Ten tips for the home: Experts reveal how you can now save electricity and gas

The public utilities should give a premium for households that save energy.

Experts explain how you can save electricity and gas at home for the premium.

Munich - Saving energy at home is worth it: As reported, the municipal utility (SWM) is to give 50 euros to all households that consume ten percent less than in the previous year.

At 20 percent it should be 100 euros.

But how realistic is that?

"Very!" says Matthias Schütt (55), SWM energy consultant.

"Ten percent is easy." And he adds: "For the 20 percent, you should look at your devices and measure the consumption."

Meryem Avcu (41), energy consultant at the Bavarian consumer advice center, is also convinced: "Many smaller measures help to achieve the ten percent." Ten expert tips for ten percent energy savings.

Munich: Ten expert tips for saving electricity and gas

1. Thermostat:

"If you turn the heating down by just one degree Celsius, you can reduce your heating costs by up to six percent," says Matthias Schütt.

SWM recommendation: 20 to 21 degrees in the living room, 18 degrees in the kitchen, 23 degrees in the bathroom and 16 degrees in the bedroom.

With a standard thermostat, level 3 corresponds to about 20 degrees.

Meryem Avcu advises caution in old buildings that are only poorly insulated: "Don't turn the heating down below 17 or 18 degrees, otherwise there is a risk of mold growth."

2.

"It is very important not to tilt the windows!", say both experts, "that way you waste energy." It is better to ventilate the room, i.e. to open the window for a certain time.

Schütt: "In winter you should ventilate for two to three minutes three times a day."

3. Bleed the heating:

Bleed the radiators before the heating season.

This allows the air to flow out of the radiators.

Schütt: "If air has accumulated, the heating cannot emit the heat properly."

Save energy at home: cut out radiators, use LEDs

4. Insulate windows and doors:

If you feel a draft, you lose heat.

Insulating tape, sealing tape or draft excluders can help here.

Meryem Avcu: “My tip: clamp a sheet of paper between the frame and the closed window.

If the paper cannot be pulled out, the window is tight enough.”

5. Clear radiators:

Do not place curtains or furniture in front of the radiators or the thermostat.

"Otherwise the wrong value will be measured and the heat will be lost through radiator niches and windows," says Schütt.

In addition, the rooms are not heated evenly.

6. Light:

"It's best to only use LED lamps," advises Matthias Schütt.

"Then you can save more than ten percent." The EU energy efficiency label identifies energy-saving models.

7. Fridge and freezer:

Seven degrees in the upper fridge compartment is enough.

Meryem Avcu: "If you lower the temperature by just one degree, your power consumption will increase by around six percent." In the freezer, minus 18 degrees is ideal.

If ice has accumulated: please defrost!

Schütt: "An icing thickness of five millimeters increases power consumption by around 30 percent."

Munich should prepare for a possible energy shortage in the colder months.

For this, Mayor Reiter asked the Munich administration to make some changes that save electricity and gas.

Munich: Less energy in the household - municipal utilities announce bonuses

8. Washing machine:

"Use the ECO programs," says Schütt.

"Don't be put off if the device runs longer as a result." Because short programs need more water and electricity because higher temperatures are required for less time.

And it's best to avoid boiling and prewash.

9. Stove and oven:

"If you can bake with convection, you save about 15 percent energy compared to top and bottom heat," says Meryem Avcu.

"And always cook and fry with the lid on."

10. Computer and stand-by:

"An older computer consumes 100 to 150 watts per hour, which is up to 0.75 kWh for five hours a day," says Schütt.

"A newer laptop or a tablet only has 30 to 40 watts, that's up to 0.2 kWh per day for five hours." This results in savings of up to 165 kWh per year for 300 days of use.

With electronic devices from 2010, the stand-by consumption is rather low, so don't switch it off completely here.

More tips at Verbraucherzentrale-bayern.de.

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List of rubrics: © Andrea Warnecke/dpa-tmn