Save energy at home: Easy energy saving tips for your home

Written by: Helene Ausserwöger, 19.09.2024

You’re moving out of your parents’ home and facing your electricity bill for the first time. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, smart energy use and saving electricity is key. This is not only good for the environment but also for your wallet. Every watt you save is a small contribution to your own budget. Phones, laptops, TVs – our electricity consumption is constantly rising, and many devices continue to use power even when turned off.

We’ve got some simple tips to help you identify energy guzzlers and save energy in your daily life.

Table of Contents:

Lower electricity consumption at home: Simple measures

The kitchen is home to some of the biggest power guzzlers: oven, stove, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, kettle, toaster, and deep fryer – often consuming more energy than you might think. But there’s also potential to reduce energy consumption in other areas of the household outside the kitchen. Here are some general tips and a few simple measures on how you can effectively save electricity in your home.

Set your fridge and freezer correctly to save electricity

Refrigerators and freezers are major culprits when it comes to needing large amounts of electricity.

  • Consider energy efficiency: When buying, ensure that the appliances have an energy efficiency label and a high energy efficiency rating.
  • Optimal placement: Refrigerators and freezers should not be placed next to heat-generating appliances (like ovens) as this causes them to use more power to cool.
  • Close doors quickly: Don’t leave the refrigerator door open for too long; close it quickly to keep the cold in and the heat out.
  • Set the right temperature: 7°C is sufficient for the refrigerator, while -18°C is ideal for the freezer.
  • Defrost regularly: Too much ice inside reduces your freezer’s efficiency.
  • Let food cool down: Hot foods cause the refrigerator to use more energy to cool down again

Use full loads: Efficient washing of laundry and dishes

Think twice before starting the washing machine or dishwasher – you’ll save electricity, water, and money.

  • Load machines fully: Run the dishwasher only when it’s full, and wait until you have enough laundry for a full load.
  • Cold and short wash cycles: Use a maximum of 40°C and opt for short, energy-saving, eco-friendly, or environmental programs to conserve energy.
  • Air drying: Dry your laundry in the air instead of using a dryer to save even more electricity.

Cooking and baking: Reduce energy consumption in daily life

With a few simple tricks, you can significantly reduce your electricity consumption when cooking and baking:

  • Use the oven efficiently: Skip preheating or keep it short, and use convection mode if possible.
  • Use residual heat: Make the most of the residual heat from your stove and oven. Ceramic cooktops stay hot for a while after being turned off – great for keeping dishes warm.
  • One-pot meals: The fewer separate stove-tops you use, the lower your electricity consumption. How about trying one of these one-pot pasta recipes? Delicious and energy-saving.
  • Match cookware size: Choose pots that match the size of the stove-top to avoid wasting energy.
  • Use lids: When cooking on the stove, use a lid to keep the heat in the pot so you can lower the stove’s temperature.

You can find additional tips on saving money while cooking here!

Boiling water: Efficient methods to save energy

You can easily save energy when boiling water by using the right methods:

  • Use a kettle: The most efficient way is definitely with a kettle, as it uses less electricity than boiling water in a pot on the stove.
  • Turn it off immediately: Switch off the kettle as soon as the water boils, as many devices continue to heat unnecessarily.
  • Only heat what you need: Always boil only the amount of water you actually need. Every unnecessary extra litre of water drains your electricity and money.

Save water and decrease electricity consumption simultaneously

Heating water in electric boilers consumes a lot of electricity. So there is significant potential for saving energy at home. With a few simple measures, you can save both water and energy:

  • Use cold water: Use cold water for brushing your teeth and washing your face.
  • Keep showers warm, not hot: Too hot showers are not only bad for your skin but also consume more electricity. Short showers are more energy-efficient than long ones.
  • Wash efficiently: Set your washing machine to a maximum of 40°C if possible. The rule of thumb is: the faster and hotter the wash, the higher the electricity consumption.
  • Use water efficiently: Only run water when necessary – such as turning it off while soaping up in the shower and only running it for rinsing.
  • Install water-saving fixtures: Installing water-saving fixtures, such as aerators for faucets, can reduce water flow and save energy.

Reduce your water heating expenses and ventilating properly

In winter, it gets colder, and we often turn the heating (sometimes way too) high, which consumes a lot of energy. You can easily minimise consumption with a few simple steps:

  • Dress warmly: Whether it’s an electric or gas heater – before turning up the heat in fall and winter, put on thick socks and a jumper. A cosy winter outfit helps you avoid heating more than necessary.
  • Keep radiators clear: Ensure that radiators aren’t blocked by furniture or curtains. Clear radiators can distribute heat better and work more efficiently.
  • Clean radiators: Dust and dirt on radiators reduce their heating efficiency. Clean radiators warm the room faster and more economically.
  • Seal doors and windows: Leaky windows and doors let cold air in and warm air out. Seals or draft stoppers help keep warmth inside and reduce heating costs.
  • Ventilate properly: Ventilate regularly but briefly by fully opening the windows and creating a draft. Avoid keeping windows slightly open for long periods, as it cools down the room and wastes energy unnecessarily.

Identify and eliminate energy guzzlers at home

There are many hidden energy guzzlers in the household that cause high electricity costs without you noticing. Often, these are old, inefficient devices or ones that continue to consume power even in standby mode. To reduce household costs and protect the environment, it’s important to take a closer look at your electricity consumption at home. By identifying and eliminating energy guzzlers, you can significantly reduce your electricity usage and save money in the long run.

Avoid standby mode: The hidden energy guzzler

Devices in standby mode often consume surprisingly high amounts of electricity – sometimes more than when they’re fully turned off. Makes sense, right? Yet, many devices like TVs, computers, printers, and gaming consoles remain on standby even when not in use. Here are some tips to minimise standby consumption:

  • Completely turn off devices: Avoid standby mode by fully switching off devices. Standby consumes unnecessary power, even when the device appears to be off.
  • Recognise standby mode: Devices in standby can often be identified by warm power adapters, indicator lights, or time displays.
  • Unplug: A simple but effective method is to unplug devices when they’re not needed.
  • Use switchable power strips: Use power strips with an on/off switch to disconnect multiple devices from the power source simultaneously.
  • Use a power metre: This allows you to measure the consumption of devices in standby mode and identify the biggest energy guzzlers.

Unplug devices when not in use

Most people unplug their device but leave the charging cable in the outlet. What many don’t know is that a plugged-in charging cable continues to use electricity even without a device connected. To save unnecessary energy, it’s worth changing a few habits:

  • Unplug charging cables: Remove the charging cable completely from the outlet after charging to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.
  • Use smart plugs: Smart plugs allow you to turn devices on and off conveniently via an app or automatically on a timer.
  • Devices that should always be unplugged: Charging cables, computers, hairdryers, gaming consoles, and kitchen appliances like toasters or coffee machines should always be unplugged after use.

Optimise lighting and reduce electricity costs

Lighting accounts for a large portion of electricity consumption in the household. By choosing energy-efficient light sources, optimising lamp placement, and using light sources mindfully, you can save electricity and protect the environment.

  • Choose efficient light bulbs: Opt for LED or energy-saving bulbs, which consume significantly less electricity than traditional light bulbs.
  • Turn off the lights: Don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave a room.
  • Use natural light: Make the most of natural daylight whenever possible, instead of using artificial lighting.
  • Targeted lighting: Use desk lamps instead of ceiling lights, as they often consume less electricity.
  • Timers and motion sensors: These ensure that lights are only on when they’re actually needed.
  • Light-coloured walls: Light walls reflect light better, making rooms brighter even with less lighting.
  • Dimmable lights: These allow you to adjust brightness as needed and save additional energy.
Energy-saving bulbs will not only make your room, but also the environment shine bright! ©Adobe Stock

Save electricity with the right devices

Choosing the right electrical appliances plays a crucial role in saving electricity at home. Modern technologies offer numerous ways to reduce energy consumption. Whether it’s a refrigerator, washing machine, or TV—by paying attention to the energy efficiency class and power consumption, you can save a significant amount of energy and costs in the long run.

Rechargeable batteries: A sustainable choice

Reusable batteries are an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional single-use batteries. They offer many benefits:

  • Sustainable and environmentally friendly: Use rechargeable batteries instead of single-use ones to reduce waste and the energy consumption associated with production.
  • Save money: In the long run, rechargeable batteries save you money, as they can be used many times, unlike single-use batteries that need constant replacement.
  • Always ready to use: With rechargeable batteries, you always have a power source at hand and will never need to rush out to buy new batteries again.
Only the best for our environment! ©Adobe Stock

Energy efficiency labels: How to choose the best devices

When buying new electrical appliances like refrigerators, freezers, TVs, or radios, you should pay attention to the energy efficiency label.

  • High efficiency rating: The label shows you how much energy a device consumes. Choose models with a high efficiency rating (A or higher) to save on electricity costs.
  • Long-term savings: Even if energy-efficient devices are sometimes more expensive to buy, they quickly make up for it through savings on electricity costs.

Use energy-saving modes: Operate devices efficiently

Many devices have a power-saving mode that disables unnecessary functions and extends battery life. The energy-saving mode is an easy way to reduce power consumption while maintaining the device’s performance.

  • Activate power-saving mode: Use the energy-saving mode on your devices to minimise power consumption when they are not actively in use.
  • Automatic power-saving mode: For devices with this feature, set the power-saving mode to activate automatically when the device has been inactive for a certain period.
  • Efficient operation: The energy-saving mode reduces screen brightness, turns off background functions, and helps your device operate efficiently for longer.

Smart solutions for reducing electricity consumption in daily life

Do you actually know how much electricity you use? Most people don’t pay much attention to their electricity consumption. However, knowing how much electricity you use is not only interesting but also helps with saving energy. With intelligent technologies and smart devices, you can conveniently and efficiently monitor and reduce your electricity consumption in everyday life.

Save electricity at home with a smart metre

Many Austrian households now have a smart electricity metre. This digital metre regularly sends data to the central system, allowing for accurate descriptions and forecasts of electricity consumption.

  • Benefits of a smart metre: By continuously monitoring your consumption, you gain a better overview of your energy needs and can make targeted savings.
  • Check installation: Find out from your electricity provider if a smart metre has already been installed at your home and take advantage of this smart metre to use energy more efficiently.
Keeping an eye on your electricity consumption is easy - give it a try! ©Adobe Stock

Monitor energy usage and understand your electricity consumption

To better understand your electricity consumption, you can use power metres to accurately analyse how much energy individual appliances in your household actually use. This helps identify energy guzzlers so you can target areas for savings. You can find these metres at any electronics store (e.g., Media Markt, Conrad) or online for about €15-25.

STUWO Tip: If you prefer not to spend money, you can also borrow them from energy-saving associations throughout Austria.

  • Use the Energy Savings Account: Open an account at energiesparkonto.at to record your metre readings and compare your consumption with other Austrian households.
  • Energy Check App: Enter your consumption data directly from the metre and synchronise it with your Energy Savings Account. This provides a detailed analysis of your energy use and helps you identify specific savings opportunities.

Conclusion: Save energy in daily life – A win for you and the environment

Saving energy is not only good for your wallet but also an important contribution to environmental protection. By implementing simple measures such as using energy-efficient appliances, avoiding standby mode, heating and ventilating correctly, and optimising the use of light and water, you can significantly reduce your electricity consumption. These steps help you save costs while also reducing your ecological footprint. Additionally, if you live with STUWO, you’ll be helping make the student residences a bit greener.

Bonus Tip: Switch to green electricity – while it won’t save you electricity directly, it significantly reduces CO₂ emissions. Often, green electricity is comparably priced or even cheaper than conventional electricity. It’s worth comparing!

Implement these tips and take the first step toward a more energy-efficient lifestyle. Every small contribution counts – for you, your finances, and the environment!

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