Saving energy: Consumers can turn many screws themselves

Created: 06/30/2022, 16:25

By: Stella Henrich

In view of the impending shortage of gas in winter, every single consumer can now help to use less energy.

Here are a few tips to help you save.

Munich - "We all have to try to make our contribution," said Robert Habeck in view of the urgency of the issue of further rising energy prices.

The Green Environment Minister hopes to be able to get everyone excited about the energy transition and save energy.

Russia has been delivering less gas to Germany since mid-June.

Habeck even fears a complete stop in deliveries.

Then it could be really problematic in winter.

But how can the consumer help - what to do specifically to help save energy efficiently and sustainably?

After all, 50 percent of private households heat with gas, and 15 percent of the electricity consumed also comes from gas.

This means that one third of consumption is accounted for by private households - and it is precisely they who make the difference when it comes to saving.

Saving energy in summer: Avoid full baths and better just short showers

"There are a lot of possibilities," explains Martin Pehnt from the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in Heidelberg

to

In private residential buildings alone, ten percent of gas could be saved with very small measures.

With the purchase of a water-saving shower head, the consumer can already act quickly now, even by doing without full baths and by taking shorter showers, every individual can contribute to economical gas consumption in summer (if gas heats the water), Robert Habeck advertises with his new energy saving campaign and finds thus support from employers, trade unions, consumer protection groups and the energy industry.

Simply let the laundry dry in the fresh air in summer and save yourself the dryer.

(symbol image) © Michael Gstettenbauer/imago

And if you own a dishwasher, you have an advantage.

Because this usually uses less warm water than rinsing in the basin with your hands.

Long known, but often ignored, is the high energy consumption of tumble dryers.

Other energy guzzlers in households are smart TVs, computers and lots of other electronic devices.

Consumer advocates advise putting these devices on standby or turning them off completely.

And if you cook with the lid on the right hob, you also lose less energy.

Saving energy in winter: Have the heating checked

The savings potential will be really big in autumn.

When consumers turn their heating back on.

Immanuel Stieß from the Institute for Socio-Economic Research explains that there are really big savings if the room temperature is lowered.

One degree less would save six percent of energy, according to the

expert .

If half of the households in this country did that, "almost five percent of heating energy could be saved."

If you want to save in the long term and not just in the short term, experts advise having your heating checked.

This is because many systems run at excessive power, which is often not necessary to heat up a building.

Martin Pehnt is in favor of a free gas-saving check, “where energy consultants, heating installers or chimney sweeps provide information on how operators of gas boilers can reduce their gas consumption in the short term and with a view to the next few years.” Insulating doors and windows can also help be effective in the short term and with little effort.

Pehnt estimates that up to 30 percent of energy can be saved in this way, depending on the household.

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Robert Habeck also saves - exemplary.

In future, the air conditioning in his ministry will only start when it reaches 26 degrees, there will be no heating up to and including August, and the ministry buildings will no longer be illuminated at night.

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