In a period when high temperatures drive electricity consumption in Portuguese households, Manie warns about the growing impact of climate control equipment and reinforces the importance of more efficient energy contract management. Air conditioning, in particular, can account for between 30% and 40% of the electricity bill when used daily, becoming one of the main pressure factors on family budgets.
Against this backdrop, small day-to-day decisions can make a difference. Manie identifies four simple strategies that help reduce the impact of air conditioning use without compromising comfort in homes:
- Set the temperature efficiently
Setting temperatures too low relative to the outside significantly increases energy consumption. The recommendation is to keep the air conditioner between 24°C and 26°C, a range that ensures thermal comfort without overburdening the equipment. Each degree below this level can represent an increase of about 5% to 7% in consumption, without cooling the home faster.
- Prioritize times with lower energy costs
The moment you use the air conditioner has a direct impact on the bill. Turning the unit on at the end of the day, when energy demand is higher, can translate into higher costs. Whenever possible, anticipate use to periods such as the afternoon to help reduce this impact. In contracts with a two-rate tariff, it may also be advantageous to use during off-peak hours, when the cost of electricity is lower, allowing the home to be cooled more economically.
- Reduce the equipment’s load with simple measures
Small actions in the space make a difference in the performance of the air conditioner. Keeping doors and windows closed during operation, lowering blinds during the hours of greatest sun exposure, and ensuring regular cleaning of the filters are measures that can significantly improve efficiency. Dirty filters, for example, can increase energy consumption by up to about 30%. Whenever available, using the automatic mode allows the equipment to operate more efficiently, avoiding frequent starts and reducing unnecessary consumption.
- Combine energy efficiency with a tailored contract
Beyond the use of equipment, the type of tariff contracted remains a determining factor. Many consumers keep contracts misaligned with their habits, which amplifies the burden of seasonal consumption. Solutions such as Manie’s AutoSwitch allow monitoring the market and automatically securing the most advantageous contract, aligned with the actual consumption profile.
“Many families focus only on reducing consumption, but forget that they may be paying more than they should for the same level of usage. Our focus is to ensure that every consumer always has the contract that best fits their profile, with no effort,” explains João Melo, cofounder of Manie. “When we combine more efficient use of equipment with an optimized choice of tariff, true savings can be achieved, which can range from 20 to 30 euros per month.”
In a context of greater pressure on domestic consumption, small changes in behavior, coupled with optimization technology solutions, can make a significant difference on the final monthly bill.
