Saving energy in everyday life: The following six mistakes will cost you money in summer

Created: 05/31/2022, 09:27

By: Juliane Gutmann

Are you currently having trouble sleeping with energy prices?

You can combat the rising costs by developing a few simple routines.

Rising fuel and energy costs are currently making life even more expensive.

The former can be counteracted with more frequent use of buses, trains and other public transport.

Some also use their bikes to save fuel.

Saving is even more difficult in your own household.

But electricity and heating costs can also be curbed by following a few simple rules.

Better to “lock out” the sun if you want to save energy.

© Rene Traut/Imago

Saving energy in summer: Six tricks can help

The six summer savings tips result in the following mistakes that drive up your energy costs:

• Leaving the window open all day

  : Please don't make this mistake.

  Because once the warm outside air has heated up the apartment, it is difficult to cool it down again.

  It is therefore better to keep the windows closed when it is summer outside and only ventilate the room at night or in the cool morning hours.

  Draft is best here: Open all windows and doors at night or in the morning so that the cool air can penetrate your entire living space.

• You think sun protection is superfluous

  : a mistake that will make itself felt on the electricity bill.

  Because when the sun bangs unhindered on window fronts, living rooms heat up so much that the fan or air conditioning inside has to be switched on.

  Better: Put outdoor blinds on your windows and close them when the sun reaches the windows.

  If roller shutters are not an option - for example because the landlord does not allow them - you should close internal blinds, pleated blinds or curtains during the day, according to the recommendation of the Federal Environment Agency.

  Choose light-colored products because dark fabrics additionally heat up the room, it is said.

• You use an air conditioner

  : Air conditioners use a lot of electricity.

  A good and energy-saving alternative: fans.

  According to the Federal Environment Agency, ceiling, room and table fans consume 20 to 50 times less power than air conditioners and therefore use less electricity.

  They won't cool the room down, but the movement of the air gives the impression of a cooler room temperature.

• There are no plants in your home

  : Potted plants also lower the perceived temperature because they evaporate water.

• Televisions, lights and other power guzzlers are constantly switched on

  : Electrical devices such as PCs, kettles or TVs produce heat.

  Therefore, switch off everything that is currently not needed in order not to heat up the room temperature unnecessarily.

  Don't forget the lamps, they also radiate heat.

• An air conditioner is constantly running

  : According to the Federal Environment Agency, electricity costs can quickly add up to 50 cents per hour of operation if you use an air conditioner.

  So try to keep usage to a minimum.