Make your home brighter
Let’s start with some advice that might seem obvious, but it’s worth repeating: to consume less electricity, we need to improve the lighting in our home. So, consider moving your desk a little closer to the window, adding a few mirrors to the walls, and think twice before repainting the bedroom or living room walls with dark shades. There’s nothing brighter than a light wall, and there are special paints on the market that increase the reflection of sunlight.
He who spends more… spends less
When it comes to household appliances, we should pay close attention to their energy efficiency class: those that consume the least are characterized by an A (which can be followed by a +, such as A+ or A++), while the most energy-consuming appliances are class G.
Sure, the better classes cost more, but the initial outlay is more than offset by the savings on your electricity bill. Don’t be stingy, or you’ll regret choosing a small initial savings later!
Tips for every appliance
The refrigerator should be kept clean, defrosted, and opened as little as possible: don’t stand there staring at its open door, hypnotized by a strange hypnosis. Every second it’s open means a few more cents to pay! For the same reason, when we return home from shopping, we should arrange the food to be put in the refrigerator neatly on a table: this will save us time and will simply save us a lot of time and money.
The washing machine should only be run at a full load, and be careful about the temperature: the higher it is, the greater the energy consumption, and be aware that washing at more than 60 degrees is simply wasteful and completely unnecessary: germs and bacteria die at temperatures lower than 80 or 90 degrees!
Dishwashers are convenient; they clean and dry dishes and glasses without you having to put in the slightest effort. But did you know that almost half of the electricity consumed is concentrated in the final stage, the drying stage? That’s why you should turn off the dishwasher at the end of the wash cycle and let the dishes dry on their own or with the help of a good old cloth.
Use an electric oven only when absolutely necessary, as a microwave is often sufficient and much more convenient. Avoid constantly opening the oven door to check on food, and turn it off before you think it’s time: the heat stored inside the oven will be sufficient to continue and finish cooking!
And the lights?
Aside from the ever-valid advice of not leaving the lights on when you leave a room… remember to replace old incandescent light bulbs with low-cost ones: fluorescent and LED light bulbs will save you a lot of money, and you could even halve your electricity bill!
One last tip: if you’re not using an electrical appliance for a long time, turn it off completely so that the small standby LED doesn’t stay on. It’s a small trick, but you’d be wise not to ignore it.
