Gas consumption too high?
What consumption per month is normal
Created: 09/04/2022 05:01
By: Sarah Neumeyer
Is your gas consumption too high?
A look at the comparison table shows whether you use more or less than the average value.
© Jörg Sarbach/dpa
In view of the energy crisis, many people want to save gas and electricity.
But what consumption is actually normal?
Kassel – Many people are concerned that gas supplies in Germany could run out.
Due to the Ukraine war, gas supplies from Russia are halted.
In view of the tense situation, the federal government has launched the second stage of the gas emergency plan and strongly advises saving gas.
Rising prices are also a reason for consumers to check their own energy consumption.
But what gas consumption is actually normal?
How high the gas consumption is depends on whether the gas is only needed for heating or also for hot water and whether cooking is also possible with gas.
The number of people in the household and the size of the living space are also decisive.
In addition, other factors such as the energetic condition of the building, the condition and age of the gas heating and individual heating behavior influence consumption.
However, reference values can give an insight into whether your own consumption is on average.
Are you using too much gas?
The heating mirror provides information about the average consumption
The gas consumption of a household can be specified in cubic meters (m3) and kilowatt hours (kWh).
Gas meters measure consumption in cubic meters, and gas consumption is usually billed in kilowatt hours on the heating bill.
Depending on the supply area, the gas contains different amounts of energy.
The amount of energy is called the calorific value.
This is specified by the supplier on the bill, the consumer advice center reports.
According to the consumer center, the kilowatt hours of gas consumption can be calculated as follows:
m³ x calorific value = kWh
The non-profit consulting company Co2online calculates the average heating costs, consumption and CO₂ emissions in its “Heizspiegel” every year.
Consumers can use this to check whether they consume more or less energy than comparable large living areas.
The following values were calculated for a 70 square meter apartment in an apartment building with central gas heating in the 2020 accounting year:
Gas consumption averaged around 9590 kWh in total.
The cost of natural gas was around 685 euros.
Average gas consumption: How high is the consumption in apartments and single-family houses?
In order to calculate the average gas consumption, orientation and average values have been established in Germany, which vary slightly from year to year, writes the heating supplier Bosch Thermotechnik.
Accordingly, the average consumption is currently around 140 kWh per square meter in apartment buildings (for heating and hot water) and 160 kWh per square meter in single-family houses (for heating and hot water).
Based on this average value, the annual and monthly gas consumption can be calculated.
Living space in an apartment building | Average gas consumption |
|---|---|
30 sqm apartment | 4200 kWh per year / 350 kWh per month |
40 sqm apartment | 5600 kWh per year / 467 kWh per month |
50 sqm apartment | 7000 kWh per year / 583 kWh per month |
60 sqm apartment | 8400 kWh per year / 700 kWh per month |
70 sqm apartment | 9800 kWh per year / 817 kWh per month |
80 sqm apartment | 11,200 kWh per year / 933 kWh per month |
90 sqm apartment | 12,600 kWh per year / 1050 kWh per month |
100 sqm apartment | 14,000 kWh per year / 1167 kWh per month |
110 sqm apartment | 15,400 kWh per year / 1283 kWh per month |
120 sqm apartment | 16,800 kWh per year / 1400 kWh per month |
Living space in a single family house | Average gas consumption |
|---|---|
100 sqm detached house | 16,000 kWh per year / 1333 kWh per month |
120 sqm single-family house: | 19,200 kWh per year / 1600 kWh per month |
140 sqm single-family house: | 22,400 kWh per year / 1867 kWh per month |
160 sqm single-family house: | 25,600 kWh per year / 2133 kWh per month |
180 sqm single-family house: | 28,800 kWh per year / 2400 kWh per month |
200 sqm single-family house: | 32,000 kWh per year / 2667 kWh per month |
220 sqm single-family house: | 35,200 kWh per year / 2933 kWh per month |
240 sqm single-family house: | 38,400 kWh per year / 3200 kWh per month |
260 sqm detached house | 41,600 kWh per year / 3467 kWh per year |
Save gas: From when consumption is classified as low or too high
If you don't just want to know whether your own gas consumption is below or above the average value, you can calculate your own consumption in kilowatt hours per square meter of living space.
Depending on the living space, the heating level indicates whether consumption is low, medium, high or too high.
Consumption in buildings with 100 to 250 square meters of living space | |
|---|---|
low | up to 89 kWh per sqm |
medium | up to 152 kWh per sqm |
elevated | up to 234 kWh per sqm |
too high | from 235 kWh per sqm |
Source: heizspiegel.de |
The consumption per square meter can be calculated as follows:
kWh / living space (sqm) = kWh per square meter
If you find that your consumption is above average or even classified as "too high", it is worth taking a closer look at your own consumption.
With a few simple tips and tricks, gas can be saved in the home.
(sne)
