Efficient energy consumption is essential to reduce our ecological footprint while also saving on the electricity bill, especially during the summer months when consumption tends to rise. By applying some tips and good habits, it is possible to control costs through optimizing energy consumption and also achieve good levels of comfort at home. For example, Endesa says in a press release, “a good use of air conditioning to cool the house, or turning off devices that are not being used, can mean a saving of about 45%.” If we add the use of awnings or the thermal insulation of windows, efficiency increases even more.
According to the same source, air conditioning represents one third of household expenses and, for each degree of temperature reduction, expenses increase by 7%. For this, “the ideal is to have a temperature of 26°C” and bear in mind that a difference of more than 12°C relative to the outside is not healthy.
Moreover, it is advisable to close doors and windows when the air conditioner is running, so as not to waste cooling energy and to clean the filter. In this way, costs can be reduced by up to 35%. Choosing the most efficient appliance, i.e., one that cools the home better with lower electricity consumption and in a more ecological way, “will allow greater comfort, savings and commitment to sustainability”.
On the other hand, 10% of the bill corresponds to appliances that are always on, even if not being used, such as microwaves, electric coffee makers, electric water heaters, televisions, routers, laptops, mini-systems, chargers, among others, generating what is known as phantom consumption. If they were turned off, annual savings could reach €64, Endesa reveals.
In the case of the refrigerator or freezer, if they cannot be unplugged from the power supply because they contain some foods even while they are away on holiday, what can be done is “adjust the thermostat to keep cold enough for hygiene and the preservation of the foods, since, by not opening the door, the cold is better preserved inside and we can increase the temperature by a few degrees”. For each degree you increase, you can save 6% of energy. It is also ideal to check that the ventilation grilles are clean and free of hair, as well as removing ice from the freezer.
Endesa emphasizes that its customers in the liberalized market have access to InfoEnergy, a free digital and personalized advisory tool that allows families to control and manage their electricity consumption better and, as a novelty, customers can also access InfoEnergy from the Endesa Clientes mobile app, where they can log in with their username and password (or create one on the spot) and a button appears that takes them directly to the tool.
