Our daily life is punctuated by bills… and the search for solutions to reduce them! In addition, we are in a cold period where we tend to push the heating. As a result, this does not remain without consequences on our energy expenditure. In addition, we constantly hear received ideas about our many devices and how to best use them. In this article, flush out the misconceptions and mistakes that are causing you to lose money stupidly. Indeed, in the end, our good ideas for saving energy are not always…
1) With my machine, I prefer short cycles to reduce my consumption.
Unfortunately, this will not change much! To see a real impact, it is better to opt for lower washing temperatures. Indeed, high washing temperatures cause greater consumption. In addition, they do not necessarily provide better washing and damage clothes more quickly. Thus, by washing the laundry at 90°, you will consume three times more than at 30°. Another astonishing difference, you will consume half as much by opting for 30° instead of 45!
2) Candle lighting: romantic and really economical!
Yes… except to be realistic, this type of lighting is obviously much less effective ! In addition he increases the risk of fire. Another problem is that burning candles harms air quality and that’s a big source of harmful indoor pollution like chemical sprays or incense! To save money without harming your health, consider opting for LED bulbs instead.
3) I leave a little frost in the freezer to better preserve the cold.
In itself, this may seem logical: one can imagine that the frozen wall would keep the cold and that the freezer would therefore need less work. Nevertheless, four small centimeters of frost alone are enough to double the consumption of your device ! However, this is something that we cannot afford with our refrigerator. Indeed, it is already the most energy-consuming appliance in the home. So, no need to make the situation worse. On the contrary, you can save up to €30 per year by defrosting the appliance four times a year and by preventing the appearance of frost with a few good gestures. And finally, the best gesture to keep the cold inside is not to open the door too much or leave it open.
Smart little tip: make a list to magnet on the door of what contains the freezer and the fridge. So, no need to open them to make your shopping list or think about the meal.
4) At night, I turn off my heating to save money!
We understand where this idea comes from. Already, it is never good to overheat a room and even less at night (the body lowers its temperature to promote sleep). And then under the very warm duvet, no need for heating! Except that when we put the heating back on, the latter will have to turbine a lot to make up for lost degrees, which induces a huge consumption. Fortunately, radiators often have a night mode (indicated by a small moon). However, this allows you to save money without encouraging extreme consumption!
5) No need to leave the heating on if I’m not at home
A cold radiator is the enemy of a radiator that consumes well. Indeed, everything is at the level of operation: they tend to stock up on heat (a phenomenon very long) which they then release continuously. As explained earlier, they will therefore have to work harder to make up for lost heat. In addition, cold radiates from the wall and this makes the more complicated and energy-intensive ambient air heating work. As a result, you will spend more time heating your fireplace than enjoying its heat. In general, we advise never to go below 15°C.
6) I put my devices on standby to consume less
Admittedly, a device on standby will consume less, but it will not consume anything. On average, it is estimated that a household has between 15 and 50 appliances. As a result, the result of their consumption on standby can constitute a small tidy sum for the year. To put things into perspective, here are some numbers. First of all, know that you have to the equivalent of two nuclear power plants each year just for our standby devices. Then, note that this consumption represents 11% of your annual bill and approximately €90 lost. Count around 20€/year for your DVD player and 45€ for your box or decoder.
The rest of the received ideas on the next page →
