When we talk about energy efficiency at home, we usually focus on large investments that do not allow us to move forward. Improve insulation, change advantages or large appliances for more efficient ones, for example.
However, there are little tricks that can also help us save electricity and reduce our bills. We talk about reducing the power contracted, using appliances intelligently or using appliances like those we propose today. Four devices that will help you control power consumption.
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Programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats are one of these devices to save electricity. They work in a very simple way. They allow us to record a temperature for a certain time range and are responsible for turning the heating system on or off so that the ambient temperature is automatically regulated.
A basic programmable thermostat costs less than 40€ and allows us not only to enjoy a stable temperature at home but also save energy. The system will turn on and off at the necessary times automatically, it is no longer up to us to do it!
The most modern thermostats also have an Internet connection which allows them to be handled from our smartphone through the use of an App. We can turn them off when we’re not home and ask him to start heating a little before we get there.
They are compatible with almost all heating and air conditioning appliances such as boilers, wood stoves, radiators, electric underfloor heating, air conditioners, etc. so you should not have trouble incorporating them into your home.
Thermostatic valves and taps
During the shower we can save both water and energy by resorting to thermostatic taps. These faucets through their two controls — one controls the temperature in degrees and the other regulates the flow — allow us to keep the temperature constant and shower without startles even if other faucets are opened at home simultaneously.
And why are they saving? Since it takes less to warm up will allow us to save all that water that we normally let run until we achieve regulating the ideal temperature. But we will also save energy, as the heater will need to work less time to offer us the ideal temperature. We will also avoid spikes (most thermostatic taps offer a maximum temperature of 38ºC.
Motion Detectors
How many lights do you leave on a day without realizing it? Motion detectors are a simple tool with which to avoid those oversight that increase our electricity bill . The function of this device is simple: they detect movement through sensors and based on this information either turn on the light in the room or keep it off.
This appliance may not make sense for every corner of our home, but it is very useful in others. Passage areas with low natural lighting such as corridors or stairs, for example, can benefit from these. Just like outdoor spaces. When we get home at night, having a motion sensor that allows us to see the lock is a great idea. Also in case we need to go out to the garden during the night and something we have forgotten can be useful.
Smart Plugs/Power Strip
Computers, televisions, chargers and many other electronic devices spend even when idle. This so-called ghost consumption represents more than 10% of the total energy spent on a home, according to data from the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE).
How to avoid overpaying for these devices? Investing in a device that closes the power output to devices in standby or sleep mode. Power strips that are activated once the device is turned on are an alternative to this.
But we can go further and bet on smart sockets and power strips, more sophisticated electricity-saving devices. Its main function is still to control the switching on and off of these devices, but they go a step further allowing us to schedule or control them from a mobile application. In this way, it is possible, for example, to turn on a few minutes earlier the device that is expected to be needed upon arrival, such as the water heater, preventing it from consuming throughout the day. Or program the slow cooker to have the food ready when we get home.
He is also a good ally when we go on vacation. Not only to have the house ready when we return, but as a tool to create the illusion that we have not left and there is someone at home.
Do you already use any of these devices to save electricity at home?
