in the refrigerator
Open your refrigerator and freezer doors as briefly and infrequently as possible; check whether the door seals are clean and intact from time to time
Use a thermometer to check the temperature inside your refrigerator: 7°C is sufficient and requires less electricity than 5°C; the ideal freezer temperature is -18°C
Defrost your appliances as soon as a clear layer of ice has formed
If you spend an extended period away from home, you should unplug your refrigerator (defrost and leave the door open)

Laundry

If it makes sense from an energy perspective, you can connect your washing machine to the hot water supply
Wash your clothes on the lowest temperature setting – 30°C is usually sufficient for slightly dirty laundry
Make good use of your washing machine’s capacity
Avoid the pre-wash and 90°C settings
Run as few gentle cycles as possible due to the small load and increased water levels
It should be possible to completely switch off your appliances or disconnect them from the mains using a switchable plug

Drying

If possible, hang your laundry outdoors or in an unheated drying room (preferably not in your heated home due to the release of moisture)
After washing your clothes, use the washing machine’s highest spin speed to remove any excess moisture from your laundry; this shortens the drying time and will save energy if your laundry is then put in a dryer or in heated rooms
Always dry similar fabrics together where possible
Fully load your appliance without overloading it; otherwise, you will end up with more creases in your laundry
Do not “over-dry” your laundry (this is automatically prevented in appliances with a moisture sensor)
It should be possible to completely switch off your appliance (not just on stand-by mode)

Cooking and baking

You can save energy by making sure that the lids for your pots and pans close tightly; glass lids don’t have to be lifted as often (make sure they have good handles)
Keep your pots, pans and electrical hobs clean; sandwich bottoms (aluminium on the inside, stainless steel on the outside) improve thermal conductivity from stove to pot and save energy (not with induction stoves)
Use the right-sized pot for each hob and the amount of food you want to cook
If you have automatic hobs, set them at the right level throughout the cooking process (read appliance instructions); this will not delay the heating process
You can make use of residual heat by switching off your appliance before the end of the planned cooking or baking time (not with induction or gas)
Keep your food and drink warm without using energy (e.g. with a thermos flask or haybox)
Defrosting food in a refrigerator can save energy in two ways: The frozen food cools the inside of the refrigerator and can then be heated up more quickly on the stove
Vegetables, potatoes and eggs do not have to be covered by water when cooked in a closed pot
Pressure cookers can reduce cooking times and energy consumption by up to 60% for long recipes and by 30 to 40% for quick recipes
You can prevent heat loss by using thermally insulated cooking pots
Pre-heating your oven is often unnecessary
You can save energy by using other appliances for certain tasks (e.g. kettle, coffee machine with thermos flask, egg cooker)

Lighting

If you are looking for new bulbs, LEDs are the best option because they consume less power than energy-saving light bulbs and can be switched on and off more frequently; however, you shouldn’t throw away any energy-saving bulbs that still work just for the sake of replacing them with LEDs
Leave your lights off when you are not at home (unless a light is switched on by a timer to deter burglars while you are on holiday)
Use general light sparingly and bright light where needed
Adjust the brightness according to use
Use motion sensors and twilight switches for outdoor lighting
If you have halogen bulbs and can’t replace them with LEDs or energy-saving bulbs, choose IRC light bulbs

Dishwasher

Have your dishwasher moved from the cold to hot water connection if your hot water is heated centrally via a solar installation
Load your dishwasher as fully as possible
Select programmes that run at a low temperature (eco programme)
Do not pre-rinse by hand

Water

It takes a lot of energy to heat water, but you can reduce your water and electricity consumption every day with a few little tricks.

Everyday savings

You can use around 50% less water – and save lots of energy – by taking a shower instead of a bath
Minimise the time you spend in the shower and make sure the water isn’t too hot
Wash your hands and clean your teeth with cold water
Always fully load your washing machine and dishwasher and run them on eco mode; this may take a little longer, but it saves water and energy