Saving energy: How to find the most expensive energy guzzlers in the home

Created: 06/14/2022, 15:15

By: Helena Gries, Svenja Wallocha

Electricity and energy prices in Germany are currently rising rapidly.

With a few tips, you can find the biggest power guzzlers in your household and save energy.

Kassel – Consumers throughout Germany are concerned with rising electricity prices*.

So that the bill does not shoot up even further, tenants or homeowners can, however, pay attention to a few things in everyday life.

An overview of which devices are the biggest power guzzlers and how you can save energy and money with them.

Energy prices keep rising.

According to the consumer portal Verivox, they have increased by almost 40 percent in the past twelve months.

"Electricity prices in Germany are at an all-time high," said Verivox energy expert Thorsten Storck back in January 2022. With regard to the war in Ukraine, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck is also appealing for energy savings to be made.

Because Germany is currently preparing because of the Ukraine conflict* for possible supply bottlenecks with gas from Russia.

This applies to heating and power consumption.

Because gas is also used in Germany to produce electricity.

With a few tips, consumers can also save money when heating.

Rising energy prices are currently causing concern for many consumers.

(Iconic image) © Sina Schuldt/dpa

Find the biggest power guzzlers in the home: save energy and money

Due to rising prices, many people are looking for other electricity providers.

Above all, providers with low tariffs* have already been overrun.

If you want to change your energy supplier, you should make comparisons, because the prices for new electricity contracts vary greatly from region to region.

But you should also think about your own consumption.

RUHR24* reveals which details you need to pay attention to when changing electricity providers.

How much electricity a household uses depends first and foremost on how many people live in it.

However, there are also real power guzzlers that cost a lot of energy and that is reflected in the end of the bill.

Especially in Corona times*, when many people stay at home and work in the home office, a lot of electricity is used for communication and entertainment.

On average, almost a third of electricity consumption is in this area, as explained by the consumer advice center.

It is therefore recommended to also look at televisions, computers and game consoles to see whether more efficient devices might be worthwhile.

Consumers can also easily save electricity by generally avoiding the standby mode for all devices*. 

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Electricity is becoming more and more expensive: refrigerators and the like can be energy guzzlers

The next power guzzlers in the home are large old appliances.

If you still have your parents' washing machine at home, you should consider whether a newer appliance is worth it.

Old refrigerators and freezers in particular can be real power guzzlers because they run non-stop.

When buying a new refrigerator, it's worth taking a look at the energy label - after the change in the energy label in March 2021, category A is best, the designations A+++, A++ and A+ no longer exist.

Previously, A+++ was the best rating, this now counts as a maximum for class B, C or D.

Save energy in the house and apartment – ​​the fridge should be well stocked

In addition to energy efficiency, there are also some tips for use.

If possible, refrigerators should not be placed next to warm appliances.

Setting the right temperature is also important.

"Eight degrees is recommended as the right fridge temperature for the middle area of ​​the fridge," said Norbert Endres, energy consultant at the consumer center, to br.de.

So that the products and not just the air in the refrigerator is cooled, refrigerators should also be filled well.

The following applies to freezers: defrost regularly.

You can also find interesting and helpful consumer news in our weekly HNA consumer newsletter.*

Old heating pump that consumes electricity: Consumers can save up to 80 percent

Another power guzzler can be old heating pumps.

According to the energy company Eon, they are even among the biggest power guzzlers in the home.

Because turning cold water into hot water requires electricity – and not just a little.

Replacing an old model with a new one can really pay off.

According to haus.de, newer devices consume up to 80 percent less energy.

As with other devices, you should pay attention to the best possible energy efficiency class when buying.

You can also save a lot of electricity when cooking.

Electric stoves are real power guzzlers, so you should keep consumption as low as possible.

The consumer advice center advises: If you not only want to save electricity but also time, you should cook with a lid, use little water and first boil the water in the kettle instead of in the pot.

Finding the biggest power guzzlers in the home: Preheating the oven is a common misconception

Another common misconception is preheating the oven.

That's often not necessary.

Especially with cakes, bread or frozen goods, where a crust forms relatively late, the oven does not necessarily have to be preheated.

A hidden power guzzler in the house is the oven: Preheating costs a lot of energy and is in most cases not even necessary.

© Shotshop/Imago

Even the federal government states that with newer ovens, preheating "isn't usually necessary."

With circulating air, it is also possible to set the baking temperature 20 to 30 degrees lower.

"Convection is therefore more efficient than top and bottom heat." An induction cooker is even more energy-efficient, as it uses 40 percent less energy.

Saving energy: When lighting becomes a power guzzler

The lighting in the house can also become a major power guzzler.

Namely when halogen lamps or light bulbs are used instead of LEDs or energy-saving lamps.

This means that up to 90 percent less electricity can be used for lighting.

Floor or table lamps with a power supply also consume a lot of energy.

Because even when they are off, they consume electricity.

The consumer advice center therefore advises pulling the plug or using a power strip that can be switched off.

And the tumble dryer also consumes a lot of electricity.

According to haus.de, it is about 325 kilowatt hours per year.

An energy-efficient device is also worthwhile there.

In addition, you should always fill the machine well and, especially in spring and summer, dry the laundry outside instead of in the tumble dryer.

(Svenja Wallocha/Helena Gries)

Editor's note

This article was originally published on 01/27/2022.

Since it is still relevant for our readers, we have reposted it on Facebook.